8-4-98. Jeff Brain, president of Valley VOTE criticized the Van Nuys Citizens Advisory Council for canceling its monthly meeting. Valley VOTE members wanted to speak in the public comment time, as allowed under the Brown Act. They wanted to ask the advisory council to investigate the actions of Van Nuys Airport officials who barred petition gatherers from airport property during the recent annual air show.
George Jerome, chairman of the citizens council, was quoted in the LA times, claiming the meeting was canceled because the Van Nuys Citizens Advisory Council had little to discuss. He added that the controversy of Valley VOTE petition gatherers being barred from the air show was not on the council's agenda.
Jerome and the Airport used a tried and true method to block public comment by canceling the meeting to block the publics right under California Law. His excuse, that it was not on the agenda, and the public could not comment violates the Brown Act that governs public meetings.
54954.3. (a) Every agenda for regular meetings shall provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public, before or during the legislative body's consideration of the item, that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of the legislative body, provided that no action shall be taken on any item not appearing on the agenda unless the action is otherwise authorized by subdivision (b) of Section54954.2.
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