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CHAPTER 7 B. Open meeting law 1. Purpose of the open meeting law st. C'/nad;vcnrspapera~. n,~. ,~. The open meeting law requires that meetings of public bodies must Disi. 7-1? Can,rnvnitr,Schnols, 332 N.W.2d 1 (Minn. 1983}. generally be Open t0 the pub11C. It SOrVBS three Vltal pllrpOSes: • 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. 2. Groups governed by the open meeting law Minn. Stat. j 13D.01, sutra. i; Under the Minnesota open meeting law, all city council meetings and Minn. Stat. ~ 465.719, sutra. 9. executive sessions must be open to the public, wit on y a few exceptions. Somhern :1 /innesnru :1 hrnicipnl Pnwer.~lgencw• v. 13rn~ne. 578 a open meeting law also requires meetings of any committee, N.w.za 362 (Minn. 1998). subcommittee, board, department, or commission of a public body to be open to the public. a governing o ies o oca public pension plans, housing and redevelopment authorities, economic development authorities, and city-created corporations are subject to the open meeting law. The Minnesota Supreme Court has held, however, that the governing body of a municipal power agency, created under Minn. Stat. §§ 453.51-453.62, is not subject to the open meeting law because the Legislature granted these agencies authority to conduct their affairs as private corporations. 3. Gatherings governed by the open meeting law :unberQ v. rna~p. sdr. IILs,.:~`a The open meeting lav,+ does not define the term "meeting." The Minnesotz zr~ r, 336 N.w.2a s 10 (Minn. Supreme Court, however, has ruled that under the open meeting law, 1983); Sl. Clond :'~'eµspcrhers, /nc. ~. fl;~r. ;a: ('n,nnn,nin' meetin s ar rin s where a uorum or more of the council or other s~r,nr,/s, 332 N.w.za 1 (Nunn. governing body or of a committee, boar de artment or commission of the 1983). i counci or o er governing body are present, and at which the memGers intentional y is , d_,ecide or re information as a s?roup on '~ issues relating to the official business oft at~yody. As a result, the open meeting law does not generally apply in situations where less than a quorum of the council is involved. However,, serial I meetings in groups of less than a quorum that are held in order to avoid the requirements o t e open mee ing aw may a ound to violate the law I ependin~ on the specs is acts. l HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA CrrtE$ This chapter last revised 12/2010 7:9