Search Results

Showing 101 - 110 of 1863 results

Showing results for government bodies must comply brown act 54951 act90 54951 act 54951 act90 54951 54951 54951

Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Does Brown Act allow School District, City to negotiate millions in fees in closed session?

Our Unified School District has negotiated over $30 million in developer fees since 2005 during closed session that should otherwise be discussed in open session. In reviewing the Brown Act, it appears only property negotiations--such as terms and price for the purchase and sale--are subject to closed session. My question is can the school district […]

November 25, 2015
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Can the City Council ban non-disruptive clapping by audience members?

[…] guessing that about 90% of the speakers at City Council public meetings over the past couple of years have spoken in opposition to City Council policy and actions. I believe the implementation of the policy by the City Council is in violation of the First Amendment. The interpretation is not balanced and allows for […]

April 14, 2015
Asked and Answered

CPRA

How can I find out if a non-profit is cooking the books?

[…] from these departments are often excluded from public view due to the exemption.) Bryan Cave LLP is general counsel for the First Amendment Coalition and responds to FAC hotline inquiries. In responding to these inquiries, we can give general information regarding open government and speech issues but cannot provide specific legal advice or representation.

May 21, 2015
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

A Group of City Council Staffers Can Constitute a Serial Meeting, too

[…] members of the staff of the three councilmen who make up that committee. However, we were told that only one staff member could attend, because any more would make it a violation of the Brown Act. Is it correct that meetings of elected officials' staff members subject to the open meetings provisions of the act?

July 13, 2010
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

Does the Brown Act apply to volunteer fire company

[…] part of the Public Records Act but is the rest of our records part of the same Act. We believe that we are not part of the Brown Act because we have none of our members on the Fire Dept. Board and visa versa. We are a separate entity formed by our group back […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

County Supervisors’ Invitation-Only Meeting

I am a reporter for a small, local newspaper, and have little understanding of the intricacies of the Brown Act. Last Thursday, one of the county supervisors held an invitation-only meeting about a local hot-button topic; the meeting was attended by a sheriff's deputy, a few "chosen" members of the Chamber of Commerce, and […]

June 14, 2009
Asked and Answered

CPRA

Accessing Polling Done with Public Funds

First, unless the pollster, as a private entity, meets the definition found in section 54952 of the California Government Code, it is not subject to the Public Records Act (PRA) and so you would not be able to obtain its records pursuant to a PRA request. The PRA applies to local agencies, defined as […]

June 14, 2009
Posts

Assembly approves constitutional amendment to protect CPRA, Brown Act

[…] shortfall, the CNPA Legislative Journal reported today: Senator Mark Leno the legislature's action "allows California voters to debate the importance of strengthening the state's most critical open- government laws by requiring compliance in the Constitution." He added, "The state should not have to provide a fiscal incentive to local governments so that they comply […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
July 1, 2013
Latest News

Blog

Government officials use personal email and texting to avoid public access laws. Why not use technology to enhance accountability instead of to subvert it?

By PETER SCHEER---All public officials favor open government in principle. Who would dare say otherwise? In reality, however, they are in a perpetual search, guided by clever lawyers, for new ways to circumvent disclosure requirements--at best, because they view requests for records as a nuisance, and at worst, because they have something to hide […]
- Government Transparency and Accountability
August 22, 2009
Asked and Answered

Brown Act

City Council disbursed funds without allowing comment by groups they shortchanged

[…] "limited public forums," or areas that traditionally have not been made open to the public, but have become public forums for at least some purposes because the government body that regulates a particular area has made it available for use by the public. The same high standard that applies to public forums -- the […]

February 15, 2012