Title
Set the First Monday of Each Month, Excluding September, as Established Meeting Dates
Body
To: Chair Schwartz and Members of the Open Government Commission
From: Lara Weisiger, City Clerk
Background
The Sunshine Ordinance requires the Open Government Commission (Commission) to meet semi-annually (Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-22.4h.). In 2012, the first Mondays in February and October were established as the Commission's meeting dates. Additional meetings are scheduled as needed. At the February 4, 2020 City Council meeting, concern was expressed about the Commission not having an established meeting date.
Discussion
The Commission will continue to be required to hold semi-annual meetings in February and October, but should consider establishing the first Monday of the month for additional meetings when needed. The Commission is supposed to schedule meetings within 30 days when complaints are filed. Currently, the City Clerk polls the Commission to set a meeting date to hear a complaint. Establishing Commission meetings as the first Monday of each month would provide Commissioners and anyone filing a complaint with certainty about when the matter would be heard. If a complaint is not filed, a meeting would not be held unless the Commission has other business to discuss.
The Commission is included under the Sunshine Ordinance provision which requires video coverage of City Council and various Board and Commission meetings (Alameda Municipal Code Section 2-91.14c.1.(g)). The Council Chambers is used to record and broadcast all meetings, which limits meeting date options.
The Open Government Commission should not establish a meeting date the first Monday in September since it is Labor Day holiday. If a complaint needs to be heard in September, the City Clerk could poll the Commissioners to determine a meeting date. If other holidays fall on a Monday and a meeting is needed, the Commission would also be polled and meet on different ...
Click here for full text