county of san diego interim chair: ellen nash jewish

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO

Leon L. Williams San Diego County Human Relations Commission

Interim Chair: Ellen Nash

Interim Vice Chair: Warsan Artan

District Attorney Summer Stephan

International Rescue Committee Rashid Essa

Jewish Family Services Kate Clark

San Diego Asian Pacific Islander Coalition

Samuel Tsoi

San Diego Rapid Response Network

Norma Chavez-Peterson

San Diego County Sheriff

William D. Gore

San Diego County Chairmen’s Tribal

Association Angela Elliot Santos

San Diego Chapter of the Black Political

Association Ellen Nash, Chair

San Diego LGBT

Community Center Cara Dessert

District 1, Cox Daphyne Watson Enrique Morones

Ryan Garcia

District 2, Jacob Austin Jones Kenya Taylor

Vince Kattoula

District 3, Gaspar Kate Chasin

Regina Roberts Shane Harris

District 4, Fletcher Nicole Murray Ramirez

Taha Hassane Warsan Artan, Vice

Chair

District 5, Desmond Angel Ortiz

Eleanor Evans Gwen Sanders

Commission Seats 10-16 Elena Perez

Estela De Los Rios George Khoury

Griselda Ramirez Maya Alfonso Pedro Anaya

Tammy Gillies

LEON L. WILLIAMS SAN DIEGO COUNTY HUMAN

RELATIONS COMMISSION

MINUTES

DATE: December 15, 2020

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM

LOCATION: Zoom Virtual Meeting

Commission Members in Attendance

Angela Elliott-Santos Bill Gore- Nadia

Moshirian Binderup as

Cara Dessert Daphyne Watson

designee for second

hour of meeting.

Eleanor Evans Ellen Nash Enrique Morones George Khoury

Gina Roberts Griselda Ramirez Gwen Sanders Kate Chasin

Kate Clark Kenya Taylor Nicole Murray Ramirez Norma Chavez-

Peterson

Pedro Anaya Rashid Essa Ryan Garcia Samuel Tsoi

Summer Stephan-Yoli

Apalategui as designee

for first hour of

meeting.

Taha Hassane Tammy Gillies Vince Kattoula

Warsan Artan

Guests & Staff

Andrew Strong, CAO Chief of Staff, Chief Administrative Office

Claudia G. Silva, Director, Office of Ethics and Compliance

Denise Alvarez-Negrete, Administrative Secretary III, Office of Ethics and Compliance

Elizabeth Bustos, Community Development Liaison, HHSA Executive Office

Guadalupe Velasquez, Senior Consultant, Othering and Belonging Institute

Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD

Nadia Moshirian Binderup, Public Affairs Officer, Sheriff Department

Natalia Bravo, CAO Project Manager, Chief Administrative Office

Paul Parker, Executive Officer, Citizens’ Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB)

Priya Shankar, Consultant, UPD

Rachel Witt, Chief Deputy County Counsel, Office of County Counsel

Wendy Ake, Director, Othering and Belonging Institute

Yoli Apalategui, Public Affairs Officer, District Attorney

1. Call to order – Meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m.

2. Roll call – Conducted

Commission Members Absent

o Angel Ortiz

o Austin Jones

o Elena Perez

o Estela De Los Rios

o Maya Alfonso

o Shane Harris

3. Public Comment: None.

4. Approval of Minutes for September 22, 2020, October 6, 2020, October 20, 2020, October 22,

2020, November 10, 2020, November 24, 2020, and December 1, 2020.

Commission Member Gina Roberts made a motion to approve the minutes for dates

mentioned above. Seconded by Commission Member Eleanor Evans.

Vote: 18 Approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained, 13 absent/no response. Motion Passes.

5. Discussion of community raised matters relating to the Commission promoting positive human

relations. Discussion is limited to 15 minutes which may include the Commission placing the

matter on a future agenda for possible action.

6. Presentation on the Citizen’s Law Enforcement Review Board (CLERB)

Presentation by Paul Parker, Chief Executive Officer of CLERB.

Member Harris is requesting the commission to conduct a study of all county commissions

and boards to have a break down on Race, Ethnicity, Gender, and Age to be added to the

next agenda.

7. Development of mission statement for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice – update from

Mission Statement Ad Hoc Committee

Presentation by OBI and UPD.

8. Adoption of 2021 Regular Meeting Schedule

Commission Member George Khoury made a motion to adopt meeting schedule. Seconded by

Commission Member Eleanor Evans.

Approved: Opposed: Abstained: Absent/No Response:

Angela Elliott-Santos

Bill Gore

Cara Dessert

Eleanor Evans

Ellen Nash

George Khoury

Gina Roberts

Griselda Ramirez

Gwen Sanders

Kate Chasin

Kenya Taylor

Nicole Murray Ramirez

Pedro Anaya

Rashid Essa

Ryan Garcia

Yoli Apalategui

Vince Kattoula

Warsan Artan

Angel Ortiz

Austin Jones

Daphyne Watson

Enrique Morones

Estela De Los Rios

Kate Clark

Elena Perez


Maya Alfonso

Samuel Tsoi

Shane Harris

Taha Hassane

Tammy Gillies

Vote: 21 Approved, 0 opposed, 0 abstained, 10 absent/no response. Motion passes.

9. Thank you to Commission Members whose terms are soon concluding

10. Communication received from the City of San Diego Human Relations Commission

No action is requested or needed to be taken.

11. Future Agenda Items

12. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 12:10 p.m.

Approved: Opposed: Abstained: Absent/No Response:

Angela Elliott-Santos

Nadia Moshirian Binderup

Cara Dessert

Daphyne Watson

Eleanor Evans

Ellen Nash

Enrique Morones

George Khoury

Gina Roberts

Kate Clark

Kenya Taylor



Pedro Anaya

Rashid Essa

Ryan Garcia

Samuel Tsoi

Summer Stephan

Tammy Gillies

Vince Kattoula

Warsan Artan

Angel Ortiz

Austin Jones

Elena Perez

Estela De Los Rios

Griselda Ramirez-left 2nd

hour of meeting

Gwen Sanders

Kate Chasin

Shane Harris

Maya Alfonso

Taha Hassan

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO








Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Cox Daphyne Watson Enrique Morones

Ryan Garcia

District 2, Jacob Austin Jones Kenya Taylor

Vince Kattoula

District 3, Gaspar Kate Chasin

Regina Roberts Shane Harris



Chair





Griselda Ramirez Maya Alfonso Pedro Anaya

Tammy Gillies



MINUTES

DATE: January 7, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Angela Elliot Santos Bill Gore Eleanor Evans Elena Perez

Ellen Nash Estela De Los Rios George Khoury Pedro Anaya

Samuel Tsoi Summer Stephan Taha Hassane Tammy Gillies

Taha Hassane Tammy Gillies Warsan Artan

Guests & Staff





Guadalupe Velasquez, Senior Associate, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging

Institute Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD Consulting

Nadia Moshirian Binderup, Community Inclusion Director, Sheriff’s Department

Natalia Bravo, CAO Project Manager, Chief Administrative Office Priya Shankar, Consultant, UPD Consulting


Wendy Ake, Director, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging Institute



Commission Members Absent:

o Angel Ortiz

o Cara Dessert

o Kate Clark

o Maya Alfonso

o Norma Chavez-Peterson

o Nicole Murray Ramirez

o Rashid Essa

3. Public Comment: Francine Maxwell, NAACP.




5. Update and discussion of development of mission statement for the Office of Equity and Racial

Justice

Update and introductions by Wendy Ake, Othering and Belonging Institute; Guadalupe

Velasquez Othering and Belonging Institute; Priya Shankar, UPD Consulting; and Jessica

Chacon, UPD Consulting.

6. Discussion regarding requesting a study of the demographics of board, commissions, and

committees

Commission Member Eleanor Evans made a motion to request the CAO to direct staff to

conduct study of demographics of all San Diego boards and commissions. Seconded by

Commission Member George Khoury.


7. Vacant seats

To add recruitment strategy to community and opportunities to the next agenda.


Workforce Diversity report for program suicide prevention. District Attorney Office will

request her office to provide on the next Agenda.

9. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 12:11 p.m.

Approved: Opposed: Abstained: Absent/No

Response:

Angela Elliot Santos

Bill Gore

Eleanor Evans

Elena Perez

Ellen Nash

Estela De Los Rios

George Khoury

Gwen Sanders

Pedro Anaya

Summer Stephan

Taha Hassane

Warsan Artan

None. None. Angel Ortiz

Cara Dessert

Kate Clark

Maya Alfonso

Norma Chavez-

Peterson

Nicole Murray

Ramirez

Rashid Essa Samuel Tsoi/left

meeting

Tammy

Gillies/left

meeting

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO








Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Vargas

District 2, Anderson

District 3, Lawson-Remer



Chair





Pedro Anaya Tammy Gillies



MINUTES

DATE: January 19, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Pedro Anaya Warsan Artan Norma Chavez-Peterson Kate Clark

Estela De Los Rios Cara Dessert Angela Elliot Santos George Khoury

Nicole Murray Ramirez Ellen Nash Elena Perez Gwen Sanders

Summer Stephan Samuel Tsoi

Guests & Staff





Guadalupe Velasquez, Senior Consultant, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging

Institute Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD Consulting



Rachel Witt, Chief Deputy County Counsel, Office of County Counsel Wendy Ake, Director, Targeted Universalism, and Public Finance Othering and Belonging Institute




o Rashid Essa

o Bill Gore

o Angel Ortiz





5. Update and discussion of development of mission statement for the Office of Equity and Racial

Justice

Update by Wendy Ake, Director, Targeted Universalism, and Public Finance Othering and

Belonging Institute.

6. Board action declaring racism as a public health crisis

Update by Claudia G. Silva, Director, Office of Ethics and Compliance. Board of Supervisor’s

meeting on January 12 adopted resolution declaring racism is a public health crisis and has

directed CAO to report back to BOS within 90 days with an action plan.

7. Request for diversity information regarding staff of San Diego County Suicide Prevention

Council based on public comment received on January 7, 2021.

Update by Claudia G. Silva, Director, Office of Ethics and Compliance. County of San Diego

Behavioral Services has a contract with Community Health Improvement Partners (CHIP) by

facilitating advisory council and other related subcommittees. Staffing level breakdown

provided.


9. Adjournment – Meeting adjourned at 11:30 a.m.

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO








Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Vargas





Chair








MINUTES

DATE: February 4, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Pedro Anaya Warsan Artan Kate Clark Estela De Los Rios

Angela Elliot Santos Eleanor Evans Tammy Gillies Bill Gore Designee -Nadia

Moshirian Binderup

Taha Hassane George Khoury Nicole Murray Ramirez Ellen Nash

Elena Perez Gwen Sanders Summer Stephan Samuel Tsoi

Guests & Staff





Guadalupe Velasquez, Senior Associate, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging Institute

Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD Consulting

Matthew Brown, Associate Director, Anti-Defamation League




Wendy Ake, Director, Just Public Finance, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging Institute

1. Call to Order – Meeting called to order at 10:00 a.m.

2. Roll Call


o Cara Dessert

o Norma Chavez-Peterson

o Rashid Essa



relations. Discussion is limited to 15 minutes which may include the Commission placing the matter on

a future agenda for possible action.

A discussion occurred to address and resolve the complaint received by former Commission Member

Enrique Morones of Gente Unida against the County of San Diego Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff’s

Department provided a response referring the complainant can file a complaint with Citizens Law

Enforcement Review Board (CLERB). The Leon L. Williams Human Relations Commission does not

have authority over Sheriff matters. A letter from the commission will be sent to complainant with

option to file a complaint with CLERB. The commission will inquire with CLERB if such complaints

have been filed and report back to the commission.

5. Update and discussion of development of mission statement for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice

Presented by Guadalupe Velasquez, Targeted Universalism, Othering and Belonging Institute.

6. Presentation on extremist/hate groups by Anti Defamation League (ADL)

Presentation by Matthew Brown, Associate Director, Anti-Defamation League-San Diego.

7. Update on vacancies

Updated provided by Claudia G. Silva, Director, Office of Ethics and Compliance. Demographic

information to be shared with the commission on the next agenda. The Board of Supervisors currently

has ten open seats for which nominations will be made.


The office of the District Attorney will be presenting in the upcoming March meeting. A request will be

made to take a vote on the next meeting to provide the commission with monthly status reports on hate

crimes filed with the District Attorneys’ Office.

9. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned at 11:53 a.m.

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO








Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Vargas





Chair

District 5, Desmond Eleanor Evans Gwen Sanders






MINUTES

DATE: February 23, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Pedro Anaya Warsan Artan Norma Chavez-Peterson Kate Clark

Estela De Los Rios Cara Dessert Angela Elliot-Santos Rashid Essa

Eleanor Evans Tammy Gillies Bill Gore Taha Hassan

George Khoury Nicole Murray Ramirez Ellen Nash Elena Perez

Gwen Sanders Summer Stephan Samuel Tsoi

Guests & Staff

Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Social Justice





Kelly Martinez, Undersheriff


Natalia Bravo, CAO Chief of Staff


Yolanda Apalategui, Assistant District Attorney (Attended for Summer Stephan)


2. Roll Call






Presentation by Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD and Wendy Ake, Director, Targeted

Universalism, and Public Finance Othering and Belonging Institute.

6. Presentation on protests, demonstrations, and rallies by the Sheriff’s Department

Presentation by Sheriff Bill Gore and Undersheriff Kelly Martinez.

7. Update on vacancies: demographics and nomination process

Update by Claudia G. Silva, Director, Office of Ethics and Compliance.

8. Update on Office of Equity and Racial Justice

Introduction of OERJ Director, Andrew Strong.

9. Upcoming Officer elections: overview of process

Members to express interest to select the Chair and Vice Chair nominees for Human Relations

commission to be at the next meeting.

10. Communications sent regarding non-agenda public comments relating to November protest

Communications from Human Relations Commission were provided to the individuals and no

additional follow up was received.


12. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned at 12:08 p.m.

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO








Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Vargas Rodney Fowler Sr. Cinnamon Clark



Christina Griffin-Jones



Chair







MINUTES

DATE: March 4, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Pedro Anaya Warsan Artan Cinnamon

Clark

Estela De Los Rios

Angela Elliot Santos Rashid Essa Eleanor Evans Rodney Fowler

Tammy Gillies Bill Gore – Designee Nadia

Moshirian Binderup

Taha Hassane George Khoury

Nicole Murray Ramirez Ellen Nash Elena Perez Gwen Sanders

Summer Stephan

Guests & Staff

Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice



Doug Austin, CEO & Founder, UPD Consulting



Leonard Trinh, Deputy District Attorney





2. Roll Call


o Cara Dessert

o Christina Griffin-Jones

o Kate Clark

o Norma Chavez-Petreson

o Samuel Tsoi

3. Public Comment: Gina Roberts




5. Introduce new Commission members

6. Update on Office of Equity and Racial Justice

Update by Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice (OERJ). Two new recruitments

for OERJ staff vacancies have been released. Uplift Boys & Men of Color, and Cannabis Social Equity

Program are newly approved BOS initiatives under OERJ’s purview.


Update by Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD Consulting and Doug Austin, CEO & Founder,

Urban Policy Development Consulting. Mission Statement development update: Survey link will be

distributed by email March 8th. Outreach mechanisms will be used. Survey feedback to be provided at

the next Ad Hoc Committee on March 23rd.

8. Presentation on hate crimes and hate incidents by the District Attorney’s Office

Presentation by District Attorney Summer Stephan, and Deputy District Attorney Leonard Trinh.

9. Upcoming Officer elections: statements of interest in serving as Chair and/or Vice-Chair

Meeting ended; item trailed.

10. Resolution proposed by Member Gillies regarding January 6, 2021

Item trailed to strategic planning at Member Gillies request.


12. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned at 11:43 a.m.

COUNTY OF SAN DIEGO






MINUTES

DATE: March 23, 2021

TIME: 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM



Pedro Anaya Warsan Artan Norma Chavez-

Peterson

Cinnamon Clark

Estela De Los Rios Cara Dessert Rashid Essa Eleanor Evans

Rodney Fowler Tammy Gillies Bill Gore- Nadia

Moshirian Binderup as

Proxy


Taha Hassane Dennis Hodges George Khoury Nicole Murray Ramirez

Ellen Nash Elena Perez Gwen Sanders Summer Stephan

Samuel Tsoi





Samuel Tsoi




William D. Gore





San Diego LGBT


District 1, Vargas Rodney Fowler Sr. Cinnamon Clark

District 2, Anderson Tim Riemann

Dennis Hodges





Chair





Guests & Staff

Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice




Guadalupe Velasquez, Senior Consultant, Othering and Belonging Institute




Priya Shankar, Consultant, UPD Consulting


Wendy Ake, Director Othering and Belonging Institute


2. Roll Call


o Angela Elliot-Santos

o Kate Clark

o Tim Riemann

3. Public Comment: Dave Myers.




5. Introduce new Commission members

The Commission welcomes members Christina Griffin-Jones, Dennis Hodges, and Tim Riemann.

6. Calendaring Commission special meeting to be held April 13, 2021

7. Upcoming Officer elections: statements of interest in serving as Chair and/or Vice-Chair

Interest expressed by members Warsan Artan, Ellen Nash, and Nicole Murray Ramirez.

8. Proposed mission statement for the Office of Equity and Racial Justice

Presentation by Jessica Chacon, Senior Consultant, UPD; Priya Shankar, Consultant, UPD Consulting;

and Andrew Strong, Director, Office of Equity and Racial Justice; Gina Roberts.

A motion was made to adopt final mission statement as presented. Motion was made by member

Eleanor Evans. Seconded by member George Khoury.


Approved: Opposed: Abstained: Absent/No

Response:

9. Presentation on anti-Asian hate incidents by the San Diego API Coalition

Presentation by member Samuel Tsoi, Kent Lee, Kirin Macapugay, API Coalition.


11. Adjournment – Meeting Adjourned at 12:02 p.m.

Pedro Anaya

Warsan Artan


Cinnamon Clark

Estela De Los Rios

Cara Dessert

Rashid Essa

Eleanor Evans

Rodney Fowler

Tammy Gillies

Nadia Moshirian

Binderup/Proxy for

Sherriff Bill Gore

Christina Griffin Jones

Taha Hassan

Dennis Hodges

George Khoury


Ellen Nash

Elena Perez

Gwen Sanders

Summer Stephan

Samuel Tsoi

Angela Elliot-

Santos

Kate Clark

Time Riemann

The Ralph M. Brown Act

Open Meeting Law

Gov. Code §§ 54950‐54963

Executive Orders N-29-20 /N-08-21*

Office of County Counsel

Rachel H. Witt, Chief Deputy

July 27, 2021

Purpose and Goals of the Brown Act

Transparency Goals

Public access to meetings

Public access to deliberations

Public participation

Public access to documents

How the Brown Act

Accomplishes its Goals

Broad definition of “legislative body”

Broad definition of “meeting”

Logistical requirements

Notice requirements

Communication rules

Public records

Sanctions

What is a “Legislative Body”?

The governing body of a local agency

County, city, school district, special district

Any local body created by state or federal statute

Any commission, committee, board or other body

created by formal action of a legislative body

Gov’t Code § 54952

A Legislative Body Can Be:

Permanent or Temporary

Decision making or Advisory

Created by charter, ordinance, resolution or any formal

action

Includes standing committees

Exception: advisory committees of less than a quorum

with limited duration and no formal meeting schedule

(ad hoc) - May be more restrictive

What is a “Meeting”?

Broadly Defined

A congregation of a majority of members

At the same time and place

To hear, discuss or deliberate on something

within their jurisdiction.

Gov’t Code § 54952.2

Majority of Members

Human Relations Commission

31 member commission

Currently

29 members appointed

Bylaws – Majority of members appointed

15 to take action

16 with a full Commission

What is a “Meeting”?

Serial meetings are prohibited

What is a Serial Meeting?

Majority of members use a series of communications of any kind directly or through intermediaries to discuss, deliberate or take action


Serial Meetings - Methods

Discussing/sharing views through a series of:

Emails, text messages

Phone conversations

Face-to-face conversations

Intermediaries or polls

Examples

Reply All

Chain: A contacts B; B contacts C …

Hub & Spoke: A contacts B; A contacts C …

Social Media – January 1, 2021

AB 992 : internet based social media platforms open to the public

Allows members to engage on social media to answer questions, provide or solicit information so long as a majority does not discuss among themselves

Prohibits a member from responding directly to any social media on the internet of another member of the same legislative body on a subject matter within the jurisdiction of the shared board (No digital icons/emojis/tweets/sharing)

Prohibition Against Serial Meetings Does Not Prohibit

All Communication

Prohibition of serial meetings does not prevent an

employee or official of a local agency from engaging in

separate communications with members of legislative

body in order to answer questions or provide information

regarding a matter so long as that person does not

communicate the comments or position of the

member to other members of the legislative body.

- Gov’t Code § 54952.2(b)

Not a Meeting

Individual contacts with a member

Attendance at a conference or noticed non-County meeting so long as:

a - it’s open to the public

b - members don’t discuss business within their jurisdiction except as part of the scheduled program

Gov’t Code § 54952.2(c)

Not a Meeting (cont’d.)

Attendance of a majority at a purely social or ceremonial occasion [no discussion of County business]

Attendance as observers only at an open and noticed meeting [no discussion of County business]

Gov’t Code § 54952.2(c)

Meetings Open to the Public

All meetings shall be open and public and all

persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting

unless the Brown Act expressly states otherwise

Secret ballots are prohibited

Must publicly report any action taken and the vote

or abstention on that action for each member

present

-Gov’t Code § 54953(a)

Teleconferenced Meetings

Meetings where members are in different locations connected electronically by video, audio or both

Specific procedures are required:

- Votes taken by roll call

- Agendas must list and be posted at all locations (including the remote location) *

- A quorum must be within the jurisdiction and open to the public with an opportunity to speak*

Zoom – Chat Function

Gov’t Code § 54953 as modified by EO

Regular Meetings: Time and Place

Establish regular meetings by ordinance, resolution,

bylaw or other rule


Meetings- Prohibited Facilities

Meetings may not be in any facility that:

Discriminates

Inaccessible to disabled

Requires payment


Accommodations Under the ADA

All public meetings must meet the protections and prohibitions contained in the ADA (physical locations)*

Under the EO: Establish a procedure to receive and resolve requests for reasonable accommodations (virtual locations)

Gov’t Code § 54953.2 as modified by EO

No Conditions to Attendance

by the Public

Registration is not required

Attendance or registration lists must state

signing is voluntary

Gov. Code § 54953.3

Regular Meetings – Notice:

Agenda Content and Posting Requirements

Post 72 hours before a regular meeting

A brief general description of each item to be

discussed or acted upon

Specify the time and location of the regular meeting

and must be posted in a location that is freely

accessible to members of the public and on the

County’s web site

Agenda must state who to ask for an alternate agenda

as required by the ADA

Requirement to Mail Notice to

Requesting Parties

Upon written request the agenda and backup

materials must be timely mailed to a person

The written request is valid for one calendar year

A fee may be charged - not to exceed the cost of

providing the service

Alternate agenda packets must be available if

requested as required by the ADA

- Gov’t Code § 54954.1

Special Meetings- Notice:

Agenda Content and Posting Requirements

Presiding officer can call (Chair)

Majority of members can call

24-hour notice to be received by:

- members

- media having requested it

Post notice in a location freely accessible to the public and on the County’s web site

Notice to identify time, place & business.


Emergency Meetings

Allowed where prompt action is necessary due to disruption of public facilities (without 24-hour notice)

- in an emergency where the majority finds the emergency severely impairs public health, safety or both

Allowed in dire emergency (cannot provide even 1-hour notice)

- mass destruction or threatened terrorist act that poses so immediate and significant a peril as to warrant not even one hour notice


Public Comment

Public opportunity to provide comment on specific agenda items and general public comment

May impose reasonable time limits

Public criticism must be allowed

Under the EO members allowed to observe the meeting and provide comment either telephonically or otherwise electronically

Gov’t Code § 54954.3 as modified by EO

No Action

Discussion on Items Not Posted

General Rule:

No action or discussion may be taken on any item not on the posted agenda

“Action” means

A collective decision of a majority

A collective commitment or promise of a majority

An actual vote by a majority sitting as a body or entity


Exceptions to No Discussion Rule

Briefly respond or ask a question arising out of public comment

Ask a question for clarification

Make a brief announcement or report on member’s activities

Referral to staff

Direct staff to place a matter on a future agenda


Conduct of Meetings - Right to Record

By audio or video or motion camera recording unless

persistent disruption results

Recordings made by the agency are public records but

may be destroyed 30 days after recording

Inspection of video or tape recordings must be

provided for without charge


Conduct of Meetings - Right to Broadcast

Cannot be restricted unless there is finding that it

results in persistent disruption

-Gov’t Code § 54953.6

Greater Access to Meetings

Local agency may impose greater access on

legislative bodies they create

May allow for greater access than required


Documents Given to Legislative Body at Open

Meetings

Writings available to public

Available in alternative formats for persons with disabilities

Available at meetings - prepared by agency

Available after meetings – prepared by other

Not required if the Public Records Act provides an exemption


Clearing of Meeting Room

Willful interruption

Orderly conduct of meetings unfeasible

Removal of disruptive individuals

Removal of everyone except media not involved in the disturbance


Meetings May Be Adjourned

To a time & place specified in the order

Less than a quorum may adjourn

Staff may adjourn if no members

The adjournment order must be posted within 24 hours on the door and online

Hearings may be continued by the same process

For continuances of less than 24 hours, immediate notice must be posted

Gov’t Code §§ 54955 & 54955.1

Closed Session - General

Authority for closed sessions narrowly construed

Closed sessions must be expressly authorized by statute

Litigation (Exiting/Threat/Initiation)

Labor Negotiations

Real Property Negotiations

Public Employment

Gov’t Code §§ 54956.75 through 54957.8

Confidentiality of Closed Session

Disclosure of closed session confidential

information prohibited

Legislative body may authorize disclosure

Remedies for Violations:

Injunctive relief

Referral to District Attorney


Sanctions

Each member who attends a “meeting” where

“action” is taken in violation of the Brown Act and

the member knows or has reason to know the public

is entitled is guilty of a misdemeanor

The DA or any interested person may sue to ask a

court for judicial relief (including stopping,

prevention or invalidating an action)

Gov’t Code §§ 54959 & 54960

Questions?

Rules of Order

Adopted by Human Relations Commission November 10, 2020

In order to maintain order in the meeting to ensure all matters on the agenda can be addressed

and all voices have the opportunity to be heard, as Chair and Vice-chair of the Commission we

are implementing some general rules of order.

1. Arrive to the meeting on time having read the agenda materials.

2. Be respectful of others who are speaking, remain on mute until it is your turn to speak

and avoid interrupting others. Raise your hand to be called on by the Chair. Do not speak

until called on by the Chair.

3. Each Commissioner will be allowed no more than 3 minutes of time to speak on an item

and those who have not spoken will be given an opportunity to speak before anyone who

has previously spoken on the agenda item. The Chair may mute Commissioners who

repeatedly violate the 3 minute time limit.

4. Keep discussion focused on the Agenda item.

5. Do not use the chat function for any discussion. The chat function should only be used to

announce your arrival or departure from the meeting or if you are having IT problems.

6. Be clear when making a motion or taking an action. For example, “I, [Commission

Member’s name] make a motion to adopt the staff recommendation.” “I [Commission

Member’s name] second that motion.”

7. Commissioner correspondence regarding Agenda Items will be distributed to the

Commission on the Monday before the Meeting and will be posted onto the Commission

webpage.

The chair will adjourn the meeting promptly at the designated stop time. Any item on the agenda

which has not been fully discussed or heard will carry over to the next Commission meeting.