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Brown Act

What rules must public meetings follow regarding agendas and notice?

[…] Meetings that are covered by the Brown Act must meet certain requirements pertaining to both the notice of meetings, and the meetings themselves. For example, the body must post an agenda for the meeting which contains a brief description of each item of business to be transacted, and it must be provided at least 72 hours before […]

April 24, 2017
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

Limiting Public Testimonies to New Issues

[…] right to speak at meetings of local agencies such as the County Board of Supervisors. With respect to public comment, the Brown Act provides that: (a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

Limiting Public Comment to Issues Not Already Covered

[…] right to speak at meetings of local agencies such as the County Board of Supervisors. With respect to public comment, the Brown Act provides that: (a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Brown Act Violation Concerns Over Closed Session Protocols for Employee Evaluations

At a special meeting of a California legislative body, an employee was suddenly put on paid administrative leave. The closed session agenda item was added to a special meeting just over 24 hours before that meeting and stated: Public Employee Performance Evaluation/Discipline/dismissal/release (Government code section 54954.5 and 54947(b)) title: . The employee was told […]

January 20, 2021
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Public comment limited to three items on Water Quality Board agenda

[…] was submitted for comments. A final permit ignored most comments, but made three small changes. The first and only public hearing is coming up , but the agenda states that oral comments will be limited to the three changes. Thus, no important points can be made to the Regional Water Quality Board members at […]

April 14, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

Rules for public comment at council meetings

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 […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Incomplete labor exemption codes within School District closed session agenda

I have continually requested the agenda labor exemption code be corrected for a closed session in our School District. The full exemption code is 54957.6(a), however they continue to list only 54957, leaving out the .6(a) portion. I believe accuracy would be better for transparency, and I want it to be legal as well. […]

March 24, 2016
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

Does Brown Act Permit City Council’s New Rules of Decorum?

[…] and distrust in the city officials and business. 1. Can the rules dictate what a community member wants to speak on during regular general public comment? (non agenda items and not during a public hearing) 2. Can the rules dictate whether other community members are allowed to repeat or echo similar comments? 3. Can […]

May 21, 2018
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

How can I stop city from violating Brown Act during budget meetings?

[…] 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 separate agenda item. Am I correct.

November 14, 2014
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

School board changed public comments without notice

[…] more years than I can count, the board has provided a democratic, albeit cumbersome, method of accommodating the public's right to speak on items not on the agenda. Speakers were called in the order in which their "yellow cards" had been submitted to the clerk of the board. One hour was allotted at the […]

March 30, 2010