Once signing an agreement with CSBA, Agenda Online requirements vary depending on the individual's role.

Board members need:

• Computers with an internet connection and Adobe Reader during board meetings.
• Internet access with Adobe Reader at home.

Note:  An optional board meeting capability includes a computer connected to a projector to display meeting agendas on a screen for public viewing.

Staff members/submitters need:

• Internet connection and compatible internet browsers.
• Java 1.4.2 or higher (to use the HTML editor feature)
• The ability to create PDF files using either Adobe Acrobat or a free CutePDF Writer.  Note: See the hyperlink for access to a free download for the CutePDF Writer.

Users can access Agenda Online using Internet Explorer, Safari, or Mozilla Firefox. 

*Netscape will work for users who need read-only access; there are some editor functions that are not supported with this browser.

We recommend using PDF files because they are safer; they do not allow people who download the file to copy or change information and it offers file accessibility to everyone. Word, Excel, and PowerPoint presentations can also be attached.

No, there is not a size limit on attachments. Although, the larger the file, the slower it will download.

Printed agendas still need to be posted in accordance with the Brown Act (open meeting laws). In addition, per the Brown Act, meeting agendas must be made available to the public in a printed format if requested. Printed agendas may be required for people with disabilities or people without electronic or online access. Some districts have found it useful to have a printed agenda available at a district office.

Printing a meeting agenda will not print attachments. Attachments must be opened individually and printed.

All published agendas ever created in Agenda Online are viewable.  The calendar view defaults to eight months back and eight months into the future.  If your district needs to change the time range, contact the Governance Technology department at kludwig@csba.org or (800) 266-3360.

Using Agenda Online's back button is the preferred method to reach previous screens, especially when creating or editing agendas.  In the public view, it is okay to use the web browser's back button.

Agenda Online allows meeting administrators the ability to make a static snapshot of a published agenda.  This snapshot creates a .zip file which includes all information, including attachments, that can be stored by the district electronically or on CD. See section II, item f above.

Security in Agenda Online is accomplished through an internal packet filtering firewall. The upstream network provider monitors traffic. Suspicious traffic that is likely to fall into a denial of service (DOS) or distributed denial of service (DDOS) pattern is filtered out.

Additionally, there are nightly backups of data.

Training will be arranged after the following is returned to CSBA

• •  a signed service agreement
  • a purchase order for the first year's fees
  • a paper or electronic copy of one of the district's board packets

1. We try to arrange a training date approximately three (3) weeks before the Board meeting in which the district would like to begin using Agenda Online. All training sessions need to be hands-on.  Arrange for computers with internet access and the stated requirements (see question a) for all participants.
2. CSBA will create an Agenda Online site for the district and will develop a meeting based on the board packet to use during training.
3. Training is conducted in three separate groups: Group 1 is the meeting administrator and backup person (about 3-4 hours); group 2 is members of group 1 and staff that will be submitting and/or reviewing agenda items (1 hour); and group 3 is the board members (1 hour).