California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Meetings

State Commission Finds that Brown Act’s “Serial Meeting” Prohibition May Impede Good Government

by Derek P. Cole on July 13, 2015

posted in Meetings,

Does the Brown Act sometimes get in the way of good government?  According to the Little Hoover Commission, a think-tank agency that studies the performance of state government, the answer is yes.  After comprehensively studying how the Brown Act regulates “serial meetings”—discussions that occur among more than two council or board members outside of a noticed public meeting—the Commission has published a report that finds that Act’s serial-meeting provisions may be impeding effective decision-making. The Commission’s findings are interesting and, in this author’s opinion, probably ... Continue Reading

tags: Brown Act, Little Hoover Commission, Report, Serial Meetings, Wolfe v City of Fremont,

Disruptive Behavior at Public Meetings: Balancing the Constitutional Rights of Citizens with the Duty to Conduct Meetings in an Orderly Manner

by Sean D. De Burgh on April 14, 2015

posted in Meetings,

During the course of their public service, many council members and staff will encounter the displeased citizen who often seems more intent on disrupting the governmental process than contributing to it in any meaningful way.  When this scenario is encountered, council members and staff will naturally desire to take steps to control the situation and ensure that the People’s business is not impeded.  Notwithstanding this natural inclination, council members and staff must be careful not to infringe upon the Constitutional and statutory rights of citizens.  This requires the conscientious balance ... Continue Reading

tags: Disruptive citizens, First Amendment, Public Comment, Public meetings,