Agenda - Council Work Session - 10/14/2014

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RELEVANT LINKS: See LMC information memo, Meetings of City Councils, for more information about the open meeting law. Minn. Stat. § 13D.01. St. Cloud Newspapers, Inc. v. Dist. 742 Community Schools, 332 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 1983). See section I -Types of council meetings and notice requirements. Minn. Stat. § 13D.04, subd. 7. Minn. Stat. § 13D.01, subd. 6. IPAD 08-015. Minn. Stat. § 13D.01, subd. 1. Minn. Stat. § 465.719, subd. 9. Thus, if a school district is holding a special election on a particular day, no other unit of government totally or partially within the school district may hold a meeting between 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. Meetings are also prohibited after 6 p.m. on the day of a major political precinct caucus. II. Open meeting law A. Purpose The open meeting law requires that meetings of public bodies must generally be open to the public. It serves three vital purposes: • Prohibits actions from being taken at a secret meeting where the interested public cannot be fully informed of the decisions of public bodies or detect improper influences. • Ensures the public's right to be informed. • Gives the public an opportunity to present its views. B. Public notice Public notice generally must be provided for meetings of a public body subject to the open meeting law. The notice requirements depend on the type of meeting. However, if a person receives actual notice of a meeting at least 24 hours before the meeting, all notice requirements under the open meeting law are satisfied regardless of method of receipt. C. Printed materials At least one copy of the printed materials relating to agenda items that are provided to the council at or before a meeting must also be made available for public inspection in the meeting room while the governing body considers the subject matter. D. Groups governed by the open meeting law Under the Minnesota open meeting law, all city council meetings and executive sessions must be open to the public with only a few exceptions. The open meeting law also requires meetings of any committee, subcommittee, board, department, or commission of a public body to be open to the public. For example, the governing bodies of local public pension plans, housing and redevelopment authorities, economic development authorities, and city -created corporations are subject to the open meeting law. League of Minnesota Cities Handbook for Minnesota Cities 10/14/2013 Meetings, Motions, Resolutions, and Ordinances Chapter 7 l Page 11