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MR <br />BES1r BEST & KniEGER q <br />ATTORNEYS AT LAW <br />To: PUBLIC AGENCY CLIENTS <br />From: BEST BEST & KRIEGER LLP <br />Date: JUNE 12, 2018 <br />Re: GUIDELINES TO PREVENT SERIAL MEETINGS <br />INTRODUCTION <br />The purpose of this memorandum is to provide members of "legislative bodies," <br />which include not only the governing body, but commissions, committees and standing <br />subcommittees, advisory or decision -making, with practical suggestions to prevent <br />"serial meetings" in violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act (Gov. Code § 54950, et seq.) <br />related to open and public meetings. <br />The Brown Act is meant to promote transparency and public participation in local <br />government: "All meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and <br />public...." (Gov. Code § 54953.) The Brown Act's definition of a "meeting" is broad: <br />"meeting" means any congregation of a majority of the <br />members of a legislative body at the same time and location, <br />including teleconference location as permitted by Section <br />54953, to hear, discuss, deliberate, or take action on any <br />item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the <br />legislative body. (Gov. Code § 54952.2(a).) <br />To hold a meeting, the Brown Act requires public notice to be posted that <br />includes the items of business to be discussed at the meeting. (Gov. Code § 54954.2.) <br />Unless there is a properly noticed meeting, a majority or quorum of the Brown Act body <br />members may not take action, deliberate, discuss —or even "hear" —items within the <br />subject matter of their council, board, commission, committee, or standing <br />subcommittee. It is easy for any observer to determine now when a majority or quorum <br />93939.0020EA31180968,1 -1 - <br />This product provided under the Public Policy & Ethics Group Program <br />