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CxArrEx r B. Open meeting law 1. Purpose of the open meeting law Sr. rrnnd:veutgmperr, na~. ~. The open meeting law requires that meetings of public bodies must Dill. N? C'ommunim Sohnn7s, 33z N w zd I (Minn. 19s3> generally be open to the public. It serves three vital purposes: • 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 publican opportunity to present its views. 2. Groups governed by the open meeting law Minn. staz., 13D.01, Subd. I; Under the Minnesota open meeting law, al] city council meetin s and Minn. Staz. ~ 465.719, sutxl. 9. ' executive sessions must be open to the public, wit on~Ty a > w exceptions. ,5 wnhern alinnesoro thrnici)uil Prover 1,Qenty v. Bnrne. 578 e o n meeting law also requires meetints of any committee, N w zd 362 rnlinn )9est subcommittee, board, department, or commission of a public body to be open to the pub )c. a govemmg o les o oca pub Ic 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 annerx ~ rn/n•P s~-h. n..,, A:> ' The open meeting law does not define the term "meeting." The Minnesota Zb /, 336 N. W,2d 510 (Minn. 19s3>. Sr. cm„n v,>K:P/rJ,~~z Supreme Court, however, has ruled that under the open meeting law, ln,: ~. non ;n cn.nnimiin~ ~ meetint=-s are earherin2s where a quorum or more of the council or other sd~nnl5, 33z N.w.zd i cM nn governing body or of a committee, boar a ent or commission of the 1983). y count( or o er emmg ody are present, and at whto the mein er~sintention~7is , d_ a „tide or information as a ero~ on issues relating; to the official business of t~oay. As a result, the open meeting law does not generally apply in situations where less than a quorum of the council is involved. However s meetings in groups of less than a quorum that are held in order to avoid the HANDBOOK FOR MINNESOTA Crr1e5 This chaplet 185[ revised 12/2010 7:9