SUNSHINE WEEK TESTIMONY
MARCH 12, 2007

 
TO UNION SANITARY BOARD MEETING
5072 BENSON RD, UNION CITY

Hello, I’m Holly Walter, a member of the League of Women Voters of Fremont, Newark and Union City. Recognizing Sunshine week, March 11-17, the League would like to thank you, the Union Sanitary District board of directors for supporting Open Government.

Throughout the United States, Leagues are commemorating Sunshine Week as a time for governmental and non-governmental organizations to focus on the importance openness in government plays in ensuring a strong democracy and the liberty we all cherish. James Madison once said: "The advancement and diffusion of knowledge is the only guardian of true liberty." 

We ask you to continue to advance and diffuse the knowledge the citizens of Tri City area need by continuing to adhere to California’s Brown Act that governs meetings conducted by local legislative bodies. The purpose of this act is to facilitate public participation in local government decision and to curb the misuse of the democratic 

process by secret legislation by legislative bodies. 

We find room for improvement on your web site. First, you need to have a list of previous agendas and approved minutes for the public to view. Second, you need to attach to the proposed agenda any supporting documents that are presented to the board for their meeting. That would bring you into compliance with most Brown Act requirements. Next, you need to have a policy that is more supportive of any member of the public who wishes to address the board.

We ask you to continue facilitating public participation in local government by doing the following:

  • ensure dates and times of all meetings are noticed, 
  • ensure agendas including a brief description of all agenda items be posted at least 72 hours prior to a regular meeting, and
  • encourage adequate time for public comment on each agenda item, 
  • publish minutes of meetings in a timely manner. 
And though the act provides for closed-session meetings, we encourage all legislative bodies to keep closed session meetings to a minimum adhering to the legislative intended bias in favor or open meetings. 

Again, we thank you, the board for the Union Sanitary District for your continued support for open government.

On behalf of the League I wish to present to you a poster celebrating Sunshine Week.