The Board of Supervisors of the County of San Bernardino finds and declares:
(a) Efficient and effective governance occurs when the electorate is adequately equipped to constructively oversee and hold elected and other officials accountable for their actions.
(b) That transparency and open government is essential for good governance and serves as the foundation upon which the electorate may equip itself to fulfill these obligations.
(c) Members of the public must be provided with a meaningful opportunity to participate in the decisions that affect them, and to understand how and why those decisions are made.
(d) Public access to documents and records of San Bernardino County are an essential component of transparency, and as such, failure to allow public access to these documents compromises the strength and integrity of our government.
(e) In order to further the people’s right of access to public records, any exemptions that may be applied to the release of public records shall be narrowly construed.
(f) Elected officials, commissions, boards, committees and other agencies within the County exist to serve the public and to conduct the people’s business. The people do not cede to these entities the right to decide what the people should know about the operations of local government.
(g) In order to ensure public participation in and scrutiny of the decisions and conduct of County government, records pertaining to the conduct of the people’s business must be readily available to the public, unless exempt from disclosure under the law.
(h) That it has a fiduciary responsibility to the people to exercise sound judgment and take great care to be good stewards of their tax dollars and as such, all County expenditures of public funds should be accounted for and fully disclosed where not prohibited by law.
(i) Members of the public should not need to engage in prolonged or burdensome efforts, or to retain the services of an attorney, to obtain meaningful access to public records and information. Rather, it is the duty of every officer, official and employee of County government to ensure prompt and meaningful access to public records, and to assist the public in obtaining such access.
(j) Honesty, integrity, and openness in the exercise of government authority are fundamental prerequisites to an effective and efficient County government that serves the needs and interests of its citizens.
(Ord. 4125, passed - -2010)