Yes.
And meetings with developers over approved permitting, and potential permitting.

As I've said before.

Web Link

More of our state Dems pandering to their puppet masters, organized public labor unions. Big surprise.

@MenloVoter, according to the article, all meetings with union representatives have to be reported under the proposed policy. What does your comment have to do with the subject of the editorial? It's kind of like you just decided to write a random comment about Democrats and unions completely unrelated to the subject of the article.

Tom:

the unions don't have to "meet" with politicians to buy them. Which goes on every day.

The movie "the Circle" dives into this topic and revels this kind of transparency can be a hoax by secretive and unscrupulous individuals that like pointing fingers at others. City of San Jose and Santa Clara County elected officials have full salaries and paid staff. All council members in San Mateo County cities and towns are effectively volunteers that get paid to attend council meetings. If the idea is sound, Mueller should pitch this to some other cities in our county where is won't look like pandering for votes.

"unscrupulous", "secretive", "pandering".

- what a sideswipe.
Someone out there really doesn't like transparency policies.

Transparency in government?

Wow. I actually snorted my morning coffee (thanks).

Take a look at the latest news about Janet Napolitano who HID $175 million as she raised tuition for UC students... and then lied to state auditors and then fired them when they blew the whistle.

Web Link

Back to my coffee.

Mueller's proposal is superb.

It's only weakness is that those who wish to comply will do so but those who wish to avoid compliance will simply self categorize any discussion that they wish to omit as "not involving their official responsibilities."

"...pandering to their puppet masters, organized public labor unions"

Pathetic.

But nothing we can do, according to other topics in the Almanac.

Amiright?

blue bored:

what's your point?

This is an important proposal. Thank you Ray Mueller for championing it.

@Menlo Voter, maybe we can ask the councilmembers to wear tin-foil hats so the union signals don't reach their brains.

Update on this issue:

I appreciated the Almanac's editorial on this subject.

Two months ago I requested to discuss the Sunshine Calendar Policy proposal on a set City Council agenda rather than randomly bring it up at a City Council meeting, so the public would have notice prior to the meeting the issue would be discussed. I was informed recently the Mayor has officially declined to put the issue on a City Council agenda. I still hold out hope the Mayor will change her mind and put the matter on an official agenda so the public will have notice prior to the meeting the issue is going to be discussed. I am not asking the matter be set for a vote, rather just for discussion and direction from the Council whether to have Staff set the matter for consideration on a future agenda.

Why doesn't the Menlo Park City Council adopt the same agenda rules as the Fire District:

7.8 Agendas
Agendas for respective meetings shall be determined in the following manner and shall comply with appropriate noticing and publishing.

Agenda Item Requests - Board Members
As stated in Policy 4.2, the Fire Chief in collaboration with the Board President and/or Vice President shall prepare an agenda for each regular, committee and special meeting of the Board of Directors. Any Board member may request the placement of any item related to District business on the agenda of an upcoming scheduled regular Board Meeting in one of four ways:

1. By voicing a request during the open session of a Board Meeting that an item be placed on the agenda for the following meeting;
2. By submitting a request, outside of a Board Meeting, to the Board President or the Fire Chief with a copy to the Clerk of the Board;
3. By submitting a request, outside of a Board Meeting, to the Fire Chief.
4. By the Board member adding agenda items directly by submitting a form.

The Agenda Item request from Board members will be placed under the “Proposed Agenda Items” section of the agenda. If the Board approves the Agenda Item request, that item will be placed on the upcoming regularly scheduled Board Meeting and the requestor will work with staff to provide necessary reports and/or attachments for the Board Meeting packet.
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It makes no sense to give whoever is current Mayor or the unelected City Manager veto power over the desires of the other elected Council members.

Peter, a "veto" is an action against a decision or proposal made by a law-making body, this was not an action. Mueller's email references are what lawyers refer to as heresy. Unless Mayor Keith has made a pubic statement about this agenda item, Mueller's "officially declined" label is at best gossip.

Only someone who has never prepared an agenda for a public agency would opine that refusing to place a requested item on such an agenda is not a veto.

"Definition of veto: Vote that prevents a proposed action from occurring or being completed."

@gossip

Mayor Keith has made a public statement about the item. She told the Almanac she wouldn't put it on the agenda.

You can read about it this Almanac article:

Web Link

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