Editor,
Regarding the letter “City officials should put away their devices,” as a former mayor, and on behalf of Foster City residents who expect full compliance with California’s open-government laws, I urge you to take Mr. Adams’ request seriously. Council meetings — and the duties imposed by the Ralph M. Brown Act — require not only transparency, but the appearance of transparency.
Personal device use during council proceedings raises legitimate legal concerns, including:
• Potential Brown Act violations related to receiving or sending information outside the public forum.
• The risk of creating an unlawful “back-channel” communication, even unintentionally.
• The possibility that texts, emails or messages sent during meetings may be considered public records subject to disclosure.
• Erosion of public trust resulting from any perception of private deliberation or distracted participation.
To avoid the appearance of impropriety — and to ensure full adherence to both the letter and the spirit of the law — I respectfully urge the council to refrain from using personal electronic devices during official meetings.
Foster City deserves a council whose conduct exemplifies transparency, professionalism and legal compliance.
Thank you for your prompt attention to this matter.
Jim Lawrence
Foster City
The letter writer is the former mayor of Foster City.
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(1) comment
Thanks for your letter, Mr. Lawrence, highlighting multiple concerns with device use during council meetings. Perhaps these councils need to pass regulations governing their usage of devices during meetings, including penalties for not abiding. Without penalties, there’s nothing to stop them from continuing to do so. If these councils don’t pass regulations, let’s monitor these officials in the short term and if they don’t abide, let’s do things the current California way – threaten and/or file lawsuits. And thank you, Mr. Lawrence, for your attention to this matter of importance to residents.
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