23FC:0047: Darran Sellers/Vinton City Council- Informal Resolution Order

Date:
07/20/2023

Subject:
Darran Sellers/Vinton City Council- Informal Resolution Order

Opinion:

The Iowa Public Information Board

COMES NOW, Erika Eckley, Executive Director for the Iowa Public Information Board (IPIB), and enters this Informal Resolution Order:

On April 12, 2023, Darran Sellers filed formal complaint 23FC:0047, alleging that City of Vinton (City) violated Iowa Code chapter 21.

IPIB accepted this formal complaint on May 18, 2023. Pursuant to Iowa Code section 23.9, the parties agreed to the following terms:

1. City of Vinton acknowledges the requirement under Iowa Code § 21.3 to ensure minutes are prepared of all Council Work Sessions or other similar meetings as defined by Iowa Code § 21.2.

2. City of Vinton agrees it will ensure appropriate policies are in place to prepare minutes for all public meetings, including work sessions, that include the required elements under Iowa Code § 21.3, which are the date, time and place, the members present, and the action taken at each meeting, results of each vote taken and information sufficient to indicate the vote of each member present. The minutes shall be public records open to public inspection.

3. City of Vinton agrees to continue its past practice of providing public notice of all public meetings, including work session, as required under Iowa Code § 21.4, which requires notice of the time, date and place of each meeting, including a reconvened meeting of a governmental body, and the tentative agenda of the meeting, in a manner reasonably calculated to apprise the public of that information. Reasonable notice shall include advising the news media, if applicable, and posting the notice on abulletin board or other prominent place which is easily accessible to the public and clearly designated for that purpose.

4. The City of Vinton will document its implementation of the changes acknowledged by Ms. Schwan in her letter to IPIB on May 11, 2023, to ensure minutes are kept of all work sessions that comply with the requirements under Iowa Code § 21.3.

5. The City of Vinton agrees to go beyond the requirements of Iowa Code § 21.3 to post council meeting minutes, including work session, to the City’s website in addition to other mandated publishing location requirements under Iowa law, so long as reasonably feasible and economically viable.

The date of this agreement is the date upon which all parties have signed it, as evidenced by the signature dates below. The parties shall complete all terms of this agreement no later than 60 days from the date of this agreement, except that IPIB staff may allow for reasonable extensions.

Upon successful completion of all terms, IPIB shall dismiss this complaint.

The parties approved and signed the Informal Resolution on June 22, 2023.

It is recommended that the IPIB approve the proposed informal resolution and set the matter for compliance review in accordance with the terms of the informal resolution.

Respectfully submitted,
_________________________
Erika Eckley, J.D.
Executive Director