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-8- B. Administrative Decisions. Zoning decisions which apply to one specific property owner or to a few property owners in the entire city are more of an administrative nature. Examples of these decisions are special or conditional use permit applications. These decisions often involve the application of standards contained in the zoning ordinance to a specific piece of property and to a specific permit applicant. The Supreme Court in Minnesota and the courts of other states have not been as deferential to these types of decisions as they have to the general legislative deci'sions described above. These types of decisions may be attacked on the grounds that the local government acted in an arbitrary or capricious manner. The Minnesota Supreme Court has provided local governments with guidance to avoid difficulties in these areas.. When a local governmental unit is faced with a decision, such as outlined above, its action may be found to be arbitrary or caprcious unless the local governmental unit identifies the basis for its determination at the time the decision is made and adopts findings setting forth its reasoning. Zylka v. City of Crystal, 167 N.W. 2d 45 (1969). The basis for its determination must be reasonably related to the police powers discussed earlier. This judicial standard is indeed much stricter than that given to legislative decisions. It is thus incumbent, upon a local governmental unit to give careful consideration to these administrative decisions and be careful to adopt findings and conclusions which support the local governmental unit's determination. Failure to do so is inviting legal challenge. C. Open Meeting Law. Minnesota Statutes Section 471.705 requires that all meetings of state agencies and local governments be open to the public. This requirement includes not just meetings of the governing body, but also local co~ittees and commissions. A local planning commission is subject to this act. Violation of the open meeting law is punishable by a $100 fine; repeated violations can result in removal from the office and temporary suspension from future public office. V. CONCLUSIONS Authority for a local governmental unit to plan and regulate land use is derived from enabling legislation. Official controls may be challenged using three basic principles. First, inconsistency with the enabling legislation; second, general constitutional infirmity; or third, unconstitutional application of an ordinance to a specific individual. Legislative decisions of local governmental units are accorded deference by the courts. Administrative decisions must be supported by findings of fact and conclusions which set forth the reasonable basis upon which a local decision is made. 3.29.83