REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
June 11, 2015
FROM: OLIVER BAINES, III, Council President
City Council Offices
SUBJECT
Title
***BILL NO. B-21 - (Intro 6/4/2015) (For adoption) - Adding Sections 2-803 and 2-603 to the Fresno Municipal Code (FMC), relating to boards and commissions and posting legal notices
Body
RECOMMENDATION
It is recommended that the Fresno City Council adopt adding Sections 2-803 and 2-603 to the Fresno Municipal Code relating to boards and commission and the posting of legal notices on the City Clerk's website to ensure the public has an opportunity to be informed of agenda items, minutes, and matters scheduled before "Brown Act" boards and commissions. In addition the posting of legal notices will ensure there is a centralized place that the public may review such postings.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The City of Fresno has numerous boards and commissions that allow for our residents to participate in the governance of our community. A few of the boards and commissions are subject to the Ralph M. Brown Act, which is also known as the California Open Meeting Law that grants the right of the public to attend and observe the inner workings on government as either an appointed member of the board or commission or a citizen.
The addition of these two sections to the Fresno Municipal Code, 2-803 and 2-603 would help to enhance that openness by ensuring that citizens have all the needed materials in advance of a board or commission meeting, so that they can help inform the process or better understand the process and its desired outcomes.
In addition a number of legal postings are required by local, state or federal regulations to ensure early notification of a pending legislative action, availability of funds, or review of certain policy documents. Those legal postings are traditionally done in the Fresno Bee and if a second publication is required by law in The Business Journal, however not everyone subscribes t...
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