How does a meeting work?

Quorum is a majority of seated voting members. Without it the committee can meet and discuss, but it cannot take action.

A meeting runs in this order:

• Call to order and roll call
• Public comment
• Agenda amendments and approval, which is an action item
• Approval of the previous meeting’s minutes, which is an action item
• Business items, each with its own opportunity for public comment
• Action items noted, then adjournment

Action is taken by motion. A member moves, another seconds, the committee discusses, and then votes. Abstentions are recorded, and so is the reason when a member abstains because of a conflict of interest. Recusal means stating the conflict and then stepping out of both the discussion and the vote.

Because the committee meets under the Brown Act, agendas are posted in advance and the committee cannot act on anything that is not on the agenda. Anyone may attend and comment. One rule catches people out more than any other: a majority of the committee cannot discuss committee business outside a meeting, and that includes doing it in sequence and doing it by email. If something comes up between meetings, send it to staff and we will get it on an agenda.