Memorandum
Date: July 8, 2025
To: The Honorable Lake County Board of Supervisors
From: Lloyd C. Guintivano, County Counsel
Subject: Presentation of Brown Act
Executive Summary:
I will be presenting a brief Brown Act "refresher" and will be highlighting provisions on the definition of "meetings" and holding teleconferenced/virtual meetings under the Brown Act, summarized here as follows:
1. A meeting is "any congregation of a majority of the members of a legislative body at the same time and location . . . to hear, discuss, or deliberate upon any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body." Government Code Section 54952.2(a).
a. A majority of the members may not use in-person, telephone, e-mail, fax, internet-based social media platform or other electronic means of devices, or an intermediary to discuss, develop a consensus, agreement, or decision.
b. The following types of "serial meetings" are not allowed under the Brown Act:
i. Hub and Spokes Communication - A to B, A to C, and A to D
ii. Chain Communication - A to B, B to C.
c. The following are not considered "meetings" under the Brown Act:
i. Conferences, trainings, seminars
ii. Community forums and the meetings of other government bodies
iii. Social occasions
2. Under Assembly Bill 2449, a member of a local governmental agency such as a board of supervisors may participate remotely pursuant to the following requirements:
a. At least a quorum of the members of the Board must participate in person from a singular physical location identified on the agenda, which location will be open to the public and within the boundaries of the County of Lake.
b. A Board member may only teleconference for publicly disclosed "just cause" or in "emergency circumstances" approved by the local governmental agency.
c. A Board member may participate in meetings remotely only if:
i. the member notifies the Board at the earliest opportunity possible, including at the start of a regular meeti...
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