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<br />City Council <br />Special Meeting Minutes <br />February 3, 2010 <br />Page 2 of 7 <br /> <br />The City's charter provisions, ordinances, rules and policies - but most <br />importantly its "culture" and "attitude"-all help foster: transparency, <br />accountability, mutual respect and participation. He noted the Public Involvement <br />Policy is available on the opening page of the City's website. <br /> <br />City Attorney Light presented a summary of open meetings law requirements. <br />The main rule of open meetings is as follows: All "meetings" of a "local public <br />body" at which public business will be discussed or at which formal action may <br />be taken are public meetings open to the public. <br /> <br />· Applies to any meeting of the lesser of a quorum or three members. <br />· A "meeting" is any kind of gathering, convened to discuss public business. <br />· A "local public body" includes any Board, committee, commission, <br />authority, or other advisory, policy making, rule-making or formally <br />constituted body of any political subdivision. <br /> <br />Exception: The open meetings rule does not apply to: <br /> <br />· Any chance meeting or social gathering at which discussion of public <br />business is not the central purpose. <br />· Any meeting attended by two or fewer members (unless two makes a <br />quorum). <br />· Meetings of administrative staff. <br /> <br />Main rule on notice: In addition to being open to the public, any meeting must <br />be preceded by posting of a notice of and an agenda for the meeting. <br /> <br />· The fact that a City Council committee may not make the final decision <br />does not excuse it from the notice requirement. <br />· Notice and agenda shall be posted, and published on the City's website, <br />no less than 72 hours before the meeting. <br />· Posting is required in a place accessible by the public at City Hall, the <br />Library, the Recreation Center and the Police Station. <br />· Exceptions to the 72-hour rule are limited to special meetings (48 hours) <br />and emergency special meetings (24 hours). <br /> <br />Meetings of Other Entities: A City notice is required if three or more City <br />Council members are expectE3d to attend and if the meeting "is rationally <br />connected to the policy-making responsibilities of the public body holding or <br />attending the meeting." <br /> <br />E-Mail: A "Meeting" can include a gathering to discuss public business <br />convened electronically. The use of e-mail by members to discuss public <br />business raises open meetin~ls/notice concerns. To minimize these concerns: <br />