LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES Representing Almost 500 Cities Requests Governor ‘take immediate action to pause certain statutory requirements, so that cities can devote the resources necessary to protect the health and safety of all Californians,’ including ‘Suspend the provision of Government Code 6253(c) that limits the extension to respond to 14 days for all Public Records Act requests other than those for records created during, and relating to, the State of Emergency.’

ABSTRACT: In a letter dated March 22, 2020 from Carolyn M. Coleman Executive Director, League of California Cities, to The Honorable Gavin Newsom Governor, Coleman requests that Newsom “take immediate action to pause certain statutory requirements, so that cities can devote the resources necessary to protect the health and safety of all Californians” including “Requested Relief” for Review and Approval of Development Projects, Housing Elements, California Environmental Quality Act, Transportation Funding, Public Records Act, Political Reform Act - Form 700, California Government Claims Act, Solar Permits, Wireless Telecommunication Facilities, Financial Reports and Police Department Registration. Regarding the Public Records Act, Relief Requested: State that the phrase “unusual circumstances” found in Section 6253(c) includes the State of Emergency. Suspend the provision of Government Code 6253(c) that limits the extension to respond to 14 days for all Public Records Act requests other than those for records created during, and relating to, the State of Emergency. In response, David Synder, Executive Director, First Amendment Coalition, stated “I don’t think it’s necessary for the governor to do this,” “If the governor were to do this, it would open the door to further abuses of the Public Records Act by agencies." “There could — and I think likely would — be a massive."


REFERENCES:
California Cities Want Public Records Act Suspended
donal brown April 1, 2020

California cities ask Newsom to suspend public records deadlines due to coronavirus
By Aaron Leathley
03/28/2020 03:26 PM EDT

Climate and Environment

California cities want transparency rules waived in pandemic
By Juliet Williams | AP
April 1, 2020 at 1:07 AM EDT

https://firstamendmentcoalition.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/132-Organizations-Sign-Statement-on-Government-Coronavirus-Emergency-Transparency-and-Public-Access.pdf

132 Organizations Sign Statement on Government Coronavirus Emergency Transparency and Public Access 

March 20, 2020

‘Strong Cities | Strong State’

ABSTRACT: “Strong Cities | Strong State,” is “an innovative campaign designed to communicate the importance of local government in California residents’ everyday lives, and the people at work delivering critical municipal services.” A “City” of “Strong Cities | Strong State” is the City of Monterey.  Monterey’s “Priority-Based Budgeting:”  “The success of the program encouraged the City to continue its commitment to priority-based budgeting. During the current fiscal year, the program focuses internally as departments analyze their programs, staffing and costs. Next year, the City will once again reach out to its citizens for feedback through a comprehensive community survey. Ultimately, the City hopes its new approach to budgeting will monitor the performance of individual programs; help set fees more accurately, and assist in decision-making about where to invest and / or withdraw City resources.” 

Note: The Cities of Monterey and Del Rey Oaks are the only peninsula cities involved with Strong Cities | Strong State.

Strong Cities | Strong State.on facebook 

ADDENDUM:

Strong Cities | Strong State Brings Home the Value of Cities and City Services

BY EVA SPIEGEL WESTERN CITY / SEPTEMBER 2012 /

WESTERN City, THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES: 'Closed Session Leaks: Discretion Is The Better Part of Valor — and Ethics'

ABSTRACT: A link to the article, "Closed Session Leaks: Discretion Is The Better Part of Valor — and Ethics,” October 2010, WESTERN City, THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, suggested reading from Fire Rich, is provided. A COMMENT is made.

The article, “Closed Session Leaks: Discretion Is The Better Part of Valor — and Ethics,” October 2010, WESTERN City, THE MONTHLY MAGAZINE OF THE LEAGUE OF CALIFORNIA CITIES, addresses a question about an elected official frequently disclosing information from closed session discussions.

COMMENT:
There is no dispute about the Brown Act specifically prohibiting the disclosure of confidential information acquired in closed sessions to a person or persons not entitled to receive it, “unless the legislative body authorizes disclosure of that confidential information” and the Courts decisions that elected officials do not have a “free-expression right” to share confidential information. There is, however, a dispute about whether an individual city council member voicing his/her opinion that it would be in the best interest of Carmelites and the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea for City Administrator Rich Guillen to leave city employment constitutes “confidential information” acquired in closed sessions.

Regardless, since city council members have chosen not to publicly give their personal opinions and judgments about the future city employment of City Administrator Rich Guillen, it is incumbent on Carmelites to eventually hold them to the following standard, as described in the article, as follows:

“...once the negotiations are concluded fuller disclosure may occur so the public can hold its representatives accountable for the decisions made in closed session. Agency officials may collectively decide to routinely disclose such information at the appropriate time, in the spirit of transparency and the public interest.”