The California Supreme Court struck a blow for transparency in ruling that local governments must release records of billings by private lawyers. The court said the attorney-client privilege doesn’t apply to government agency’s financial dealings with private attorneys. Cities and counties often hire private attorneys in cases that would tax the capabilities and resources of in-house attorneys. (San Francisco Chronicle, December 29, 2016)
After nearly 10 years a superior court judge ruled that San Jose City Council had violated the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law, in deliberations over renaming a local shopping center “Saigon Business District,” a decision that met fierce opposition from those favoring the name “little Saigon.” (The San Jose Mercury News, January 5, 2017, by Ramona Giwargis)
A state appellate court found that a ballot measure authorizing construction of a Wal-Mart center was illegal owing to a memorandum of understanding between Wal-Mart and the Apple Valley Town Council. The memorandum authorized an agreement from Wal-Mart to pay for a special election, but the memorandum was never put on the agenda for the 2013 meeting, “In none of the documents was the ‘item of business’ that Town council was going to accept a gift from Walmart in order to pay for a special election to pass the Initiative,” read a court document. The town manager claimed the court’s decision was “premised on some incorrect facts.” (Victorville Daily Press, January 6, 2017, by Matthew Cabe)
Downey town councilman Sean Ashton claimed the town council had violated the Brown Act in a series of decisions regarding the selection of a new mayor. (Cerritos Community News, January 12, 2017, by Tammye McDuff)
Two members of the Newhall County Water District board received recall notices citing their alleged closed door discussions of a plan to merge with another water agency. (Santa Clarita Valley Signal, December 12, 2016, by Jim Holt)