Parks Board Remedies Illegal Vote

With proper notice to the public this time, San Juan Capistrano's Parks, Recreation and Senior Services Commission re-voted Monday to have their voice heard on a controversial proposal to allow guns in city parks.

California's Ralph M. Brown Act seeks to ensure that the public knows when a legislative body will meet and what decisions it plans to make.

Although the , the parks and recreation commission said Monday it wanted to re-vote so that its initial decision wouldn't be nullified—a potential consequence.

"My personal feeling is—and please stop me, because I’ve already been in trouble once, and it may be a moot point now—it’s still important for the council to know how this commission felt," Chairwoman Kathy Hooper said.

City Councilman floated  2½ weeks before the parks and recreation commission made its recommendation in July. Under the Brown Act, that gave the commission enough time to give notice of its vote on its agenda.

It is vital that the public has the opportunity to participate in local government decisions and that elected and appointed officials be held accountable when that does not occur, said political activist Orrie Brown.

She was one of two people who contacted the city to express concern about the initial commission vote.

After schooling the commission on the Ralph M. Brown Act Monday night, City Attorney Omar Sandoval said that he didn't believe commissioners intentionally aimed to keep the public from having a say and that they were simply trying to "fulfill their duty" when they cast their initial vote.

"But there are rules and procedures … and we have to follow them," he said.