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A. BROWN ACT AMENDMENTS (702-15) Report: City Attorney, Schricker, March 31, 1994 City Attorney Schricker discussed some ofthe highlights ofthe Brown Act in further detail. Legislative Body definition expands and clarifies standing committee's of the City Council. There are two kinds of standing committees: Any Committee established by Council/Charter or a Committee that has a continuing subject matter jurisdiction. Matters of Council Interest on the Agenda will need a brief description for each item. The Council will need to advise the Clerk's office of items to be placed on a future agenda. Items can be placed on the Council agenda after the agenda has been prepared by 3/4 vote of the Councilor if it is an emergency item. Availability of public documents is more specific. When the public brings an item to a council meeting it then becomes a public document. There is a fee schedule for copies. Enforcement provisions have been changed to some degree as to "intent" to violate the Brown Act. Written communication to every Council Member may become public information. This will need to be looked at on a case by case basis. Confidential correspondence from the City Attorney to the Council is protected by the Attorney client privilege. Councilwoman Steinfeld requested further information regarding the upcoming Progress Seminar. City Attorney Schricker advised of being alert to the possibility of being drawn into conversation and in violation of the Brown Act. The Staff will need to keep apprised of the Brown Act in order to handle proper notification for all meetings; including committees, sub-committees and standing committee meetings of the Council. The City Attorney advised that there will be little change in the policy for Closed Sessions. Council will need to make the information available only when documentation is final. In Closed Sessions regarding Personnel and Labor Relations the Council may not consider availability of funds, funding priorities or budget. From a practical standpoint this issue will need to be investigated further. Councilman Greenalch expressed the fact that now it will be more difficult to say that a public official has a private persona when it comes to dealing with the public. The intent is that the public has a right to know everything about its business. Some members of the public because of concerns about privacy issues or other issues may be less involved in the process because they have in confidence felt that they could approach public officials who would respect the confidentiality of their communications and by large public officials have respected that. Now there is no private persona when elected to public office. Regular Meeting Minutes MINUTE BOOK NO. 52 April 11, 1994 Page No. 209 Page 7 -' .-