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FRESNO, Calif. \u2014 A Fresno County Superior Court judge ruled that the Fresno City Council violated California\u2019s open meetings law by conducting budget deliberations \u201cbehind closed doors for years, without public notice or the opportunity for residents to attend or participate,\u201d according to a report published by the ACLU of Northern California.<\/p>\n
According to the ACLU of Northern California, the Fresno City Council\u2019s budget committee negotiated the city\u2019s annual budget in secret beginning in 2018, violating the Ralph M. Brown Act, which \u201cguarantees the public\u2019s right to attend and participate in meetings of local government bodies.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ACLU of Northern California reported that the First Amendment Coalition and the ACLU Foundation of Northern California filed the lawsuit in November 2023 after \u201cfirst sending a letter demanding the city stop crafting its annual budget in secret.\u201d<\/p>\n
The ACLU of Northern California stated that the city argued the budget committee was an \u201cad hoc committee,\u201d and therefore \u201cnot subject to the Brown Act,\u201d despite the fact that \u201cthe Council itself voted to make it a standing committee subject to open meeting laws in a January 2023 vote.\u201d<\/p>\n
The report also noted the \u201cundisputed track record of the committee operating as a standing committee before that time,\u201d providing further support for the court\u2019s ruling that the committee was subject to transparency laws.<\/p>\n
According to the ACLU of Northern California, First Amendment Coalition Legal Director David Loy stated, \u201cThis ruling makes clear that secret budget committee deliberations are not just bad policy \u2014 they are illegal.\u201d<\/p>\n
Loy added that \u201cFresno residents deserve nothing short of full transparency on how their elected officials are spending taxpayer dollars,\u201d emphasizing the importance of government transparency concerns.<\/p>\n
The ACLU of Northern California reported that the Fresno County Superior Court confirmed the Budget Committee \u201cis a standing committee subject to California\u2019s open meetings law,\u201d and ruled that the city violated the law when it failed \u201cto post agendas, open its meetings to the public, or prepare minutes.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the ACLU of Northern California, the committee was making decisions on a \u201crecord-breaking $1.87 billion budget\u201d while giving the public no \u201copportunity to provide input.\u201d<\/p>\n
Angelica Salceda described the conduct as \u201ca flagrant violation of the Brown Act,\u201d according to the report.<\/p>\n
Salceda stated, \u201cToday\u2019s ruling is a major victory for open government,\u201d placing the ruling within the broader significance of public participation and government accountability.<\/p>\n
Through its emphasis on meetings conducted \u201cbehind closed doors,\u201d the failure \u201cto post agendas,\u201d and the denial of residents\u2019 \u201copportunity to provide input,\u201d the report highlights ongoing concerns regarding government transparency and the ability of the public to oversee taxpayer spending.<\/p>\n
Follow the Vanguard on Social Media \u2013 X<\/a>, Instagram <\/a>and Facebook<\/a>.\u00a0 Subscribe <\/a>the Vanguard News letters.\u00a0 To make a tax-deductible donation, please visit davisvanguard.org\/donate<\/a> or give directly through ActBlue<\/a>.\u00a0 Your support will ensure that the vital work of the Vanguard continues.<\/p>\n Categories: Breaking News<\/a> Civil Rights<\/a> State of California<\/a> Tags: ACLU of Northern California<\/a> First Amendment Coalition<\/a> Fresno City Council<\/a> government transparency<\/a> open meetings law<\/a> Ralph M. Brown Act<\/a>