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Showing 11 - 20 of 25 results

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act First Amendment

    I could not display a video during my public comment at a city council meeting

    […] body, a collective commitment or promise by a majority of the members of a legislative body to make a positive or a negative decision, or an actual vote by a majority of the members of a legislative body when sitting as a body or entity, upon a motion, proposal, resolution, order or ordinance." Govt. […]

    April 3, 2025

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Secret Ballots

    Is it legal for a school board to fill a vacancy on the board with a secret vote? Is this addressed in the Brown Act and if so, where?

    June 14, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    CPRA

    Council-elect make decisions, but claim documents are not public

    I cover an unincorporated community that voted in June to incorporate. Voters approved incorporation and also elected a five-member council.  A committee has been formed to raise private funds to put on a celebration on mark the historic occasion. Two elected members of the city council-elect (who will not be sworn in until the […]

    October 21, 2010

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Discussion of Employee Termination in Closed Session

    […] emergency meeting can be held in closed session. The Brown Act permits a legislative body to discuss a nonagenda item at a regular meeting if, by majority vote, the body determines that the matter in questions constitutes an emergency. The Brown Act provides for emergency meetings to be held by a legislative body with […]

    June 14, 2009

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    How Can I Overturn A Decision Made By City Council Without Notifying Residents?

    […] not clear from the facts you have given how this particular street project was initiated or approved. Presumably, the Public Works Department was acting pursuant to a vote of the city council, which as a local legislative body would be subject to the Ralph M. Brown Open Meetings Act. Further, the Public Works Department, […]

    January 16, 2020

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    Does the Brown Act address how long a board member can be absent from meetings?

    […] Teleconferencing, as authorized by this section, may be used for all purposes in connection with any meeting within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body. All votes taken during a teleconferenced meeting shall be by roll call. (3) If the legislative body of a local agency elects to use teleconferencing, it shall post […]

    May 16, 2012

  • Asked and Answered

    Brown Act

    City Council Action in Secret

    […] matter can be discussed in closed session, and even then the council is required to disclose any action taken in closed session.  See generally Gov't Code section 54953(c) and 54957.1. Consequently, if a vote of the council was required to approve the search for the interim chief, that should have been publicly disclosed. It doesn't necessarily […]

    June 14, 2009