California Municipal Law Blog
category:
Meetings
by Derek P. Cole on April 10, 2020
posted in
Elections, Meetings,
Yesterday, Governor Newsom amended his previous executive order regarding deadlines under the California Voting Rights Act (“CVRA”). His new order clarifies that the suspension of CVRA deadlines applies to both of the “safe harbor” periods provided in Elections Code section 10010. It is clear now the suspension applies to the first, 45-day period local agencies have to consider adoption of a resolution expressing intention to convert to district elections, as well as the second, 90-day period for the public hearings to create districts.
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tags:
At Large Elections, By District Elections, California Voting Rights Act, Executive Order,
by Derek P. Cole on March 22, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
On March 21, 2020, the Governor issued the latest of many executive orders concerning the COVID-19 public-health emergency. This most recent order addresses a number of subjects, including local agency meetings under the Brown Act. As to these meetings, the order suspends the Act’s prohibition against taking action on “off-agenda” business items under limited circumstances.
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tags:
Brown Act, COVID-19, Executive Order, Off-Agenda Items,
by Steven Graham on March 18, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
On March 17, 2020, Governor Newsom issued Executive Order No. N-29-20 concerning COVID-19 (the “coronavirus”) that, among other things, supersedes the provisions of Executive Order No. N-25-20 related to partial suspensions of the Brown Act. This previous order and its effect on local agencies was covered in our previous blog post.
The new executive order suspends portions of the Brown Act to allow local government to implement recommended or imposed social distancing measures to prevent or slow the spread of the coronavirus.
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tags:
Brown Act, COVID-19, Public meetings,
by Derek P. Cole on March 12, 2020
posted in
Meetings,
Today, Governor Newsom issued an executive order concerning COVID-19 (the “coronavirus”) that, among other things, suspended portions of the Brown Act to expand the authorizations of teleconferencing in local public meetings. The executive order also recommends local agencies implement measures to ensure “social distancing” in their public meetings and events. “Social distancing” is the practice of keeping appropriate distances (six feet is often recommended) between persons.
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tags:
Brown Act, Coronavirus, COVID-19, Social Distancing, Teleconferencing,
by Steven Graham on February 27, 2019
posted in
Meetings, Recent Court Decisions,
“If you will it, it is no dream…”
In an unpublished opinion filed on February 22, 2019, the California Court of Appeal for the Second District held that the City of Los Angeles violated the Brown Act when the Los Angeles City Council prevented a member of the public from commenting on real estate development at a special meeting. At issue was the application of the so-called “committee exception” to the requirement that members of the public be allowed to address the legislative body “before or during” its deliberations on an item of business.
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tags:
Brown Act, Committee Exception,
