California open government roundup: State promises transparency on police misconduct records

In response to a judge’s order, new Attorney General Rob Bonta announced he would release police misconduct records and promote transparency in his agency. (San Francisco Chronicle, May 10, 2021, by Michael Cabanatuan)

The American Civil Liberties Union accused the Chico City Council of conducting secret meetings about the homeless problem. The council has also been charged with allegedly violating the Brown Act, the state’s open meeting law in make the decision in February to fire a city attorney. (KRCR, May 4, 2021, by Ryan Murphy)

A lawsuit is challenging the Fresno school district’s decision to eliminate the Fresno High School’s mascot that features a caricature of a Native American. The suit contends that the school board failed to provide vital information about the change in violation of the Brown Act. (The Fresno Bee, May 5, 2021, by Monica Velez)

As part of a recall effort, a group of parents in the Lucia Mar school district are alleging that the board failed to allow public comments by e-mail from March through September of 2020. (Santa Maria Times, May 4, 2021, by Mike Hodgson)

The Huntington Beach City Council adopted a new social media policy to prevent officials from blocking or deleting comments from the public. (Voice of OC, May 4, 2021, big Hosam Elattar)

Veteran public servant Shawn Landres makes detailed suggestions for reforming the Brown Act. “This past year we’ve learned that videoconferencing and teleconferencing are legitimate, and in some ways better, ways to participate in local government,” write Landres, “But the pandemic also has laid bare longstanding inequities that separate too many Californians from decision-makers. Short-term fixes aren’t sufficient, and long-term reform cannot come soon enough.” (Imperial Valley Press, April 30, 2021,

A group of citizens is asking the Elk Grove Union School District to open its meeting to the public and make public copies of messages thought to be sent by trustees during board meetings. (Elk Grove Citizen, April 30, 2021 bye Cameron Macdonald)

A watchdog group sued the Los Angeles district attorney and the sheriff for withholding information about misconduct claims and lawsuits against their agencies. (Courthouse News Service, April 29, 2021, by Martin Macias Jr)

Ironically when the Fresno City Council discussed becoming more transparent, it shut the public out of the meeting. (GV Wire, April 28, 2021, boy David Taub)

Lafayette paid attorney fees of $113,1198 over a Brown Act violation concerning a resident’s application for a tennis court cabana. The town held closed sessions before three public hearings with out proper notification. (Lamorinda Weekly, April 14,2021, by Jennifer Wake)

A waste hauler warned Thousand Oaks that they would sue if the city failed to rescind a garbage collection contract with a competitor. Waste Management alleges that the city failed to notify the public of details of the contract at least 72 hours prior to a meeting . (Ventura County Star, April 11, 2021, by Mike Harris)

The Fourth Pasadena City Council rescinded approval of hillside development and tree removal in a luxury development on the south side of town. Residents sued alleging Brown Act violations. (South Pasadenan, April 9, 2021, boy Ben Tansey)

A Superior Court judge ordered Oakland and its police department to release documents on police misconduct requested by journalists two years prior under Senate Bill 1421 that requires release of the records under the California Public Records Act. The judge rejected the city’s protest that they did not have the resources to comply with the request. (Courthouse News Service, April 2, 2021, by Maria Dinzeo)

A Ventura County Star column, April 5, 2021, by Julie Makinen and Stacie N. Galang, argues that state Assembly Bill 268 limiting access to public autopsy records to protect the privacy of families would not allow journalists to make investigations in the interests of public safety and health.