California State Assembly Speaker bans texting in session

The new California Assembly Speaker has banned text messaging on the assembly floor prompting skepticism from First Amendment advocates that the ban is enforceable or efficacious. -db

CivSource
Commentary
March 9, 2010
By Bailey McCann

Last week, when John A. Perez became California’s new Assembly Speaker a point in his opening speech caught our eye — a new rule limiting [...]

Editorial calls for Placer County District Attorney to enforce state’s open government law

The Auburn Journal argued for tighter enforcement of the Brown Act, California’s open government law, in light of a $l600 dinner meeting in 2008  in Washington D.C. during which three county supervisors lobbied the local congressman. -db
Auburn Journal
Editorial
March 7, 2010

During these tough economic times, government at every level faces media scrutiny. The public has [...]

Turlock school board finds way to defeat intent of state’s open government law

The editor of the Turlock Journal says the local school board did all the right things in listing the agenda in advance, making the meeting accessible to all and allowing ample time for public comment but still managed to trash the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law, by deciding the crucial issues of building renovations [...]

Health board accused of violating California open meeting law in holding closed ‘informational’ sessions

The Del Puerto Health Care board claims that conscientious elected officials are discouraged from serving after they were accused of holding two closed meetings without public notice. -db
Patterson Irrigator
March 4, 2010
By Kendall Wright

In spite of attending training sessions since 2006 about ethics and open-meeting laws, a majority of Del Puerto Health Care board members who were [...]

Southern California: Hospital settles open meeting lawsuit in cash settlement

The Tri-City Medical Center settled a lawsuit brought by former hospital executives who alleged that the hospital violated the Brown Act, California’s open meeting law. In agreeing to pay $300,000, the hospital did not admit violating the act. -db
North County Times
February 25, 2010
By Paul Sisson
Tri-City Medical Center has settled a lawsuit brought by a group [...]

Capistrano schools: Trustees push state open meeting law aside

The Capistrano Unified School District board of trustees met without notice on a Sunday for a closed meeting on employee negotiations. It’s legal in most cases but  does not promote public confidence. -db

Capistrano Insider
Commentary
February 25, 2010
By Jonathan Volzke

Yes, the Capistrano Unified School District trustees met Sunday. But apparently it wasn’t illegal.

Trustees indeed met Sunday for [...]

Citizen committee completes draft of open government law for Berkeley

The Citizen’s Sunshine Review Committee finished its work in February on a sunshine ordinance which was written to encourage compliance with California sunshine laws. -db

The Berkeley Daily Planet
February 25, 2010
By Dean Metzger

Sadly the sun is setting on the printed Berkeley Daily Planet, but happily the sun could rise on open government in Berkeley. After three [...]

Health board claims secret meeting violated no laws

The Del Puerto Health Care District board met once secretly in 2008 but claims the meeting violated no California open govenment laws. -db

Patterson Irrigator
February 25, 2010
By Kendall Wright

A majority of the Del Puerto Health Care District met once secretly in 2008, but the head of the district claims the meeting violated no laws, an assertion [...]

San Diego county school board cancels meeting to comply with open meeting law

The Grossmont Union High School District cancelled a special meeting to consider a threatened lawsuit after the media were not given adequate notice of the meeting. -db
East County Magazine
February 23, 2010
CAJON, Calif. – In response to a request by East County Magazine, the Grossmont Union High School District has announced cancellation of tonight’s special meeting. [...]

San Diego planning task force accused of violating California’s open government law

Community members involved in planning for San Diego have expressed concerns about an advisory committee with a large representation of builders and developers. They claim the committee’s meetings were not adequately publicized. -db
San Diego Uptown News
February 20, 2010
By David Harvey

At the San Diego City Council’s Land Use and Housing (LU&H) committee meeting on Feb. 3, [...]

Local education activist sues Alameda unified schools

The founder of Alameda Concerned Parents is suing the Alameda Unified School District for violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act. -db

San Francisco Chronicle
Opinion
February 18, 2010
By Susan Davis
This just in — Kerry Cook, founder of Alameda Concerned Parents, which protested Lesson 9 last spring and fall — is now suing the Alameda [...]

Open meetings a work in progress in Victorville

An open government activist says there are still gross violations of the state’s open government law, the Brown Act, after the City Council had taken steps to conduct business in a more open manner. -db
Victorville Daily Press
February 15, 2010
By Brooke Edwards
VICTORVILLE, Calif. – After continued rumblings from citizens and the Daily Press about Victorville improperly using [...]

Counselor sues Yuba college district over closed door session concerning salary hike

A counselor at the Yuba Community College District is suing the district for rescinding her salary raise in closed session. The superior court judge has allowed Yuba college officials to testify in a closed court session. db
Appeal-Democrat
February 18, 2010
By Ryan McCarthy

Three Yuba Community College District trustees are among witnesses an employee plans to call in [...]

Eureka school board admits to violating open meeting law in setting superintendent’s salary in 2008

The Eureka Union School Board admitted  they failed to report changes in the superintendent’s salary in open public session before approving them in a closed meeting. They also failed to make the original contract available to the public 72 hours before the meeting. -db
The Press Tribune
February 10, 2010
By Megan Wood
The Eureka Union School Board admitted [...]

Carson mayor under investigation after allegations he used mute button to stifle public comment

The District Attorney is investigating a possible Brown Act violation as the Carson mayor has reportedly used a mute button to silence speakers at city council meetings. In November the City Council had given the major the authority to used the button in a 3-2 vote. -db
KPCC
Southern California Public Radio
February 6, 2010
The District Attorney’s Office [...]

Modesto City Council meeting cancelled to avoid open government violation

The Modesto City Council will still be eating lunch together at the annual Chamber of Commerce luncheon which costs $40 to attend. But they will no longer call it a city council meeting for the mayor’s annual speech since California’s Brown Act prohibits charging the public to attend council meetings. -db
The Modesto Bee
February 6, 2010
By [...]

Amador County: Water agency accused of open meeting violations

A citizens group is calling for an investigation of the Amador Water Agency board for possible Brown Act violations when they held private conferences on board elections. -db

Ledger Dispatch
February 5, 2010
By Matthew Hedger

A local citizens group is asking the Amador Water Agency to seek legal counsel and investigate whether some directors violated provisions of the Brown [...]

Tulare County: County supervisors’ dinners out may have also violated open meeting law

Records requested under the California Public Records Act show that the five supervisors plus the county administrative officer are running up excessive expense accounts and indicated that the supervisors may have violated California’s open meeting law, the Brown Act, by dining often with a voting majority. -db
Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare Advance-Register
Editorial
February 4, 2010

Crescent City: Town government bodies may be stretching open meeting laws

A reporter for the Daily Triplicate writes that while “two-by-two” meetings held by the City Council and Harbor Commission are legal since they do not constitute a quorum, the practice may not realize the greatest potential for open government. -db

The Daily Triplicate
Commentary
February 01, 2010
By Kurt Madar

Non-public events are being used by our public officials. Del [...]

Yuba City: Action by community college trustees provokes dispute over open meeting violation

Some contend that a pay raise for the Yuba Community College district chancellor was made without observing California’s Brown Act. Today’s special meeting to reconsider the raise should remedy the problem. -db
Appeal-Democrat
February 3, 2010
By Ryan McCarthy
A special meeting today for trustees to consider rescinding the pay raise for Nicki Harrington, chancellor of the Yuba Community [...]

Orange County: Investigation uncovers alleged open government violations by school district

A PublicCEO reporter alleges that the Garden Grove Unified School District Board of Trustees has committed serious violations of California’s open government law, the Brown Act. -db
PublicCEO
Commentary
February 2, 2010
By Chris Prevatt

One of the most important duties for elected officials to perform is to be open and honest about their actions and to maintain their compliance [...]

California’s central valley: Editorial cites disdain for Brown Act in call for action against three Highson city councilmen

An editorial in The Modesto Bee describes a mugging of the Brown Act and a general lack of civil behavior in suggesting that officials look at bringing criminal charges against three councilmen and that the public consider a recall. -db

The Modesto Bee

Editorial
January 31, 2010
Just when we thought city politics in Hughson couldn’t get any worse, [...]

Tulare County: Supervisors ‘team-building’ luncheons under scrutiny for possible open government violations

The Tulare County Board of Supervisors deny talking about county business when they meet for lunch paid for by the county, but since the meetings are not open to the public, questions remain about the purpose of the meetings and the content of the conversations. -db

Visalia Times-Delta
Tulare Advance-Register
February 1, 2010
By Valerie Gibbons
Members of the [...]

Santa Barbara university student council suddenly closes meeting

The Associated Students Legislative Council at the University of California, Santa Barbara closed a part of their Wednesday night meeting without prior notice or disclosing before hand their reasons prompting complaints that the state’s open government laws had been violated. -DB
Daily Nexus
January 28, 2010
By Elliott Rosenfeld and Mackenzie Weinger
The Associated Students Legislative Council barred all members [...]

Yuba City: Questions arise about possible open government violation in proposed raise for community college chancellor

The Yuba Community College District board may have violated California’s Brown Act which requires the board to hold discussions about salary increases in open session. -DB
Daily Democrat
Commentary
January 28, 2010
By Erin Tracy

A decision to approve a salary hike for the Yuba Community College District chancellor might be considered insult to injury for those impacted by budget cuts, [...]

Ukiah: Supervisors consider appointing ad-hoc committee on retiree health insurance

The County Board of Supervisors is considering appointing an ad-hoc committee to consider ways to preserve health benefits for retirees but some supervisors think the issue is too important to discuss  behind closed doors. -DB

The Ukiah Daily Journal
January 27, 2010
By Tiffany Revelle
Conflict about forming an ad-hoc committee to study available choices was the sticking [...]

Open government laws seen as benefit rather than burden

An attorney and newly elected member of the Modesto Schools board sets out the benefits of complying with California’s open meeting laws including the value of hearing a wide range of views from other members of the public bodies and from the public itself. -DB

Modesto Bee
January 27, 2010
By Ruben Villalobos

For more than 50 years, [...]

Pleasant Hill: Citizens allege open government violations in approval of drug rehab center

A citizens group has challenged the Pleasant Hill City Council after they approved a drug rehabilitation center this week, alleging that the city restricted public comment at a crucial Planning Commission meeting and provided improper notice of a subsequent hearing. -DB
Contra Costa Times
January 26, 2010
By Lisa P. White

PLEASANT HILL, Calif. — Although the City Council [...]

California’s central valley: Newspaper advises citizens on effective participation in local government

The Modesto Bee has published an editorial advising their readers of their rights to access meetings under the state’s open government law and how to be effective in making their voice heard. -DB
The Modesto Bee
Editorial
January 24, 2010
A prevailing theme on this page is that the public’s business needs to be done in public, every time, [...]

San Jose wants to restrict use of private e-mails to discuss official business

San Jose is proposing a disclosure policy to make sure its public officials do not use such devices as iPhones and BlackBerrys to skirt open government laws. -DB

San Jose Mercury News
January 21, 2010
By John Woolfolk

With iPhones and BlackBerrys becoming must-have accessories, San Jose is poised to approve a groundbreaking disclosure policy that would ensure elected [...]

Hayward schools: Open government advocate says public comment needed before renewing charter

The Alameda County Board of Education may have violated California’s open meeting law when it refused to hear public comments before a vote to conditionally renew a charter for the FAME Public Charter School. -DB
Oakland Tribune
January 17, 2010
By Linh Tat
HAYWARD, Calif. — The president of the Alameda County Board of Education violated the state’s open [...]

Turlock: Editor introduces parks commission to open government act

The Turlock Journal editor calls the Turlock Parks, Recreation and Community Commission for what she says was “trampling the Brown Act,” California’s open government law, twice in a single meeting. -DB

The Turlock Journal
Commentary
January 16, 2010
By Kristina Hacker

Attention all local elected officials and members of public boards: You are responsible for knowing and adhering to the [...]

Watsonville: Council member criticizes city government for open government lapses

A former member of the Watsonville City Council and Planning Commission says that greater transparency is needed in expenditures and city contracts especially in legal and consulting services. -DB

Register-Pajaronian
Opinion
January 16, 2010
By Emilio Martinez
While walking the districts these past few weeks I had some long-term Watsonville residents use the word “corrupt” numerous times when talking about [...]

Open government violation claimed in delayed announcement on firing

Supporters of San Leandro Unified School District Superintendent Christine Lim say that the school board fired Lim December 15 in closed meeting but did not announce their move until January 5, a violation of California’s open government laws. The Brown Act requires prompt disclosure of actions taken in closed sessions. -DB
The Oakland Tribune
January 14, 2010
By [...]

Southern California: Council claims urgency in naming fire chief without public notice

The Ontario city attorney claims that California’s open meeting laws were not broken this week when the city council hastily appointed the fire chief city manager. Open meeting advocates are skeptical of the need to hurry the decision, suggesting other action that would have allowed input from the public. -DB

Inland Valley Daily Bulletin
January 13, [...]

Judge rules Los Angeles City Council violated open meeting law on shopping center vote

A Superior Court judge found that the Los Angeles City Council violated the Brown Act, California’s open government law, by not giving the public sufficient notice of a meeting during which they approved a shopping center development in South Los Angeles. -DB

The Los Angeles Times
January 12, 2010
By David Zahniser

A Superior Court judge tentatively ruled Monday [...]

Central California: Mayor wants councilmen to resign for violating state open government law

The Hughson town mayor demanded that three councilmen resign after they were accused in a grand jury report of conferring via e-mail on town business and plotting privately to remove the city manager. -DB
The Modesto Bee
January 12, 2010
By Patty Guerra
HUGHSON — Mayor Ramon Bawanan on Monday demanded that three city councilmen named in a blistering [...]

Novato sanitary board member accuses colleagues of open government violations

A Novato Sanitary District board member said his fellow board members excluded him from closed-door meeting in violation of the Brown Act, California’s open government law. -DB

Marin Independent Journal
January 11, 2010
By Jim Welte

When Dennis Welsh became the lone opposition candidate elected to the Novato Sanitary District board last November, he and his new colleagues expressed [...]

Big Bear services district errs in conducting secret ballot

The president of the Big Bear Community Service District admitted it was a violation of California’s open government law, the Brown Act, to elect the new president of the board by secret ballot. -DB

Big Bear Grizzly
January 7, 2010
By Katie Onheiber and Judi Bowers

The Big Bear City Community Services District board has spoken, the problem is [...]

Atherton: Pay-out to former police officer not reported to residents

In settling a claim by a retired police officer involving sexual harassment and disability, Atherton officials failed to make the settlement public until a month later. -DB

The Almanac
January 6, 2010
By Andrea Gemmet
Atherton officials said that the failure to inform residents about a $230,000 pay-out to a former police officer was an oversight, and one that [...]

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