In April of 2006, the
City Council approved the establishment of the Sunshine
Reform Task Force to review and make recommendations
to the Council regarding Open Government in the City
of San José. The Task Force was initially comprised
of 15 members
representing various neighborhood and civic organizations,
the news media, and academia. In May 2006, the Sunshine
Reform Task Force began meeting and in the course of
its work determined to present its Open Government recommendations
to the San Jose City Council in two phases.
Phase I. On August 21, 2007, City
Council approved the Sunshine Reform Task Force (SRTF)
Phase I Part I recommendations on Public Information.
Council also approved recommendations on Closed Session
with the exception of audio recording closed sessions.
Council directed Staff to proceed with implementation
on a pilot basis. Council also directed Staff to continue
gathering feedback concerning Public Meeting recommendations
from other potentially affected entities and then report
back to the Rules and Open Government Committee (ROGC).
On June 10, 2008, the City Council approved the SRTF
Phase I Part II recommendations for Public Meetings
and remaining Closed Session items as amended by ROGC,
and directed to Staff to implement the recommendations
on a pilot basis.
May
2007 Sunshine Reform Task Force Phase I Report and Recommendations
July
2007 Sunshine Reform Task Force Phase I Report and Recommendations
as amended by the Rules & Open Government Committee.
Phase II. In August 2007, the Sunshine Reform Task
Force’s subcommittees began Phase II i.e., formulating
recommendations to make government more open and accountable
through four areas: by defining appropriate conduct
for City employees, officials and those who do business
or volunteer with the City (Ethics and Conduct); by
suggesting upgrades and changes to the way information
is organized and presented on the City’s website
(Technology); by defining the City’s structure
and processes for addressing potential violations of
Open Government regulations (Administration and Accountability);
and by defining what documents and information are open
to the public (Public Records). The Task Force completed
its Phase II recommendations in April 2008. In August
of 2008, the Rules and Open Government Committee began
its review of those recommendations. That review is
now in progress.
June
2008 Sunshine Reform Task Force Phase II Report and
Recommendations
Sunshine Reform Taskforce
Documents
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