AD HOC COMMITTEE OF THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE TASK FORCE REGARDING PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE SUNSHINE ORDINANCE
MINUTES*
Tuesday, February 12, 2002
8:00 a.m., City Hall, Room 408
Committee Members: Joshua Koltun, Chair, Daniel Guillory, Ted Kowalczuk
Roll Call: All present
General discussion on how to solicit recommendations from all interested parties for possible amendments to the Sunshine Ordinance. Topics discussed for consideration in priority order
What enforcement power the Task Force has
What is history of Orders of Determination
What are options available
What is jurisdiction of the Task Force
What is an open meeting
Interaction among members of bodies with regard to agenda items
Electronic communication
Comments from Members
Opinions from groups that worked on ordinance to be included in discussions, i.e., members of First Amendment Committee
Recommendations from this committee would be to recommend to the full Task Force and for the Task Force to recommend to the Board of Supervisors.
Electronic noticing of information (is this inclusive to all of the population).
Solicit written comments from community person regarding changes to the ordinance with regard to enforcement
At least set one meeting by end of April to have a proposal to the full Task Force.
Have Special Meeting of Task Force, including past members, within next month, to give us their experience with inability to enforce.
Circulate notice to all past members there will be a hearing on the question of enforcement; and submit in writing recollections where powers fell short.
Report requested from Deputy City Attorney regarding enforcement powers.
Public comment from Garrett Jenkins regarding taking extra effort in getting input before placing on ballot; electronic media not available to all population; information can be disseminated through television and newspapers.
Public comment from Richard Knee regarding timeline; do we need to get on ballot in November; priorities, enforcement top priority; explore having meetings of this committee in the community; call in technical expertise; non-profit threshold, possibly lower; notify all interested organizations of meetings and attorneys who specialize in open meetings.
Public comment from Bob Planthold regarding how to solicit recommendations; one discriminatory aspect of the current initiative in membership categories—all times there shall be a member with a physical handicap; what constitutes a physical handicap is troubling; initial ordinance said with a disability; regarding enforcement are powers dormant; need to use them; or are they inadequate; am aware of only one time when a complainant had a District Attorney involvement; how do you work with unresponsive departments; roll call votes not always taken by groups; ask a variety of groups what they think the sunshine initiative should address; move with speed.
Public comment. No public comment. Meeting adjourned at 9:30 a.m.
Donna L. Hall, Administrator
*The February 12, 2002 Ad Hoc Committee on Proposed Amendments to the Sunshine Ordinance meeting has been recorded and is on file in the Sunshine Ordinance Task Force Office.