Making Decisions

Decision-making in the public sector is a much different process than what they are used to in the private or nonprofit sector.

Decision Making In the Collective Interest

When a public agency makes a decision, the guiding principle must always be what best serves the public’s interests, not the personal self-interests…

The Concept of a “Consent Calendar”

To expedite meetings and reserve time for matters that need to be discussed, many local agencies have a section on their agendas labeled as the “…

Summary of ethics principles for public servants, focusing on financial gain, compensation, and use of resources.

Ethics Law Principles for Public Servants

This four-page pamphlet summarizes the kinds of issues and financial interests that ought to trigger a conversation with one’s agency counsel about…

Decision-Making Occurs At Meetings

Because of transparency requirements, virtually all of the conversations among a quorum of members of city councils, boards of supervisors and special…

Legislative versus Adjudicative Actions

Local agency officials wear different decision-making hats.

Enough Decision-Makers: “Quorum”

Because of the often-collective nature of public agency decision-making, the concept of a quorum is important. A quorum is the number of members of a…

League of California Cities Open Government Resources

The League of California Cities has developed a number of open government resources, including: