J & N REALTY, INC.

THE BROWN ACT  

OPEN MEETINGS FOR LOCAL LEGISLATIVE BODIES

GOVERNING BODIES:  

Includes city councils, boards of supervisors, and district 54952(a) Ch. I & II boards. Also covered are other legislative bodies of local government agencies created by state or federal law.  

SUBSIDIARY BODIES:  

Includes boards or commissions of a local government agency 54952(b) Ch. II as well as standing committees of a legislative body.  A standing committee has continuing subject matter jurisdiction or a meeting schedule set by its parent body.  Less-than-a­quorum advisory committees, other than standing committees, are exempt.  

PRIVATE OR NONPROFIT CORPORATIONS OR ENTITIES:  

Covered only if:  

a. A legislative body delegates some of its 54952(c)(1)(A) Ch. II functions to a private corporation or entity; or  

b. If a legislative body provides some funding to a 54952(c)(1)(B) private corporation or entity and appoints one of its members to serve as a voting member of entity’s board of directors.  

MEETING DEFINED  INCLUDES:   

Any gathering of a quorum of a legislative body to discuss or transact business under the body’s jurisdiction; serial meetings are prohibited.  54952.2  Ch. III   

EXEMPTS:   

(1)  Individual contacts between board members and others which do not constitute serial meetings;  54952.2(c)(1)  Ch. III   

(2)  Attendance at conferences and other gatherings which are open to public so long as members of legislative bodies do not discuss among themselves business of a specific nature under the body’s jurisdiction;  54952.2(c)(2), (3) and (4)   

(3)  Attendance at social or ceremonial events where no business of the body is discussed.  54952.2(c)(5)   

LOCATIONS OF MEETINGS:   

A body must conduct its meetings within the boundaries of its jurisdiction unless it qualifies for a specific exemption.  54954  Ch. IV   

TELECONFERENCE MEETINGS:   

Teleconference meetings may be held under carefully defined conditions. The meeting notice must specifically identify all teleconference locations, and each such location must be fully accessible to members of the public.  54953  Ch. III   

PUBLIC RIGHTS 

PUBLIC TESTIMONY:   

Public may comment on agenda items before or during consideration by legislative body. Time must be set aside for public to comment on any other matters under the body’s jurisdiction.  54954.3  Ch. IV & V   

NON-DISCRIMINATORY FACILITIES:  

Meetings may not be conducted in a facility that excludes persons on the basis of their race, religion, color, national origin, ancestry, or sex, or that is inaccessible to disabled persons, or where members of the public may not be present without making a payment or purchase.  

COPY OF RECORDING:  

Public may obtain a copy, at cost, of an existing tape recording made by the legislative body of its public sessions, and to listen to or view the body’s original tape on a tape recorder or viewing device provided by the agency.  

PUBLIC VOTE:  

All votes, except for those cast in permissible closed session, must be cast in public.  No secret ballots, whether preliminary or final, are permitted.  

CLOSED MEETING ACTIONS/DOCUMENTS:  

At an open session following a closed session, the body must report on final action taken in closed session under specified circumstances.  Where final action is taken with respect to contracts, settlement agreements and other specified records, the public may receive copies of such records upon request.  

TAPING OR BROADCASTING:  

Meetings may be broadcast, audio-recorded or video-recorded so long as the activity does not constitute a disruption of the proceeding.  

CONDITIONS TO ATTENDANCE:  

Public may not be asked to register or identify themselves or to pay fees in order to attend public meetings.  

PUBLIC RECORDS:  

Materials provided to a majority of a body which are not exempt from disclosure under the Public Records Act must be provided, upon request, to members of the public without delay.  

REQUIRED NOTICES AND AGENDAS 

REGULAR MEETINGS:   

Agenda containing brief general description (approximately twenty words in length) of each matter to be considered or discussed must be posted at least 72 hours prior to meeting.  54954.2  Ch. IV   

SPECIAL MEETINGS:   

Twenty-four hour notice must be provided to members of legislative body and media outlets including brief general description of matters to be considered or discussed.  54956  Ch. IV   

EMERGENCY MEETINGS:   

One hour notice in case of work stoppage or crippling activity, except in the case of a dire emergency.  54956.5  Ch. IV   

CLOSED SESSION AGENDAS:   

All items to be considered in closed session must be described in the notice or agenda for the meeting.  A model format for closed-session agendas appears in section 54954.5.  Prior to each closed session, the body must orally announce the subject matter of the closed session.  If final action is taken in closed session, the body generally must report the action at the conclusion of the closed session.  54954.2; 54954.5; 54957.1 and 54957.7  Ch. IV   

AGENDA EXCEPTION:   

Special procedures permit a body to proceed without an agenda in the case of emergency circumstances, or where a need for immediate action came to the attention of the body after posting of the agenda.  54954.2(b)  Ch. IV   

CLOSED-SESSION MEETINGS 

PERSONNEL EXEMPTION:  

The body may conduct a closed session to consider appointment, employment, evaluation of performance, discipline or dismissal of an employee.  With respect to complaints or charges against an employee brought by another person or another employee, the employee must be notified, at least 24 hours in advance, of his or her right to have the hearing conducted in public.  

PUBLIC SECURITY:  

A body may meet with law enforcement or security personnel concerning the security of public buildings and services.  

PENDING LITIGATION:  

A body may meet in closed session to receive advice from its legal counsel concerning existing litigation, initiating litigation, or situations involving a significant exposure to litigation. The circumstances which constitute significant exposure to litigation are expressly defined in section 54956.9(b)(3).  

LABOR NEGOTIATIONS:  

A body may meet in closed session with its negotiator to consider labor negotiations with represented and unrepresented employees.  Issues related to budgets and available funds may be considered in closed session, although final decisions concerning salaries of unrepresented employees must be made in public.  

REAL PROPERTY NEGOTIATIONS:  

A body may meet in closed session with its negotiator to consider price and terms of payment in connection with the purchase, sale, exchange or lease of real property.  

REMEDIES AND SANCTIONS 

CIVIL REMEDIES:   

Individuals or the district attorney may file civil lawsuits for injunctive, mandatory or declaratory relief, or to void action taken in violation of the Act.  54960; 54960.1  Ch. VII   

Attorneys’ fees are available to prevailing plaintiffs.  54960.5   

CRIMINAL SANCTIONS:   

The district attorney may seek misdemeanor penalties against a member of a body who attends a meeting where action is taken in violation of the Act, and where the member intended to deprive the public of information which the member knew or has reason to know the public was entitled to receive.  54959  Ch. VII.   

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