Milpitas Interim City Manager Deanna Santana announced she would be resigning at the end of this month, following a clash with Councilmember Evelyn Chua over an alleged attempt at holding a secret meeting in violation of the Brown Act, according to newly released documents by the city. I came to Milpitas to help fix the organization, not to fight or be disrespected, wrote Santana in an August email announcing her resignation. Unfortunately, over the last two weeks, both have happened with Councilmember Chua.
These meetings were in violation of California's main sunshine law, the Brown Act, which prohibits discussion or action on proposed legislation - like the encampment policy - by a majority of the council, outside of a public meeting. This provision of the Brown Act is supposed to ensure that no important discussions or decisions impacting the public happen behind closed doors without allowing community members to weigh in.