CA Sunshine Ordinances: Brea Open Governance Act (Measure U on the Nov. 6, 2012 ballot )

The Brea Open Governance Act, Measure U ballot question is on the November 6, 2012 ballot for voters in the City of Brea in Orange County.

According to Ballotpedia, Measure U would:

• Establish deadlines for City responses to certain records requests made under the Public Records Act on an accelerated timeline. Specifically, each such request and response would be required to be acknowledged by email within one business day. A reasonable effort would be required to be made to make documents available within two business days. This is more rapidly than is required by state law which grants ten days for the initial response to a request.
• Require that information concerning issued checks and certain contracts to be published on the Internet.
• Require that certain inactive contracts would be required to be made available in electronic form upon request or as time is available.
• Provide that responsive documents in electronic form be made available via email at no charge, or in paper form upon payment of the reproduction costs, plus postage, up to a stated limit.
• Require that specific records request information be published in the City’s budget document.
• Require the city clerk to report any improper hindrance to responses to records requests.
• Establish that actions of improperly hindering records requests be deemed punishable as misdemeanors.
• Prohibit the city from offering inducements to discourage certain persons or parties from discussing or revealing information not otherwise prohibited from disclosure.
• Modify provisions of the Open Meeting Law by prohibiting discussion of city manager goals or performance in closed session.
• Require that public discussion must be allowed prior to the Council taking a final vote on a proposed settlement discussed in closed session.
• Require that city audio-visual equipment be made available for use of meeting attendees.
• Require City Council Study Sessions to be recorded for internet publication.
• Prohibit any City official from interrupting or censoring any speaker during the “Matters from the Audience” segment of council meetings.
• Prohibit any general tax increase ballot measure from specifying specific purposes.
• Create a 3-person commission, comprised of persons who have never been, and whose immediate family members have never been, city employees. This commission would periodically report to the City Council concerning compliance with the overall provisions of Measure U. It would have the authority to impose fines for noncompliance.

A simple majority vote is required for approval.

Another measure on the November 6, 2012 ballot that is concerned with how Brea is governed is Measure T, the “Brea Accountability Act”.

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