(a) A meeting of the council, including a meeting related to the development of grant guidelines and policies and the approval of grants, shall be subject to the Bagley-Keene Open Meeting Act (Article 9 (commencing with Section 11120) of Chapter 1 of Part 1 of Division 3 of Title 2 of the Government Code), except that, for purposes of this section, “meeting” shall not include a meeting at which:

(1) Council members are meeting as members of the Governor’s cabinet.

(2) Council staff and member agency staff are meeting to discuss, but not take final action on, any of the following:

(A) State agency coordination to improve air and water quality, improve natural resource protection, increase the availability of affordable housing, improve transportation, revitalize urban and community centers in a sustainable manner, and other priorities specified in subdivision (a) of Section 75125.

(B) Preliminary policy recommendations and investment strategies to the Governor, the Legislature, and appropriate state agencies to encourage the development of sustainable communities, as set forth in subdivision (b) of Section 75125.

(C) Developing grant guidelines, such as those specified in Section 75125, that are otherwise subject to public participation process requirements.

(b) The council may sponsor conferences, symposia, and other public forums, to seek a broad range of public advice regarding local, regional, and natural resource planning, sustainable development, and strategies to reduce and mitigate climate change.

(Amended by Stats. 2015, Ch. 606, Sec. 3. (SB 246) Effective January 1, 2016. Note: This section was added by Stats. 2008, Ch. 729. Pursuant to Sec. 5 of Ch. 729, the provisions of Division 43 added on Nov. 7, 2006, by initiative Prop. 84 (Sections 75001 to 75090) prevail over any conflicting provision of Ch. 729.)