1987/04/22 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

4 3 , If172 i APxil 22,1987 COUNCIL COMMITTEE MEETING DISCUSSION Bruce Jones, City Attorneys, stated the issue has arisen whether meetings between Council members and/or Council committees and staff 1 and others should be treated as public meetings t Mich the press and other members of the public have the right to attend. , IIRCM 02.30.030 requires that all meetings of thegoverning body o4 public agency baopen to the public. A p 11 g cy" include. any subagency of a public agency Created by or pursuant to statute, ordinance or ether legislative act, including but not limited to paeniieb'cmmsrih,n,mllba ).Or Inkgo b tl hotlymssione l multimember board, commission, committee, 01 or other hereof o rulemaking body of a public agency, any committeethereof Man thee committee acts On behalf of the governing hootly,, A hearings or takes testimony Or public comment. ftCW 42.30.020(2). V Mr.Jones emphasized that meetings of all boards or advisory groups pT": created by ordinance pursuant to Art.V of the Everett City Charter `yt should be open to the public. However, the issue presented here is 1'F whether meetings of Council members pursuant a individual or committee assignments must be opento the public. In the uncilpexson is at the information gathering O otherwiseat the pt Initial phases of a recommendation for Council action, sometime the involvement of the press may inhibit the free flow of ideas antl varied points of view. There are also the formalities of notice and 1'' ' meeting schedules t0 be considered if committee meetings are open 4 meetings"under Chapter 42.30 RCM. G� Mr.Jones made the following recommendations: 1. Any meeting Of a single councllpexson with Taff or N�.�' others is not within the requirements of c open s7 un meetings act, regardless of whether the Ce ilperson fA does a as a committee or liaison assignment. 2. Regarding multimember committees of the Council, Meetings must be en only when such committee ,.. A11'-' ' exercises delegated authority from the City Council or nducts hearing., or take testimony or D blic F� comment. Liaison meetings of multimember Council committees withstaff or others or information gatherinfor recommendations the11 Council would Fi. not be within the act unless he Committee conducts hearings,takes public comments, tc. 1 4.,.li 3. Council should be conscious of the application of the T(k� open meetings.act to committee activities and make sure that , if a delegation of authority or the taking of testimony or public comment is intended, such intentions is clearly communicated in the c mrttee assignment so that thereais no confusion and mpublic notice requirements are met. ��'' 4. It should be understood that committee assignments by the President are not intended to create any power to act on behalf of the full Council, t conduct hearing., '. r r take testimony 1 unless such authority is endorsed by I, action of the Council as a whole.