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Cotati residents challenge council practices during public comment over pledge and land acknowledgement
Summary
Residents at a Cotati City Council meeting disputed whether reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and a land acknowledgement during meetings triggers the Brown Act’s public-notice rules, prompting a legal clarification from the city attorney and extended public comment.
A group of residents used the public comment period of the Cotati City Council meeting to urge changes to how the council handles ceremonial remarks, arguing reciting the Pledge of Allegiance and a land acknowledgement should trigger Brown Act protections.
The issue drew sustained remarks from former councilman George Barich, who said the council’s wording that “we love to hear from you” is misleading and that council announcements and ceremonial items are effectively actions that should allow public input. “The Brown Act … as soon as you start speaking about the Pledge of Allegiance, or a land acknowledgement … it triggers the Brown Act,” Barich said during public comment.
Why it…
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