Brown Act Legislative Bodies
The Brown Act, officially known as the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code sections 54950-54963), authored by Ralph M. Brown, an Assemblyman from Turlock, was enacted in 1953 by the California State Legislature in an effort to safeguard the public's ability to obtain access to and participate in local government meetings and deliberations. The Brown Act governs open meetings and requires that meetings of local governmental bodies allow public access to meetings.
Every Agenda for all Regular meetings of the City Council and Agendas for the other Brown Act advisory commissions or committees provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item under the subject matter jurisdiction of the body and any item on the Regular Agenda. Special meetings are an exception to this requirement in that the public is allowed to comment only on those items already on the Special Agenda. If you would like to have an item placed on a City Council Agenda, please submit a completed and signed Request Form for Agenda Item to the City Clerk's Office at City Hall.
There are currently seven (7) City of Mt. Shasta legislative bodies that are governed by the Brown Act. The members of the Mt. Shasta City Council are elected at large by the Mt. Shasta community and represent the entire Mt. Shasta constituency residing within the Mt. Shasta city limits. The other five (5) committees and the Planning Commission act as advisory bodies to the City Council and serve at the pleasure of the City Council. All members of the five (5) committees shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to the approval of the City Council. The members of the Planning Commission are appointed by the City Council with consideration given to the recommendation submitted to them by members of a Nominating Committee who interviews the applicants. The three member Nominating Committee consists of the Mayor, a City Council Member and the Planning Commission Chair.
Membership on a City of Mt. Shasta commission or committee provides an opportunity for public service to your community. Although the specific duties of these commissions or committees vary with the purpose for which they were formed, they generally assist the City Council by acting as a line of communication between the general public and the City Council. Vacancies on these commissions or committees are posted as required by law and an Application for Appointment to Commissions & Committees Form should be submitted to the City Clerk's Office for those interested in filling a vacancy. Those applying for a Planning Commission vacancy must additionally submit the answers to the questions on Letter To Planning Commission Candidates by the application deadline date. Below is the current list of Mt. Shasta's Commissions and Committees:
- Planning Commission
- Beautification Committee
- Parking & Business Improvement Area Advisory Committee (PBIAAC)
- Alternative Transportation Advisory Committee
- Library Tax Advisory Committee
- Community Development Activities Committee
Mt. Shasta City Council and Planning Commission meetings, which are held in the Mt. Shasta Community Building located on Alder Street, are cablecast live on Northland Cable Television, Channel 15 and can also be accessed for live video streaming on the MCTV 15 website. Channel 15 is part of Mountain Community Television known as MCTV 15, the local public education and government access channel.
Related Links for Further Information
- Elected Officials
- City Council, Planning Commission, and Committees Meeting Dates
- Public Records
- Local Appointments List
- Agendas & Minutes
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