Brown Act

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Pamphlet: The ABCs of Open Government Laws

This handy pamphlet provides a plain-language explanation of what decision-makers need to know about California's transparency laws (the Brown Act and the Public Records Act). The pamphlet is three-hole punched for easy storage in agenda binders.  

The Institute is very grateful to Richards, Watson & Gershon, LLP, whose financial support of the Institute in 2010 made this pamphlet possible.

The Institute would like to thank the City Attorney's Brown Act Committee:

  • Michael Jenkins, City Attorney of Rolling Hills, Diamond Bar, West Hollywood and Hermosa Beach and with Jenkins and Hogin
  • Paul Zarefsky, Assistant City Attorney, City and County of San Francisco
  • Thomas D. Jex, Assistant City Attorney, Hemet and with Burke, Williams and Sorensen
  • Lori Barker, City Attorney, Chico
  • Theresa E. Fuentes, Assistant City Attorney, Pasadena
  • Martin Koczanowicz, City Attorney, Grover Beach and with Cota Cole & Associates
  • Yana Welinder, Assistant City Attorney, Auburn and with Colantuono & Levin, PC
  • Jonathan P. Lowell, City Attorney, Pleasanton

and Kourtney Burdick, Deputy General Counsel of the League of California Cities, for their contributions to the publication's content.Read more »

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Decision-Making Occurs At Meetings

Because of transparency requirements, virtually all of the conversations among a quorum of members of city councils, boards of supervisors and special district boards occur at public meetings. This is also true for certain committees, commissions, and boards created by these governing bodies. The law strictly limits the circumstances under which conversations among elected and appointed officials may occur in private (known as “closed sessions”)Read more »

League of California Cities Open Government Resources

The League of California Cities has developed a number of open government resources, including:

  • Open & Public IV: A User's Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act
  • The People's Business: A Guide to the California Public Records Act
  • The People's Business: A Chart of Frequently Requested Information and Records

See pod at right for links to these resources.

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Success in Public Service

This pamphlet helps those interested in public office understand the ethics laws that apply to public servants.Read more »

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When an Elected Official Feels Passionately About An Issue: Fair Process Requirements in Adjudicative Decision-Making

This article provides a detailed analysis of common law restrictions relating to decision-maker bias, as well as the consequences of having a biased decision-maker participate in a decision. 

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Special Legal Issues Associated with Resolving Disputes Among Public Agencies

Public agency decision-making, unlike that of private disputants, is subject to a number of laws designed to impart transparency and fairness to local agency decision-making.Read more »

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