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meetings by ordinance, resolution, bylaws, or other rule. In addition, 72 hours’ notice, with the
posting of an agenda, is required for a regular meeting. The posting must occur in a place that is
freely accessible to the public and on the agency’s Internet Website. A touch screen electronic
kiosk may take the place of the paper posting.
The internet posting must be on the agency’s primary Internet Website home page
and accessible through a prominent, direct link to the current agenda. Additionally, the agenda
must be posted in an open format that allows the agenda to be retrievable, downloadable,
indexable, and electronically searchable. Agencies may utilize an integrated agenda
management platform to meet these requirements.
For remote meetings held under a declared emergency, meeting agendas are not
required to be posted at all teleconference locations, and local agencies are not required to make
each teleconference location accessible to the public, provided that members of the public are
afforded the opportunity to provide public comment remotely.
Meetings of advisory or standing committees are generally considered regular
meetings of the legislative body for which an agenda must be posted at least 72 hours in advance
of the meeting. Weekend hours may be counted as part of the 72-hour period.
(Government Code §§ 54953, 54954, 54954.2(a); Education Code §§ 35140, 35145; 99
Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 11 (2016); 88 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 218 (2005); 78 Ops.Cal.Atty.Gen. 327
(1995).)
2. Special Meetings May Be Called at Any Time and Require 24 Hours’ Notice.
A special meeting may be called at any time, including Saturdays, Sundays, and
holidays, either by the presiding officer or a majority of the members of a legislative body by
delivering a written notice to each member of the legislative body and to each local newspaper of
general circulation and radio or television station requesting such notice. The notice may be
delivered personally or by any other means.
The notice must be received at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting set
forth in the notice. The notice must also be posted 24 hours before the meeting in a location that
is freely accessible to the public and posted on the agency’s Internet Website.
The notice must include the time and place of the meeting and identify the
business to be transacted or discussed. Only the business set forth in the notice may be
considered at the meeting. A special meeting may not be called to consider the salaries, salary
schedules, or compensation in the form of fringe benefits of a local agency chief executive
officer or department head.
The notice must provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly
address the legislative body about any item described in the notice prior to or during
consideration of that item.
(Government Code §§ 54954.3(a), 54956; Education Code § 35144.)
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