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Asked and Answered

Brown Act

We’ve requested items added to agenda and been denied. Can they do that?

Several property owners within a Community Services District have been denied items to be placed on the agenda for consideration. Can they continue to do this ?

August 28, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Public Comment Limits Don’t Allow Time To Make Case

Our Irrigation District Board asks for input from the public on agenda items. However, the Board puts a five-minute limit on each individual. The staff has no limits on discussion time, but members of the audience are limited, even when making a case that disagrees with what staff is recommending. They are not very […]

May 29, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Could this act of intimidation be a Brown Act violation?

I attended the board meeting of the Waterworks District. During the meeting an agenda item came up for two job descriptions relating to the person who currently holds those positions. There were comments made by an ex-board member and another member of the public concerning this problem. One board member in particular had a very abrasive response to these comments. […]

June 10, 2016
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

School Site Council tactics intimidate parents, public

[…] open meetings law -- the legislative bodies of local agencies are required to provide opportunities for the public to comment at regular meetings, as follows: (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, […]

February 3, 2012
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Public comment time limit changed without notice

At a recent Planning Commission public hearing, we were told in the agenda and online that we would be given up to three minutes to speak. Right before public comments were heard, the chair said we’d be given only two minutes without any explanation. It says in the agenda he can change the time […]

September 7, 2011
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Public Comment Identification Requirements

Can an agency require a member of the public to state their name and address in order to address the agency on an agenda item?

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Non-Agenda Items, Emergency Items, and the Brown Act

We may have a violation of the Brown Act. A non- agenda item was brought up and "deemed" an emergency and was voted upon. This after the City Attorney opened the meeting and stated that "the item" would not be discussed. The alleged emergency does not fit any of the emergency statements listed in […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act First Amendment

Limiting Public Comment at Meetings

[…] my City Council can limit comment during a single meeting by a member of the public to five minutes total for a particular class of items (consent agenda items), no matter how many items are categorized as such, and no matter how many items an individual wishes to speak to. I have never heard […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Closed Sessions under the Brown Act

[…] The Brown Act authorizes a closed session to discuss the appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, or dismissal of a public employee. In each of these cases, the agenda must specify the type of business to be discussed (i.e., appointment, employment, performance evaluation, or discipline/dismissal/release), and, for the first three, the agenda must specify the […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Changing Regular Meetings to Special Meetings

[…] advance notice required for regular meetings -- except maybe to preclude the public from addressing the governing body on issues other than what will be on the agenda for the special meetings. As you seem to know, during the public comment period of regular meetings, the public can address the body on any matter […]

June 14, 2009