Vallejo advisory board receives training on Brown Act, public records and conflicts ahead of surveillance reviews

City Attorney Reisner gave a training on open‑meetings, public‑records and conflict‑of‑interest rules to the Vallejo Surveillance Advisory Board during a regular meeting, focusing on how state law constrains board deliberations and what the board must consider when advising on surveillance technology.

Reisner framed the Brown Act as a foundational transparency law. “The people of this state do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them,” Reisner read, then summarized key obligations: agendas that provide effective notice, the prohibition on serial meetings, and the limited exceptions that permit closed sessions.

The training covered practical rules members must follow: a “meeting” under the Brown Act occurs when a majority convenes to discuss city business; individual contacts and attendance at conferences are typically allowed so long as members avoid creating a serial communication; and public comment must be permitted. Reisner cautioned that members may attend community events but should avoid committing to votes outside a posted meeting.

Reisner described remedies and timelines for alleged Brown Act violations: an interested person must give…