Kinsley Groat of the City Attorney’s Office briefed the Planning Commission on Nov. 6 about a recent change in state law that requires public bodies subject to open‑meetings rules to conduct an annual review of those requirements.

Groat reviewed the general rule that official meetings of public bodies must be open to the public and highlighted that the statutory definition of an "official meeting" now explicitly includes electronic means of communication — email, instant messaging, text, and social media — which can inadvertently create a meeting if a quorum discusses public business. She recommended standard precautions (for example, using BCC and avoiding group replies) to avoid triggering an unintended official meeting.

Groat also summarized posting and notice obligations (24‑hour continuous posting at the entity’s principal office and website), teleconference rules (member deemed present when they answer to roll call; voice votes permitted but negative votes must be roll‑called), meeting materials availability, and the narrow circumstances that justify executive session (litigation, certain personnel matters). She invited commissioners to contact the city attorney’s office for specific legal questions and noted the state attorney general’s brochure attached to meeting materials as a concise reference.