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City Attorney reviews Florida sunshine and public-records rules; warns of penalties for violations
Summary
City Attorney reminded commissioners that meetings of public bodies must be open, notices reasonable and records retained; he noted communications by two or more members outside public meetings (including email and social media) can violate the law and cited penalties including up to 60 days in county jail and fines up to $500 per violation.
The City Attorney delivered the commission's annual update on Floridasunshine and public records laws, emphasizing openness, notice and recordkeeping requirements for public boards and commissions.
He explained that the sunshine law requires public meetings when two or more members of the same board gather to discuss matters that will foreseeably come before the board and that communications by phone, email, social media or through third parties ("daisy chaining") can violate the law. He said the three basic sunshine-law obligations are: open meetings, reasonable notice and minutes.
On penalties, he warned that violations can void board actions and may carry criminal penalties. "Penalties for violation can be up to 60 days in county jail and a fine of up to $500 for each violation," the attorney said. He noted civil consequences as well, including fines, removal from office and attorney's fees.
The attorney described public-records obligations and common exemptions (personal medical and financial information) and recommended that commissioners consult the clerk's office or his office with questions. He closed with practical advice: when in doubt about whether a communication may be a public-record or create an improper private meeting, contact staff before acting.
Next steps: the City Attorney offered to provide tailored follow-ups and encouraged commissioners to ask the clerk's office or legal counsel about records retention and specific exemptions.
