50A - ORDINANCE - SUNSHINE ORDINANCE

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ORDINANCE NO. NS-XXX Oxs 09/27/12) AN ORDINANCE OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA ADDING ARTICLE 11.1 through ARTICLE 11.111 to CHAPTER 2 OF THE SANTA ANA MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO THE CITY OF SANTA ANA SUNSHINE ORDINANCE THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA DOES ORDAIN AS FOLLOWS: SECTION 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines, and declares as follows: A. That all public agencies' actions, to the greatest extent possible, should be taken openly and that their deliberations should be conducted openly. B. An informed public is essential to democracy. It is the goal and intent of the City of Santa Ana Sunshine Ordinance that citizens of Santa Ana have timely access to information, opportunities to address the various legislative bodies prior to decisions being made, and easy and timely access to public records. C. The City Council's duty is to serve the public, reaching its decisions in full view of the public. D. The City Council, appointed legislative bodies, and other city officials exist to conduct the People's business. E. The City Council reaffirms its commitment to the purpose of the Brown Act that "all meetings of the legislative body of a local agency shall be open and public, and all persons shall be permitted to attend any meeting of the legislative body of a local agency." F. That while the Brown Act and Public Records Act exist to facilitate public participation in local government decisions and to curb misuse of the democratic process by secret legislation by public bodies, the Santa Ana Sunshine Laws are designed to reaffirm and strengthen the need for transparency as represented by these laws. G. The City Council enacts this Sunshine Ordinance to ensure that the people of Santa Ana remain in control of the government that they have created. Ordinance No. NS-XXX Page 1 of 10 50A-3