The newly formed Open Government Commission met briefly for its
first time tonight to discuss the city’s implementation of freshman
Councilman Perry Woodward’s trademark sunshine ordinance.
The newly formed Open Government Commission met briefly for the first time tonight to discuss Gilroy’s implementation of Councilman Perry Woodward’s trademark sunshine ordinance.
Woodward, a freshman councilman, campaigned on the controversial issue of secrecy at City Hall, and the council passed his ordinance in November, but nobody from the public showed up Monday night. In addition, physician and Councilman Peter Arellano was also absent, though he said in a phone interview afterward that he was absent due to a delayed flight from a medical conference in New Mexico.
Mayor Al Pinheiro and Woodward established a quorum and met with City Administrator Tom Haglund, as well as the city’s clerk and attorney, to discuss Gilroy’s Open Government Ordinance, which city officials refer to as “GOGO.”
“We’re working through implementing the ordinance consistent with all of its provisions and we’ll continue to do that,” Haglund told the council members before they adjourned after 15 minutes.
Haglund reported that City Attorney Lina Callon had successfully apprised city staff of the ordinance’s details and what residents can expect, but a few council members and lower-ranking commissioners had yet to receive training, he said.
City Clerk Shawna Freels also reported that the city was creating a Web page to educate outstanding officials and Haglund added that employees who survived layoffs are working with elected and appointed officials and scanning in seemingly countless documents after reformatting agendas for the various commissions to reflect GOGO’s transparency standards. The commission will also soon develop a form for residents that tells them of their rights under GOGO and how they can appeal denials for information requests, according to Callon.
“I think, all in all, it’s moving along,” Haglund said before Woodward and Pinheiro left in good spirits.
