Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transparency topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Mountain View council adopts policy to release magistrate findings, with redaction for confidential material
Summary
Council directed staff to automatically release magistrate findings to complainants and include them in the next packet unless the magistrate or attorney identifies confidential or privileged material; any such material will be redacted before release.
Mountain View — After considering two recently delivered magistrate reports, the Town Council on June 15 adopted a protocol to disclose investigative findings to complainants and the public while protecting confidential information.
Town Attorney Austin explained council had previously decided to review magistrate findings to guard against disclosure of privileged or confidential information (for example, HIPAA‑protected material or whistleblower identities). At the meeting council agreed to a standing rule going forward: when the magistrate submits findings they should indicate whether the report contains confidential or privileged material; if so, that material will be redacted and the remainder released. If there are no flagged confidentiality issues, findings will be released without requiring a separate council vote.
Council also directed that complainants receive the findings immediately upon release and that the reports be included in the next regular meeting packet for public visibility.
The motion to adopt the protocol passed unanimously and the council applied it to two outstanding complaints filed by Brian Carney (Feb. 16, 2026) and John Halanan (Mar. 22, 2026). The town attorney said redactions would be made only as required by law or privilege.
What happens next: the magistrate or town attorney will prepare redacted versions as needed and staff will post findings to the town website and include them in the next meeting packet per the new protocol.
