Venice city attorney leads annual Sunshine Law and public-records training for advisory boards

City of Venice city attorney Kelly Fernandez led the citys annual board-member training on Floridas Sunshine Law and the Public Records Act, telling advisory board members the session is required as part of a settlement tied to earlier litigation and that the material remains essential.

"My name is Kelly Fernandez. Im the city attorney," she said, opening the training and explaining the city must conduct annual instruction for advisory boards under a settlement agreement. Fernandez summarized the Sunshine Laws three basic requirements: meetings must be open to the public, reasonable notice must be provided and minutes must be taken.

Why it matters: Fernandez said violations can carry criminal penalties in severe cases, fines or noncriminal sanctions, the need to redo board actions that are voided, and the potential for awards of attorneys fees. She cited the citys own 2009 litigation as a costly example and cautioned members to avoid informal communications that could be construed as decisions made outside public meetings.

Fernandez laid out specific prohibitions and…