08/22/2019 Open Government Commission Regular Meeting Adopted 11/14/2019
Open Government Commission Meeting Minutes
8/22/19
GILROY OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMISSION
Meeting Minutes
August 22, 2019
I. OPENING
A. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairperson Esposito called the meeting to order at 7:0 2 p.m.
ROLL CALL:
Present: Commissioner Alison Beach, Chairperson Robert Esposito,
Commissioner Diana Bentz, Commissioner Rebecca Scheel, Commissioner James
Weaver
II. PRESENTATIONS TO THE OPEN GOVERNMENT COMMISSION
A. PUBLIC COMMENT BY MEMBERS OF THE PUBLIC ON ITEMS NOT ON THE
AGENDA BUT WITHIN THE COMMISSION’s SUBJECT MATTER JURISDICTION
There were none.
III. CONSENT CALENDAR
A. Approval of the Minutes of May 9, 2019 Meeting.
There were no public comments.
Motion on Item III. A.
Motion was made by Commissioner Scheel, seconded by Commissioner Bentz and
carried unanimously to approve the May 9, 2019 minutes.
IV. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
A. Discussion of Potential Training Options for Commissioners
The staff report was presented by City Clerk Freels. She explained that she had not
found any particular training options in the area with a focus on transparency in
government.
Open Government Commission Meeting Minutes
8/22/19
Commissioner Bentz spoke on a recent presentation she had attended regarding police
officer records.
Assistant City Attorney Houston spoke on the research she had cond ucted on sunshine
ordinances in other cities. She explained that she had recently conducted training on the
Public Records Act for the League of California Cities.
There was a discussion about the $1,000 given to each city commission to attend training
to better their performance in the role, and Commissioners discussed ideas of conducting
their own training to highlight what open government was all about. Discussion continued
regarding the public records portal, and further continued on the new legislation on the
release of Police Records under SB1421 and AB 748.
There were no public comments.
City Clerk Freels stated she and the Assistant City Attorney Houston could review the
League of California Cities conferences for relevant content that the Commission might
attend.
The Commission agreed to have them continue to look for training opportunit ies.
V. NEW BUSINESS
A. Quarterly Review of Public Records Requests Per Gilroy Code Section 17A.35 (c)
(Second Quarter, 2019)
The staff report was presented by City Clerk Freels.
The Commissioner Scheel asked when the shooting incident records would be released
and there was discussion about the ongoing FBI investigation and ongoing requests for
the body worn camera and 911 records until the investigation was completed.
There were no public comments.
Motion on Item III. A.
Motion was made by Commissioner Scheel, seconded by Commissioner Bentz and
carried unanimously to receive the report.
VI. CITY ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT
There was none.
VII. CITY CLERK’S REPORT
City Clerk Freels spoke on update to the City’s Records Retention Schedule and
upcoming training for city staff, and Assistant City Attorney Houston spoke on the prior
Open Government Commission Meeting Minutes
8/22/19
update to the policy.
VIII. CITY ATTORNEY'S REPORT
Assistant City Attorney Houston spoke on the League response to the recommendation
from the California Law Revision Committee on recodification of the Public Records Act.
IX. REPORTS OF COMMISSION MEMBERS
Commissioner Scheel spoke on the General Plan Advisory Committee meeting schedule
which at times conflicted with the Open Government Commission meetings. She then
announced that she would be on vacation during the week of the next Open Government
Commission meeting.
There was then a discussion of Commissioners terms and the reappointment process.
X. FUTURE COMMISSION INITIATED AGENDA ITEMS
The Commission agreed to continue to agendize the discussion of potential training
options for Commissioners, and the review of the annual presentation to Council
PowerPoint.
XI. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:07 p.m.
FUTURE MEETING DATES:
Thursday, November 14, 2019
/s/ Shawna Freels, MMC
City Clerk