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SEP - 01 -2004 WED 09;15 AM FAX NO, P. 04/16 IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS OF MEASURE "CC" (Access to Public Meetings and Records, Audio Record of Closed Sessions, Citizen Participation at Meetings of Ad Hoc Committees, City Clerk Assist Public in Accessing Public Records) This measure contains four proposed amendments to the City of Riverside Charter. The first proposed amendment would add a new section to the Charter entitled "Access to public meetings and public records." Current law requires meetings of legislative bodies of local public agencies to be open and public. Such legislative bodies include the City Council, and any commission, committee, board or other body created by the City Council except for "ad hoc" committees or bodies created by the Mayor. An 'ad hoc" committee is generally considered to be an advisory body composed solely of lass than a quorum, or majority, of the legislative body. An ad hoc committee is one that will serve a limited or single purpose, is not perpetual, and is to be dissolved once their specilictask is completed. An example would be an advisory committee composed of less than a quorum created to advise City staff on a single, narrow issue of importance to the City. Current law does not require the City to make meetings of "ad hoc" committees created by the City Council or other bodies created by the Mayor open and public. If passed by a majority of voters, this measure would codify such existing California law in the Charter, and would also provide that all ad hoc committees created by the City Councilor other bodies created by the Mayor are subject to such laws. The second proposed amendment pertains to closed session meetings of the City Council. Current law providesthat'closed sessions" are meetings conducted in private without the attendance of the public or the media. Such meetings are permitted only for specified purposes. It passed by a majority of voters, this measure would require the City to audio - record all such closed session meetings, retain such recordings for at least two years, and keep such recordings confidential. The third proposed amendment pertains to the right of Citizens to make comments at meetings of ad hoc City Council committees. Current law provides that citizens may publicly comment at regular meetings of the City Council or City Council standing committees. If passed by a majority of voters, this measure would allow citizens to make public comments at any meeting of an ad hoc City Council committee. The fourth proposed amendment pertains to the City of Riverside City Clerk's obligation under California lawto assist the public in examin- ing and copying public records. If passed by a majority of voters, this measure would codify existing California law in the Charter. If Measure "CC" is approved, there would ben❑ direct fiscal impact to the City. By: City Attorney City of Riverside ARGUMENT IN FAVOR OF MEASURE "CC" The City of Riverside should make every effort to open up its decision making process and make it easy for its citizens to access public documents. Furthermore, to maintain full public confidence In the propri- ety of the actions of the Mayer and City Council, all closed sessions should be audio recorded, as permitted by State law, consistent with the strict privacy protections guaranteed in State statutes. Full public access and participation in govemmentshould include knowl- edge of, and participation in, all the deliberations of the policy making bodies of local government. Over the years Riverside's population has grown and the City Council's obligations have expanded. As the complexity of city issues has increased, the use of ad -hoc subcommit- tees, consisting of fewer than a majority of the Council, has become an important and frequently used toolto develop policy recommendations to the full City Council. Even though these ad -hoc committees are tempo- rary and not covered by open- meeting laws, theycan playa decisive role in crafting the final actions of the Mayor and City Council. Because of the importance of ad -hoc committees and because of the City of Riverside's commitment to open government and citizen partici- pation, the seventeen members of the Riverside Charter Review Committee unanimously recommend a yes vote on Charter Measure By: The Riverside Charter Review Committee Eric Haley, Charter Review Committee Member Marcia McQuern NO ARGUMENT FILED AGAINST MEASURE "CC" The above statement is an impartial analysts of Measure "CC." If you desire a copy of the proposed Charter language, please call the City Clerk at 951 - 826.5557 and a Copy will be mailed at no cost to you or view the full text at www.riversideca.gov.