BILL NUMBER: SB 964 VETOED DATE: 10/05/2007 To the Members of the California State Senate: I am returning Senate Bill 964 without my signature. It is of the utmost importance to ensure openness and transparency of local government decision making. This bill seeks to solve a perceived defect in the Brown Act addressed in the Wolfe v. Fremont legal decision. In its attempt to solve the issue, this bill imposes an impractical standard for compliance on local officials and could potentially prohibit communication among officials and agency staff outside of a public meeting. I urge the Legislature to consider legislation next year that more judiciously addresses the problem of serial meetings that result in public policy decisions. Sincerely, Arnold Schwarzenegger