Title
Consider Further Revisions to the Sunshine Ordinance Amendments
Body
To: Chair Aguilar and Members of the Open Government Commission
From: Janet Kern, City Attorney
Michael Roush, Interim Assistant City Attorney
Subject: Consideration of Further Revisions to Amendments to the Sunshine Ordinance
Summary
In 2014 and 2015, the Open Government Commission considered a number of amendments to the City's Sunshine Ordinance and in March 2015, the Commission recommended to the City Council a number of amendments. The City Council considered those amendments in October 2015, accepted most of the recommended amendments, had concerns about certain of the amendments and expressed an interest in additional amendments. Accordingly, rather than adopt amendments to the Ordinance piecemeal, the Council directed staff to revise the draft Ordinance and present comprehensive amendments to the Commission for its consideration and recommendation. This agenda report and draft Ordinance carries out that Council direction.
Background
As stated above, the Commission considered various amendments to the Sunshine Ordinance at three separate meetings in 2014 and 2015. The Commission recommended to the Council a number of amendments, most significantly concerning whether (1)Policy Bodies should use electronic communication devices at public meetings, (2) the definition of "meeting" and "Policy Body" under the Ordinance needed clarification, (3) a Policy Body member should be allowed to submit comments on matters on the Body's agenda when the member was not present at the meeting, (4) the Ordinance should address whether members of Policy Bodies or public employees may make public comments or express opinions about matters of public concern and (5) the frequency of training on the Ordinance should be changed.
The Council considered the Commission's recommended these and other, less substantive, changes to the Ordinance on October 6, 2015. T...
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