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A&A: Rules for public comment at council meetings

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Rules for public comment at council meetings Q: I was at a public meeting and was recognized by the chair. This was during the Public Input of the agenda. I rose and began to question a board member. I was unable to complete my questions as the chair gaveled me down each time I tried to speak. I finally asked, “Are you denying me my right to speak?” He replied, “Yes!” and banged the gavel.

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A&A: Ad hoc committees under the Brown Act

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Ad hoc committees under the Brown Act Q: Our city council is creating a council “ad hoc” subcommittee derived of two of its members over the issue of economic revitalization. An “ad hoc” council subcommittee is by definition one that does not have to allow the public to attend its meetings. In our city, these “ad hoc” council subcommittees often have special meetings with target groups and in essence end up being propaganda machines or

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A&A: Cure and correct Brown Act violations

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Cure and correct Brown Act violations Q:  Members of my neighborhood were prevented access to meetings that we think should be open.  The county board of supervisors passed a resolution to create a technical advisory committee (TAC) to manage a new large-scale commercial solid waste transfer station in this area. This committee is made up of staff members at the city and county level and they have already decided on potential site locations, etc, and

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A&A: The Brown Act and non-government youth organizations

firstamendment June 13, 2009

The Brown Act and non-government youth organizations Q: I need to know if there are any acts, like the Brown or Public records acts, that govern youth sports leagues. My daughters play for a league that has closed meetings and meetings that nobody knows about. A: As a general rule, the Brown and Public Records Acts only apply to government agencies.  Since the name of the organization is Santa Maria Girls Softball, Inc., it sounds

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Forcing public official to attend Brown Act training

firstamendment June 13, 2009

Forcing public official to attend Brown Act training Q: 1) Is there provision or precedent for a board to participate as a body in “training” to achieve more well-established and mutual awareness of respective authorities (and/or lack thereof), parliamentary procedure & protocol – in general, to learn how to “play well together?” 2) Is there provision or precedent for a majority of directors to discuss construction of an agenda (content, order, etc.) prior to a

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