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Home My WebLink About2026-02-11 CRC Agenda Package ; ; **POST-MEETING AGENDA** Date:Wednesday, February 11, 2026 Time:6:00 p.m. Location:City Hall, Bldg. A, Executive Conference Room #103 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Charter Review Commission Regular Meeting ______________________________________________________________________________ In-Person Public Comments: Join us for the Charter Review Commission meeting at the time and location specified on this agenda to make your comments. Each person will be allotted three minutes to address the Commission, unless otherwise adjusted by the presiding officer. Electronic Public Comments: At  www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings, locate this meeting and click on the comment bubble icon. Select the item and click on "Leave Comment." The deadline to submit e-comments or any comments emailed to CRC@chulavistaca.gov will be noon on the day of the meeting. Accessibility: Individuals with disabilities are invited to request modifications or accommodations in order to access and/or participate in a Charter Review Commission meeting by contacting the commission staff at CRC@chulavistaca.gov (California Relay Service is available for the hearing impaired by dialing 711) at least forty-eight hours in advance of the meeting. Pages 1.CALL TO ORDER 2.ROLL CALL Commissioners Buddingh, Castillo, Keyes, Vice-Chair Disharoon, and Chair Lopez. 3.PUBLIC COMMENTS The public may address the Commission on any subject matter within the Commission’s jurisdiction that is not listed as an item on the agenda. State law generally prohibits the Committee from discussing or taking action on any issue not included on the agenda. The Committee may schedule the topic for future discussion or refer the matter to staff. 4.ACTION ITEMS Action items are considered individually by the Commission and are expected to elicit discussion and deliberation. 4.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes 4 Recommended Action: Commission to approve the minutes dated November 12, 2025. 5.PRESENTATIONS The following item(s) will be presentations given to the Commission. Action on these item(s) is typically limited to the Commission receiving the presentation and providing direction or feedback to staff, as appropriate. 5.1 Charter Review Commission - Role, Duties, and Procedures 7 Presenter: Marco Verdugo, City Attorney 5.2 Discussion on Charter Review Commission Priorities for 2026 To discuss and identify key focus areas and priorities for the Charter Review Commission for the upcoming year. 5.3 Discussion on Charter Section 905 Regulations of Campaign Contributions 56 To review and discuss existing Charter Section 905 Regulations of Campaign Contributions and potential changes. 5.4 Discussion on the requirement of a Lobbying Ordinance in the Charter To discuss adding a requirement to have a Lobbying Ordinance in the Charter. 6.STAFF COMMENTS 7.CHAIR'S COMMENTS 8.COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Page 2 of 56 9.ADJOURNMENT to the regular meeting on Wednesday, May 13, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. Materials provided to the Charter Review Commission relating to any open- session item on this agenda are available for public review by contacting the City Attorney's Office at CRC@chulavistaca.gov. City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Page 3 of 56 1 City of Chula Vista Regular Charter Review Commission Meeting MINUTES November 12, 2025, 6:00 p.m. City Hall, Bldg. A, Executive Conference Room #103 276 Fourth Avenue, Chula Vista, CA Present: Commissioner Buddingh, Commissioner Keyes, Vice Chair Disharoon, and Chair Lopez. Absent: Commissioner Castillo Also Present: Board Secretary Montalvo, Deputy City Attorney Pietanza Minutes are prepared and ordered to correspond to the agenda. _____________________________________________________________________ 1. CALL TO ORDER A regular meeting of the Charter Review Commission of the City of Chula Vista was called to order at 6:00 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Secretary Montalvo called the roll. 3. PUBLIC COMMENTS Robert spoke expressing a neutral position. 4. ACTION ITEMS 4.1 Approval of Meeting Minutes Moved by Commissioner Buddingh Seconded by Commissioner Keyes Commission to approve the minutes dated August 13, 2025. Page 4 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda 2025-11-12 Charter Review Commission Regular Meeting Minutes 2 The motion was carried by the following vote: Yes (4): Vice Chair Disharoon, Commissioner Keyes, Chair Lopez, and Commissioner Buddingh Result:Carried (4 to 0) 4.2 Written Communications Moved by Chair Lopez Seconded by Vice Chair Disharoon To approve the excused absence for Commissioner Castillo requesting an excused absence from the November 12, 2025, Charter Review Commission meeting. The motion was carried by the following vote: Yes (4): Vice Chair Disharoon, Commissioner Keyes, Chair Lopez, and Commissioner Buddingh Result:Carried (4 to 0) 5. PRESENTATIONS 5.1 Discussion of Potential City Charter Amendment Allowing City Council to Appoint the City Attorney Robert spoke in opposition to 5.1. Commissioner Buddingh shared that the City Council should be responsible for hiring a competent City Attorney. Commissioner Keyes shared that by electing a City Attorney, it gives the people the liberty of checks and balances. Commissioner Disharoon shared that he supports appointing the City Attorney. Chair Lopez shared that both Commissioner Buddingh and Keyes are correct. City Attorney should fight for their job. Chair Lopez shared that he would like to agendize seeing how campaign finance can be placed into the charter. 6. STAFF COMMENTS Page 5 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda 2025-11-12 Charter Review Commission Regular Meeting Minutes 3 7. CHAIR'S COMMENTS Chair Lopez shared that if anyone has any new items to add to the agenda, please let him know. Chair Lopez shared that he would like the Charter Review Commission to assist the Board of Ethics on their lobbying ordinance. If there is anything that can be added to the Charter to strengthen it. 8. COMMISSIONERS' COMMENTS Vice Chair Disharoon shared that he participated in the Board of Ethics interview panel. He also shared that he attended the start plan for homelessness. Buddingh shared there were privacy issues during the election. Chair Lopez shared he wants to look into drafting a letter to increase our voting centers in Chula Vista. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m. Minutes prepared by: Sydnie Montalvo, Secretary _________________________ Sydnie Montalvo, Commission Secretary Page 6 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Charter Review Commission Role, Duties, and Procedures February 11, 2026 Page 7 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Agenda City Overview & Board/Commission/Committee (B/C/C) Role Duties Procedures Meetings/Attendance Agenda Minutes Conflict of Interest Member Communications Recommendations to Council Brown Act Public Records Act 2 Page 8 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda City Structure 3 Page 9 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Role of B/C/Cs Study a specific area of concern Advise the City Council DO DON'T Ear for the City Council Make policy decisions Forum to encourage communication participation early in the process Direct budget decisions, city operations or programs Broad perspective on focused topics Direct staff Advisory recommendations to the City Council Act outside of the authority granted by City Council 4 Page 10 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Transition to B/C/C Member Community Advocate/ Activist - Independent - Advocacy - Focused agenda B/C/C Member - Official City representative - Team member - Collaborative - Deliberator - Focused on overall good for City - Broad agenda 5 Page 11 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Categories of Member Responsibilities To the City Council To the Community To Each Other To Staff 6 Page 12 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Responsibilities to the City Council Act consistently with Council directionAct Be familiar with Council prioritiesBe Clearly state if you are speaking for the B/C/C or yourself as an individualState Ask staff or who nominated you for feedback and insightAsk Stay focused on the official role of your B/C/CFocus Support and promote Council prioritiesSupport 7 Page 13 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Responsibilities to the Community Listen to and understand diverse interests within the community 1 Bring forward ideas…but within the scope of the B/C/C’s role and work plan 2 Show respect to all who come before the B/C/C 3 Understand that you are seen as a City representative, not a resident or advocate 4 Help recruit for B/C/C vacancies – you’re a great advocate! 5 8 Page 14 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Responsibilities to Each Other Be prepared for meetingsBe Advise the secretary/staff well in advance if you will be absentAdvise Allow others to speak without interruptingAllow Seek to understand other points of viewSeek Respect decisions of the majorityRespect 9 Page 15 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Responsibilities to City Staff Teamwork Be realistic about staff capacity Avoid giving staff direction Treat staff with respect and courtesy, and expect the same in return Resources Use staff as a resource – ask questions in advance when possible Chair Chair coordinates with the B/C/C staff/secretary 10 Page 16 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Role of Staff Liaison & Secretary Manages the agenda with the Chair •Confirms subject matter jurisdiction of the B/C/C •Sequences flow •Reviews requests for items Makes professional recommendations Manages work plan Provides input and technical advice Monitors for potential Brown Act or other concerns Manages B/C/C roster 11 Page 17 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Charter Review Commission’s Purpose Chula Vista Municipal Code – 2.29.020 – Purpose It is the purpose and intent of the City Council in establishing the Charter Review Commission to create an advisory body to serve as a resource to advise and make recommendations to the City Council and the City Manager on issues affecting the provisions of the City Charter. The Commission will review the organizational framework of City government, work to identify language to amend the City Charter to clarify or improve the workings of the City government, and recommend changes sufficiently in advance of elections to allow thoughtful City Council review and determination of whether to place the matter on the ballot. 12 Page 18 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Charter Review Commission’s Role & Function Chula Vista Municipal Code – 2.29 Pursuant to the City of Chula Vista Charter § 600 and Municipal Code Chapter 2.29 the Charter Review Commission serves as a resource to advise and make recommendations to the City Council and the City Manager on issues affecting the provisions of the City Charter. The Commission constitutes a forum for Citywide discussion, research and analysis of matters relating to current or proposed provisions of the City Charter and amendments; helps coordinate citizen and staff ideas with regard to potential Charter changes; formulates specific language for proposed Charter changes in a form appropriate for placement on the ballot; and prepares and submits proposed ballot arguments in favor or against proposed Charter changes. 13 Page 19 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Charter Review Commission’s Duties Chula Vista Municipal Code – 2.29.030 – Functions and Duties A.Constitute a forum for City-wide discussions, research and analysis of matters relating to current or proposed provisions of the City Charter, and amendments thereto. B.Help coordinate citizen and staff ideas with regard to potential Charter changes. C.Formulate specific language for proposed Charter changes to be submitted to the City Council in a form appropriate for placement on the ballot at an election wherein the proposed Charter changes can be submitted to the electorate. D.Provide analyses and reports to the City Council in connection with said recommendations. E.Prepare and submit proposed ballot arguments in favor of or against proposed Charter changes. F.To participate in the selection and nomination of members of the Board of Ethics, in accordance with CVMC 2.25.050, and to carry out the duties specified in Chula Vista Charter Section 300.5 with respect to the selection of Commission members for the Districting Commission. 14 Page 20 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Your Webpage www.chulavistaca.gov/crc 1515 Page 21 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Regular Meetings & Attendance The Charter Review Commission’s regular meetings are held on the Second Wednesday in February, May, August, and November of each month at 6:00 p.m. Please promptly contact the B/C/C secretary if you will be absent crc@chulavistaca.gov Notice is important to ensure that the B/C/C will have a quorum 16 Page 22 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Absences Chula Vista Municipal Code – 2.25.110 – Attendance requirements – Excused Absences An office is deemed vacated if a member has three consecutive unexcused absences from regular meetings. Absences may be excused for the following reasons: Illness; business commitments; pre-planned vacation with notice; funeral/religious services; unscheduled emergency; any other reason where seven (7) days notice provided The B/C/C must vote to excuse absences – a member may vote to excuse their own absence. Approval of excused absences must be entered into the minutes. 17 Page 23 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ - Attendance Q: How do I request an excused absence? A: Complete a “Request for Excused Absence” form, which you can request from your secretary. Alternatively, you can ask the secretary to complete the form for you. Important Notes: The requests are public records, so it’s recommended that you use the form or provide a brief request without personal details It’s incumbent on each member to request an excused absence. 18 Page 24 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Agenda Roadmap for what will be discussed Only items on an agenda may be discussed/acted upon Items may be added by the Chair, City staff, or by a vote of the majority Must provide for public participation 19 Page 25 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ – Adding Agenda Items Q: How do I get an item added to the agenda? A: The Chair, staff, or a majority of the B/C/C can add an item to the agenda. Option 1: The individual can ask the Chair to consider including the item on the next agenda. Be careful only to email the Chair and secretary. Emailing or discussing with a majority of the B/C/C may lead to a potential Brown Act violation. Option 2: Individual members can request consensus under the Member Comments section of the agenda to add an item to a future agenda. The matter cannot be discussed at that time – the B/C/C can only decide whether to add the item to future agenda. 20 Page 26 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Agenda Website www.chulavistaca.gov/boardmeetings 21 Page 27 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Rules of Order Chair leads the meeting and maintains order Majority rules Minority has right to be heard but must respect decision of majority Opposition must be verbalized When a member has the floor, do not interrupt 22 Page 28 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Typical Process for Hearing Agenda Items 2323 Page 29 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ – Meeting Procedures Q: How do I make a motion? A: Depending on the situation, the following are examples of how to make a motion, after hearing public comments and being recognized by the Chair: “I move approval of Item 5.” “I move to add an item to next month’s agenda to discuss XYZ.” “I move to [insert action].” Be sure to make your motion clear so that the public, staff, and B/C/C know exactly what the vote pertains to. Refrain from saying “so moved” – the action can be easily misunderstood. 24 Page 30 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Minutes CVMC 2.25.230 calls for the secretary to take action minutes Action Minutes INCLUDE: The actions (votes) that took place at the meeting The members who were present and absent at the meeting The name, city of residence, and whether they were in support or opposed to a particular item Confirmation of legal processes that were followed (e.g., if there was a public hearing item, there may be a statement that the hearing was held at the time in the public hearing notice) Action Minutes DO NOT include A transcript or summary of the discussions that occurred during the meeting A transcript or verbatim record of public speaker comments 25 Page 31 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ - Minutes Q: Can the B/C/C direct the staff or secretary to produce summary or verbatim minutes? A: No. The form of the minutes is decided by the City Council via the Chula Vista Municipal Code. In addition, the Charter and Municipal Code prohibit B/C/Cs from directing the work of staff. The City Council minutes are also prepared in the same form. Many B/C/Cs have audio recordings of the meetings posted on their websites, if members or residents would like to listen to the full discussion. 26 Page 32 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Conflicts of Interest Recusal Types of conflicts Financial (general, property-based, contract) Common Law Bias Recusal Should recuse oneself when there is an actual conflict or when the appearance of conflict is so great that it may taint the process You were placed on the B/C/C to participate - recusal should be reserved only for conflicts and not be used solely to avoid making a decision on a matter 27 Page 33 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda RECUSAL Steps to Follow When a member has a conflict of interest, he or she must: Publicly state the nature of the conflict (e.g., “I own property within 500 feet of the subject project”); and Unless the item is on the Consent Calendar, he or she must leave the dais or table until consideration of the item is finished. 28 Page 34 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Tips to Avoiding Conflicts of Interest Review each agenda statement carefully. If you are aware of any basis for a potential conflict on any item, contact the City Attorney in advance for advice. Report any changes in property holdings to the secretary. When in doubt, don’t vote. 29 Page 35 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda To Vote or Not To Vote If any question, seek advice from the City Attorney in advance. Situation Good Reason NOT to Vote? Why? The member owns a house that is next door to the project being considered. Probably Member likely has a conflict of interest because of the property owned within 500-1,000 feet of the project. The decision is very controversial, and the member doesn’t want to upset anyone. Probably Not Members are appointed to make certain decisions, and sometimes the decisions may be uncomfortable. Members should review the materials thoroughly and consider all points carefully in order to make a thoughtful decision. Feel free to ask questions and engage in discussion during the meeting so that you can feel confident in your vote. The issue being discussed would financially benefit the member’s business. Probably This scenario could constitute a conflict of interest. If you’re not sure, always ask! 30 Page 36 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda To Vote or Not To Vote If any question, seek advice from the City Attorney in advance. Situation Good Reason NOT to Vote? Why? The item involves the member’s own request for an excused absence Probably not Members can vote on their own excused absences The member isn’t sure if they have a conflict of interest Yes When in doubt, don’t vote. Always make an effort to review materials in advance and request advice from the City Attorney. The item is approving minutes from a meeting the member was absent Probably not There is no legal requirement that a member abstain from voting on minutes when they were absent. Voting to approve minutes is a ministerial action that indicates your confidence in the secretary’s production of accurate minutes. You can also ask for the audio recording of a meeting you may have missed to review the meeting. 31 Page 37 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Member Communications When making statements, members must ensure that: Their comments are factual They indicate that actions taken by the B/C/C are recommendations, with final actions to be taken by City Council, when appropriate They represent themselves as private residents, unless the views or recommendations they express have been officially voted upon Individual members making recommendations or expressing views that have not been officially voted on must indicate they are expressing themselves as private residents, not as representatives of their B/C/C. 32 Page 38 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ – B/C/C Duties Q: If there is a topic the B/C/C is passionate about and wants to discuss, but it’s not part of the duties, can the B/C/C still discuss and make recommendations on the topic? A: No. B/C/Cs are charged with a specific scope and duties by the City Council. If the subject matter is not within the scope of the B/C/C duties, the B/C/C doesn’t have jurisdiction over the matter. What you can do: pursue the matter as a private resident or include a recommendation in your annual report to the City Council that the topic be incorporated into your B/C/C’s duties. 33 Page 39 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Recommendations to Council B/C/Cs may have topics, ideas, suggestions, and requests for direction to bring forward to the City Council. These items require majority approval of the B/C/C. The following processes are in place to communicate with the Council: By July 30 each year, all B/C/Cs provide an annual report to the City Council on the previous fiscal year’s activities. B/C/C s may also make recommendations to the City Council as part of that report. B/C/Cs may have written reports distributed to the City Council through staff, by way of an “Informational Memorandum” to the Council, or the placement of “Written Communications” on the Council agenda. B/C/Cs, upon affirmative vote of a majority, may add an item to the City Council agenda. From time to time, the City Council holds joint meetings with B/C/Cs to discuss items requiring significant discussion. 34 Page 40 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda The Ralph M. Brown Act Cal. Govt. Code §§ 54950, et. seq. Core Principles Local agencies can only deliberate and take action at public meetings Public must be notified in advance of all meetings and matters to be considered Public must be given access to information and opportunity to provide input to decision-makers Exceptions are limited 35 Page 41 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Meeting Rules Cannot consider, discuss, deliberate or take action on matters not on the agenda Otherwise, only appropriate action is to refer item to staff and/or for consideration on a future agenda Brief response, question or statement is allowed Very limited exceptions When in doubt, best NOT to act and agendize for the next meeting 36 Page 42 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda What to Avoid - Serial Meetings Hub & Spoke Member A Member B Member CMember D Daisy Chain Member CMember BMember A A chain of communications (via phone, email, in person, etc.) involving contact from Member A to Member B, who then communicates with Member C would constitute a serial meeting in the case of a five-person body. When a person acts as the hub of a wheel (Member A) and communicates individually with the various spokes (Members B and C) regarding a matter under the jurisdiction of the B/C/C a serial meeting may have occurred. 37 Page 43 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Examples Email between two members regarding their support for a project, with copies to two other members One member to another: “I’ve talked with Member Z, and they think. . .” Staff tells a member that two other members are “on board” with a pending item 38 Page 44 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Subcommittees The Brown Act may or may not apply to subcommittees created by the B/C/C Contact City Clerk or City Attorney for direction before forming a subcommittee Formation of a subcommittee must be a noticed item on a meeting agenda before it can be created 39 Page 45 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Rights of the Public: Attendance Public must be allowed to attend, observe and speak at meetings Cannot be required to register, or fulfill any “condition precedent” to attend; name and address can be requested, but no obligation to provide Allowed to record the meeting with audio or video recorder; take photographs Public may be critical of B/C/C in comments Public may not engage in conduct that disrupts a meeting. Disruption is a very high standard and literally must be to the point where the meeting cannot go on. 4040 Page 46 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Rights of the Public: Public Comment Regular Meeting Agenda Items: Comment must be allowed; reasonable time limits can be adopted by local agency. Non-agenda matters: Regular meeting agenda must provide an opportunity for members of the public to directly address the legislative body on any item of interest to the public within its purview. No action or discussion can occur Can refer to staff for information; request a report back; request item be placed on future agenda City Council speaker time limits: Agenda Items: 3 minutes Non-Agenda-Item Public Comments: 3 minutes Consent Calendar: 3 minutes (for any or all items on the consent calendar) Individuals using an interpreter are allotted twice the amount of time for public comments. 41 Page 47 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ – Public Speakers Q: What happens when a speaker brings up an issue that’s not on the agenda? The Brown Act doesn’t allow discussion or action on items that are not on the agenda, but the B/C/C or staff can “briefly respond” to comments or questions, request information from staff, or place the item on a future agenda for discussion. Examples of acceptable responses: “I would like to request consensus of the B/C/C to add this item to the next meeting agenda. At that time, can staff please provide additional information regarding the matter?” Discussion among the B/C/C must be limited to whether to add the matter to the agenda – no discussion of the matter brought forward can take place at that time. “Staff, do you know the answer to the speaker’s question about the timing of the budget preparation?” Staff can respond with a brief explanation of the timeline. Any further discussion about the budget or B/C/C recommendations should be added as an item on a future agenda. 42 Page 48 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ – Public Speakers Q: How should the B/C/C address speakers who may be disruptive, critical of the B/C/C’s or staff’s work, or just plain rude? A: Brown Act provisions protect the public’s right to attend, observe, and participate in meetings. B/C/Cs cannot prohibit public criticism of policies, procedures, programs or services of the City or the acts or omissions of the B/C/C itself. Tips: The B/C/C members should always listen and make an effort to understand the concerns and statements of all public speakers. A simple “Thank you for your comments. The next speaker is…” is a sufficient reply. The time allotted to public speakers is an opportunity for them to voice their opinion. B/C/C members are not obligated to engage in discussion or respond to questions. Members may ask follow up questions, if desired, but should be mindful of the speaker time limit to ensure all speakers have equal opportunity to speak. 43 Page 49 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Social Media and the Brown Act Increased risk of “serial” meetings Emails, texts, tweets or posts during meetings deny public access to decision-making process Using icons to react to other B/C/C members’ posts may constitute a violation 44 Page 50 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda The California Public Records Act Intended to hold government accountable to the public – secrecy is antithetical to a democratic government Gives the public access to information/records that enable them to monitor the functioning of their government Public record = any writing containing information relating to the conduct of the public's business prepared, owned, used, or retained by any state or local agency regardless of form (i.e., electronic, paper) Some types of records are exempted, but legal authority is required Most documents the B/C/C handles are public records Includes texts/emails on personal devices if they involve City business 45 Page 51 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda FAQ - Records Q: If I’ve been emailing back and forth with a resident about a project that will be discussed at the next B/C/C meeting, can someone obtain that by filing a public records request? Yes! Even communications on private devices and accounts can be public records that must be disclosed. Best Practice: Encourage members of the public to attend meetings and send communications through your B/C/C email address. Staff will distribute communications to the B/C/C so all members have the benefit of receiving the information. It will also be made available to the public as required by law Acceptable Practice: Copy your secretary on B/C/C communications and consider creating a separate email account for your B/C/C duties. 46 Page 52 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Additional Duties Ethics training: Required to be completed within one year of being appointed, and every two years thereafter. The City Attorney conducts periodic trainings that you can attend in person. The FPPC offers free, online training at: http://localethics.fppc.ca.gov/login.aspx. Provide your certificate to cityclerk@chulavistaca.gov. Form 700 filing: Required for some B/C/Cs. Filings are due within 30 days of assuming or leaving office, and annually on April 1. Reappointments: You will hear from the City Clerk’s office shortly before the end of your term, if you are eligible to serve a second term. Please respond and let us know if you’re interested in being considered for another term. 47 Page 53 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Additional Resources League of California Cities Publications: www.calcities.org/home/resources “Open & Public VI: A Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act” “The People's Business: A Guide to the California Public Records Act” Institute for Local Government: www.ca-ilg.org/meeting-resource- center-tools-effective-meetings “Meeting Resource Center: Tools for Effective Meetings” Your staff liaison and secretary City Attorney and City Clerk 48 Page 54 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda QUESTIONS? 49 Page 55 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda Latest amendments were approved by the electorate on November 8, 2022. Recommended by Charter Committee 1949. Approved by a special election, November 8, 1949, with a vote of 2068 YES to 1101 NO, presented to the House by Assemblyman Ralph R. Cloyed and to the Senate by Senator Fred H. Kraft. Ratified by the Legislature of the State of California on December 15, 1949. City Website: www.chulavistaca.gov To be notified when additions, amendments, or revisions are made to the code, send your e-mail address to (be sure to add "Chula Vista Municipal Code" in the subject line) cpc@generalcode.com. Hosted by General Code. Sec. 905. It is the policy of the City to avoid the potential for undue or improper influence over Elected Officials resulting from excessive campaign contributions. In furtherance of that purpose, the City Council shall adopt reasonable regulations related to campaign contributions which shall be contained in the Municipal Code. Art. IX Elections | Charter of the City of Chula Vista Page 1 of 1 Latest amendments were approved by the electorate on November 8, 2022. Page 56 of 56 City of Chula Vista Charter Review Commission February 11, 2026 Agenda