Santa Rosa Municipal Code Art. IV Enforcement Provisions

The primary regulatory and enforcement body of the Open Government Ordinance shall be the City Council via the City Manager's and City Attorney's offices.

(Ord. 2020-018 § 1)

(A) A complainant must file a complaint no more than 30 business days after an alleged violation of the Open Government Ordinance.

(B) A person who makes more than three complaints in one 12-month period that are determined by the City Manager to be unfounded shall be prohibited from making a complaint for one year.

(C) Upon filing of an official complaint form (including submittal of all evidence) with the City Clerk's office, the complainant shall appear at a hearing before the City Manager, scheduled no later than 90 calendar days after the City Clerk's receipt of the complaint form. During this hearing the City Manager will provide the parties with the chance to present evidence and make arguments. The City Manager will render a formal written decision on the matter within 30 calendar days of the hearing.

(Ord. 2020-018 § 1)

Nothing in this article shall prevent a body from curing or correcting an action.

(Ord. 2020-018 § 1)

The City Attorney's office shall prepare an annual report to be placed on the City's website and made generally publicly available in printed form of alleged violations of this chapter brought to its attention during the previous calendar year. The report shall identify the nature of the alleged violation, the relief sought by each petition, the disposition or current status thereof and the location of all records relevant to each petition. With advance notice to the City Clerk's office, the City Attorney's office may also request a tally of records requests for statistical or comparative purposes.

(Ord. 2020-018 § 1)

Whenever a conflict arises between the provisions of this chapter and of other City ordinances, the requirement that would result in greater or more expedited public access to public information shall govern, subject to the provisions of Federal and State law.

(Ord. 2020-018 § 1)