FAC

Q: Several months ago the city council majority changed the public comments procedure to make it more difficult for all that wanted to make comments to do so. At a recent council meeting, they changed the ordinance regarding conduct during city council meetings, and more specifically the conduct while addressing the council. For example, if the mayor, in his personal view, decides your comments are disruptive because they are repetitive or that they are repeating the comments of

Q: I have a question about police records you may be able to help with. I’m trying to verify the identities of some homicide victims, four years after the crime. I’ve asked for the name and date of birth of the victims, but the department says they may not release the info. Do you know if and when they must release that information? Is it when the investigation is complete? And a related question: Does

Q: Does a request for public records of public hearings of department of Animal Services include tape recordings of hearing made by hearing examiner? A: As you may know, under the Public Records Act, public records — which include “any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public’s business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of physical form or characteristics,” Gov’t Code section 6252(e) — are presumed

Q: The city is having a budget meeting. The printed budget is over 500 pages and is divided into department sections. The Mayor prohibits public comment by department, instead he only permits public comment at the end of each day’s meetings, and then the public is limited to three minutes. I believe this is a Brown Act violation because each department should be considered a seperate agenda item. Am I correct. A: Under the Brown Act’s public