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MEMORANDUM <br />TO: Kurt Ulrich <br />FROM: Joseph J. Langel, City Attorney <br />DATE: February 6, 2018 <br />RE: Remote attendance at public meetings <br />M <br />Ratwik. Roszak & Maloney. P.A. <br />You indicated that elected and/or appointed officials in Ramsey inquired about whether and <br />how they can attend public meetings remotely. This inquiry raised some related questions as <br />well, which are discussed below. <br />Issues <br />1. What options are available under the Open Meeting Law? <br />2. Are there any restrictions? <br />a. How many members can be absent at the same time? <br />b. Are there specific requirements at the remote location? <br />c. Are there specific requirements at the regular location? <br />3. How does this impact voting rights and quorum requirements? <br />4. Are there special notice requirements if one or more members are attending remotely? <br />Discussion <br />1. Remote Options Available under the OML <br />The Open Meeting Law (OML), Minnesota Statutes section 13D.02, subdivision 1, allows a <br />meeting to be conducted by interactive television. In Minnesota Department of Administration <br />Advisory Opinion 13-009, the use of Skype was deemed suitable under the OML, given its <br />similarity to interactive television. It is likely that software similar to Skype, such as FaceTime, <br />would also be allowed under these provisions. <br />Note that the ability to use "a telephone or other electronic means" is available only to state <br />agencies. Minn. Stat. § 13D. 015. The League has suggested that this option be broadened to <br />include cities, but that has not occurred. Consequently, only the "interactive television" <br />option, or its equivalent, is available to cities, meaning combined audio-visual is required: <br />having a member on speaker phone does not suffice. <br />1987 1 1 1 2017 <br />730 Second Avenue South, Suite 300, Minneapolis, MN 55402 1"''''` `�f p(612) 339-0060 • f (612) 339-0038 • www.ratwiklaw.com <br />