City attorney briefs INCO on Brown Act: open‑meetings rules, social media limits, teleconference restrictions

Assistant City Attorney Jason Zaragoza gave a Brown Act refresher to the INCO general membership, telling neighborhood chairs that the law’s “heart” is public access and that the INCO is a legislative body subject to the state open‑meetings statute.

Zaragoza opened the presentation by quoting the law’s purpose: “it is the intent of the law that their actions, meaning those of a legislative body, be conducted openly.” He told the group that the Brown Act applies to “meetings of legislative bodies” and explained when a gathering becomes a meeting — generally when a quorum convenes to hear or deliberate on matters within the body’s jurisdiction.

The training covered several practical rules for INCO members. Zaragoza said email chains and serial one‑on‑one communications…