TO:
Honorable Mayor and Members of the City Council
THROUGH:
Bruce Moe, City Manager
FROM:
Quinn M. Barrow, City Attorney
Alexandria Latragna, Management Analyst
SUBJECT:Title
Sunshine Policy Review (City Manager Moe and City Attorney Barrow).
DISCUSS AND PROVIDE DIRECTION
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Recommended Action
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the City Council discuss and provide direction regarding amendments to the Sunshine Policy.
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FISCAL IMPLICATIONS:
There is a potential for costs savings if the City amends certain provisions of the Sunshine Policy.
BACKGROUND:
City Council adopted the "Sunshine Policy" on November 17, 2015, to supplement state law on public access to written records, information, and public meetings. The policy addresses three aspects of open government: (1) the agenda process; (2) conduct of meetings; and (3) public records. As noted above, the original intent was to supplement the Ralph M. Brown Act (Brown Act) and California Public Records Act. While the Sunshine Policy complements these state regulations, it often goes above and beyond the legal standards found in the Brown Act. The Brown Act is California's "sunshine" law for local government. It requires local governments to conduct their business at open and public meetings, with the exception of certain limited situations.
The Sunshine Policy has been revised twice since 2015, and is periodically reviewed so that it can be adjusted, if necessary. The City Council requested to discuss requirements of the Sunshine Policy, where we go above and beyond the requirements of the Brown Act, with a focus on examining the costs associated with providing additional services.
DISCUSSION:
The Sunshine Policy has the following meeting initiatives that have a higher transparency standard than the Brown Act:
1. City Council Agenda and Agenda Packet:
a. Requires posting a copy of the regular meeting agenda no later than six days bef...
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