The Sunshine Law
The District of Columbia has long had a "Sunshine Law" to ensure that its business is conducted openly – this law is codified at D.C. Official Code § 1-207.42. It reads, in part:
All meetings (including hearings) of any department, agency, board, or commission of the District government, including meetings of the Council of the District of Columbia, at which official action of any kind is taken shall be open to the public. No resolution, rule, act, regulation, or other official action shall be effective unless taken, made, or enacted at such meeting.
This tradition of openness goes back to the Home Rule Charter itself (Dec. 24, 1973, 87 Stat. 831, Pub. L. 93-198, title VII, § 742).
How the Sunshine Law Applies to ANCs
The Sunshine Law applies to the work of Advisory Neighborhood Commissions. While it does not ban Commissioners from meeting privately, no votes may be taken and no "official" decisions may be taken at any such closed sessions. "Official" decisions or action may only occur during a properly noticed public meeting. In this context, official decision means advice or recommendations to other government officials or agencies.
FOIA Requests
Freedom of Information Act requests to Advisory Neighborhood Commissions.
Advisory Neighborhood Commissions are independent, elected bodies. By statute, each Commission is designated to be the primary custodian of their own records. Requests for ANC records should be directed to the Chair and Secretary of the relevant Commission.