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CONSIDERATION OF ORDINANCE NO. O-1213-47 UPON SECOND AND FINAL READING: AN ORDINANCE OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, AMENDING CHAPTER FOUR OF THE CODE OF THE CITY OF NORMAN TO ADD SECTION 4-107 REQUIRING ALL BOARDS, COMMISSIONS, COMMITTEES AND SUB-COMMITTEES TO COMPLY WITH THE OPEN MEETINGS ACT WHEN POSTING MEETING NOTICES AND AGENDAS AND POSTING SAID NOTICES AND AGENDAS ON THE CITY OF NORMAN WEBSITE; AND PROVIDING FOR THE SEVERABILITY THEREOF.
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BACKGROUND: The Oklahoma Open Meetings Act (25 O.S. §301 et seq.) sets forth requirements that a “public body” must follow related to disseminating information about its meetings in way that will “encourage and facilitate an informed citizenry's understanding of the governmental processes and governmental problems”. Id. at §302. The term “public body” as defined in the Open Meetings Act does not encompass all of the City’s committees.
In 2002, Council adopted Resolution No. R-0102-110 to specifically require the Citizens Oversight Committee, Wastewater Master Plan Implementation Committee, and the Northside Wastewater Site Selection Review Committee to follow the provisions of the Open Meeting Act. In 2011, Council adopted Resolution No. R-1112-9 to require all committees, sub-committees and ad hoc committees to following the Open Meeting Act and a state law provision (74 O.S. §3106.2) that requires meeting agendas to be posted on the City’s website.
Councilmember Kovach, as Chairman of the Oversight Committee, requested that Staff prepare an ordinance which would ensure that all boards, commissions, committees, sub-committees, and ad hoc committees of the City of Norman comply with the Open Meeting Act when posting meeting notices and agendas and requiring the same to be posted on the City’s website similar to the requirements of 74 O.S. §3106.2. The Oversight Committee met on April 10, 2013 to review Ordinance No. O-1213-47 and recommended it go forward to the full Council for review during a Study Session. Council reviewed the Ordinance during its Study Session on April 30, 2013. The Ordinance is coming forward as presented during the Study Session.
DISCUSSION: Ordinance No. O-1213-47 would add a section to Chapter 4 of the Code of the City of Norman to clearly express this intent. Under proposed Section 4-107(a), all City of Norman boards, commissions, committees, sub-committees, and ad hoc committees would be required to follow the provisions of the Open Meeting Act when posting notices and agendas. Under proposed Section 4-107(b), those same entities would be required to post the meeting notices and agendas on the City website similar to the provision found in Title 74.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff forwards Ordinance No. O-1213-47 for Council’s consideration.