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City Attorney outlines Sunshine Act and public-records rules to new board members
Summary
City Attorney Rich Komando explained Florida's Sunshine Act and public-records requirements, stressing that notes, emails and texts about government business may be public records and that deliberations must occur in publicly noticed meetings.
City Attorney Rich Komando gave a detailed briefing on Florida’s Sunshine Act and public-records obligations after a board member raised concerns about personal email addresses appearing on a new contact sheet. Komando emphasized two key categories: record retention and open meetings. He explained that "anytime you make a document that memorializes your thoughts or something in relation to government business" — whether an email, text or note — it may be subject to public-records requests and must be produced if requested.
Komando also outlined open-meetings rules: discussions about government business must occur in publicly noticed meetings with reasonable notice, an agenda, and minutes. He told members they could speak with the city manager, city attorney or staff but cautioned that board members cannot hold government-business discussions outside of noticed meetings. Komando invited members to contact him with questions about compliance.
