Chapter Four –Legal Matters (Cont.)
“Adjourned meetings” are regular or special meetings that have been adjourned to a time and place specified in the order of adjournment, usually to a date prior to the next Regular Meeting. “Special meetings” are called by the chairperson or a majority of the legislative body to discuss specific items on the agenda and are subject to 24-hour posting requirements. “Emergency meetings” are a limited class of meetings held when prompt action is needed due to actual or threatened disruption of public facilities and require a one-hour notice prior to holding the meeting. Commission/committee staff is responsible for identifying the type of meeting and posting all notices, including the agenda and any notice of adjournment, and will make available to the public copies of agendas, notices, any supplemental documentation, and minutes in accordance with the Brown Act, the Public Records Act, City Council Ordinance No. 26-84, City Council Resolution No. 22-21, and the City’s records retention schedule. 4.1.2 Regular Meetings The Brown Act requires each legislative body to set the time for regular meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaws, or whatever specifies the conduct of that body’s business. City Council approves all changes in bylaws, including the change of scheduled meeting dates and times. Under City Council policy, regular meetings are generally held at City Hall or at other City facilities. Meetings may be held outside City facilities when City space is not available. Neighborhood meetings may be held outside City facilities. The Brown Act generally requires boards, commissions and committees to conduct public meetings. A “meeting” is considered to take place any time that a quorum of the advisory body gathers to discuss that body’s business and/or to take action. Further, the Brown Act prohibits a quorum from meeting privately. Note that a “task force” may or may not be subject to the Brown Act depending upon its composition and purpose. To this end, the Brown Act specifically prohibits “any use of direct communication, personal intermediaries or technological devices that is employed by a majority of the members of the legislative body to develop a collective concurrence as to action to be taken on an item by the members of the legislative body.” Hence the prohibition extends not only to personal contacts of the commission or committee members among themselves outside a public meeting, but also prohibits “serial” meetings whereby information is ultimately exchanged among a quorum of the members including but not
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