Californians Aware

SUNSHINE WEEK 2014

INFORMATIVE ONLINE GOVERNMENT SCORECARD Public Agency Website Content, Usability Standards
Maximum total points: 100

General Public Information

Agency Headquarters Street Address Office Hours Public Information Requests Agency Policies and Practicesii Link to California Public Records Actiii Request Submittal Formiv News Releases/Alerts Current Archived Public/Press Information Officer Name Photo Bio Title and Responsibilities Contact Information Postal Address Phone Number E-mail Address
i

Max points 16

How easy is it for a first-time visitor to find this General Public Information?v Very Easy Add 4 points Fairly Easy Add 3 points Some Easy, Some Difficult A Wash Add/Subtract 0 point Fairly Difficult Subtract 3 points Very Difficult Subtract 4 points

Governance Information

Officialsvi Chief Executive and Those Reporting to Him/Her Name Photo Bio Title and Responsibilities Economic Interest Disclosures Contact Information Postal Address Copyright 2014 Californians Aware Info@calaware.org

Max points 42

Californians Aware

SUNSHINE WEEK 2014

Phone Number E-mail Address Members of Governing Body Name Photo Bio Term Dates Economic Interest Disclosures Contact Information Postal Address Phone Number E-mail Address Meetings Governing Body Regular Meeting Day, Time, Place Request for E-mail Alerts of Special Meetings Agendas Public Comment Advisory Disabled Access Advisory Document Attachments/links Minutes Video/audio Standing Committees of Governing Body Regular Meeting Day, Time, Place Request for E-mail Alerts of Special Meetings Members Agendas Public Comment Advisory Disabled Access Advisory Document Attachments/Links Minutes Video/audio Community Advisory Committees Regular Meeting Day, Time, Place Request for E-mail Alerts of Special Meetings Members Agendas Public Comment Advisory Disabled Access Advisory Document Attachments/Links Minutes How easy is it for a first-time visitor to find this Governance Information? Very Easy Add 4 points Fairly Easy Add 3 points Some Easy, Some Difficult A Wash Add/Subtract 0 point 2 Copyright 2014 Californians Aware Info@calaware.org

Californians Aware
Fairly Difficult Very Difficult

SUNSHINE WEEK 2014

Subtract 3 points Subtract 4 points

Financial Information
Budget Financial Statements Check Register Audit Reports Contracts Employee Compensation Expense Reimbursements Credit Card Charges

Max points 12

How easy is it for a first-time visitor to find this Financial Information? Very Easy Add 4 points Fairly Easy Add 3 points Some Easy, Some Difficult A Wash Add/Subtract 0 point Fairly Difficult Subtract 3 points Very Difficult Subtract 4 points

Legal Information
Pre-litigation Claims Active Cases Settlements Principal Applicable Ordinances, Statutes, Regulations

Max points 8

How easy is it for a first-time visitor to find this Legal Information? Very Easy Add 4 points Fairly Easy Add 3 points Some Easy, Some Difficult A Wash Add/Subtract 0 point Fairly Difficult Subtract 3 points Very Difficult Subtract 4 points

Labor/Management Information
Bargaining Units Active Agreements/MOUs

Max points 6

How easy is it for a first-time visitor to find this Legal Information? Very Easy Add 4 points Fairly Easy Add 3 points Some Easy, Some Difficult A Wash Add/Subtract 0 point Fairly Difficult Subtract 3 points 3 Copyright 2014 Californians Aware Info@calaware.org

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Very Difficult

SUNSHINE WEEK 2014

Subtract 4 points

General Navigability and Assistance

Max points 12

Searchability The site is searchable Advanced searches possible Search results allow most relevant/recent ranking options Search results shown in context Currency Shows date HTML page last updated Documents show creation date Escape Pages allow immediate return to home Pages show link to site map Vocabulary Technical terms linked to plain English glossary Major second language version(s) of site provided Assistance Major information sectors show FAQ lists Online chat offered as supplement to FAQs

Accessibility to Disabled
Text provided as alternative for graphic images Text enlargement provided Keyboard commands provided as alternative to mouse Alternative provided to JavaScript

Max points 4

Notes
Some government websites make the agencys headquarters or office hours so While the California Public Records Act does not require state or local agencies to post their policies and procedures for responding to public information requests on the Internet, doing so can save the requester considerable uncertainty or confusion, and may also disclose some agency practices not in conformity with the California Public Records Act.. iii The actual text will be helpful to those wishing to check statutory references in the agencys public information access policy. To keep current with the latest amended version, a link could be provided to the Legislative Counsels website. iv An html form would allow visitors to submit public information requests directly. v These queries admittedly call for a subjective reaction, but over time an increasing number of such estimates should give a reliable sense of how accessible the information is to newcomers.
ii i

4 Copyright 2014 Californians Aware Info@calaware.org