A Primer and Update on Open Meeting Laws and Public Records in California

Understand the ins and outs of California's open meetings and open public records and how they can affect you.

Are you a reporter, a public information and records manager, city manager, special district, county or municipal official, law enforcement official, attorney or school administrator? Are you uncertain about how the Ralph M. Brown Act and the California Public Records Act laws apply to you? Nearly 60 years ago, when enacting the open meeting laws for California local agencies, the Legislature stated, ‘It is the intent of the law that their actions be taken openly and that their deliberations be conducted openly. The people of this State do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies, which serve them. The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know. The people insist on remaining informed so that they may retain control over the instruments they have created.' Find out what California law has to say about open meeting laws and in balancing the public's right to information with an individual's right to privacy. If you're involved with a local public agency, or if you represent the media, you need to know the ins and outs of California laws that govern public agencies.

Learning Objectives

You will be able to define which meetings of which local agencies are open meetings under California law.
You will be able to describe what public records are not subject to disclosure.
You will be able to identify the evolving rules relating to email, text messages and social media as it relates to public business.
You will be able to recognize the rules that permit agencies to conduct closed session meetings.

Speaker and Presenter Information

Kristopher J. Kokotaylo

Meyers Nave

Attorney with Meyers Nave
Serves as deputy city attorney for the City of Union and assistant city attorney of the City of San Leandro
Practice focuses on public law matters related to land use, real estate, construction, constitutional law, code enforcement, the Public Records Act, and the Brown Act
Frequent speaker and has written several publications
J.D. degree, cum laude, University of California, Hastings College of the Law; B.A. degree, summa cum laude, San Diego State University
Can be contacted at 510-808-2000 or kkokotaylo@meyersnave.com

Richard D. Pio Roda, Esq.

Meyers Nave

Principal with Meyers Nave
Advises the firm’s clients on matters relating to public contracting, procurement, construction, municipal governance, real estate, land use and conflicts of interest
City attorney for the city of San Leandro, general counsel for the Community Development Commission of Mendocino County and the Rodeo-Hercules Fire Protection District, special counsel to the San Francisco Unified School District's Facilities Design and Construction Department
J.D. degree, University of San Francisco School of Law; B.S. degree in accounting, minor in international economics, cum laude, University of San Francisco
Can be contacted at 510-808-2020 or rpioroda@meyersnave.com

Benjamin T. Reyes II, Esq.

Meyers Nave

Principal of Meyers Nave and city attorney for Pinole and Union City, California
20 years of experience as legal counsel to several public agencies
Chair of Public Contract Group
Represents California public agencies in municipal law, elections, construction and procurement issues
J.D. degree, University of San Francisco School of Law; B.A. degree, with honors, U.C. Berkeley
Can be contacted at 510-808-2000 or www.meyersnave.com