Meeting

IPIB Board Meeting - Electronic

Event Date & Time
Event Location
Wallace Building

502 E. 9th Street
Des Moines, IA 50319

Event Details

IOWA PUBLIC INFORMATION BOARD MEMBERS

Daniel Breitbarth, Des Moines (Government Representative, 2022-2026)

Joan Corbin, Pella (Government Representative, 2020-2024)

E. J. Giovannetti, Urbandale (Public Representative, 2022-2026)
Barry Lindahl, Dubuque (Government Representative, 2020-2024)

Joel McCrea, Pleasant Hill (Media Representative, 2022-2026)

Monica McHugh, Zwingle (Public Representative, 2022-2026)

Julie Pottorff, Des Moines (Public Representative, 2020-2024)

Jackie Schmillen, Urbandale (Media Representative, 2022-2026)

vacant

 

STAFF

Margaret Johnson, Executive Director

Brett Toresdahl, Deputy Director

Daniel Strawhun, Legal Counsel

 

Electronic Meeting

(Pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8)

 

Dial-in number: 877-304-9269     Conference Code: 664760#
Note: ALL phones MUST remain on mute unless you are addressing the Board                                                        

 

Agenda  

January 19, 2023, 1:00 p.m.

Originating from IPIB Office Conference Room

Wallace Building

502 East 9th Street, Des Moines

 

12:00 PM – IPIB Executive Director Search Committee – (Electronic)                                                                                                                                                                                                             

 

1:00 PM – IPIB Meeting

                        Electronic meeting pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8 – In circumstances where an in-person

                        meeting is impossible or impractical due to distance of travel for board members, winter

                        weather, and brevity of agenda.

I.          Approval of agenda*

II.        Approval of the December 15, 2022 minutes *

III.       Public Forum (5-minute limit per speaker)

IV.       Comments from the board chair.  (Pottorff)                         

V.        Advisory Opinion – Deliberation/Action.

  1.    IPIB (23AO:0001 – Chapter 22 – Discovery and Public Records 1/4/23) Pending

VI.       Cases involving Board Deliberation/Action.  (Johnson)

  1. Anderson, Rodney (22FC:0079 – Both Chapters – Massena City Council 8/20/22) * Probable Cause Report
  2. Bax, Kay (22FC:0100 – Chapter 21 – City of Fontanelle & Council 9/14/22) * Report
  3. Klein, Adam (15FC:0034-Chapter 22 - DCI / Burlington Police Dept. 5/15/15) * Report
  4. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0071 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 7/20/22) * Final Report
  5. Palmer, Zach (22FC:0123 – Chapter 22 – Iowa Department of Corrections 11/22/22) * Accept
  6. Radtke, Mari (22FC:0069 – Chapter 22 – City of Paullina 7/21/22) * Probable Cause Report
  7. Sellers, Dakoda (22FC:0119 – Chapter 22 – City of Vinton 11/11/22) * Accept
  8. Sly, Diana (22FC:0053 – Chapter 21 – Lorimor City Council 6/1/22). * Final Report
  9. Taylor, Tom (22FC:0114 – Both Chapters – Sibley Ocheyedan School Board 10/18/22) * Report

VII.        Matters Withdrawn, No Action Necessary. (Johnson)

  1. Ellis, Sam (22FC:0129 – Chapter 22 – Iowa Department of Revenue 12/21/22) *withdrawn
  2. Goche, Joe (23FC:0001 – Chapter 22 – Kossuth County 1/6/23) *withdrawn
  3. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0127 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 12/14/22) * withdrawn
  4. Merritt, Michael (23FC:0002 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 1/10/23) * withdrawn

VIII.       Pending Complaints.  Informational Only (Johnson)

  1. Aultman, Richard (22FC:0131 – Chapter 22 – Fremont County Auditor 12/27/22) Intake
  2. Beck, Tim (22FC:0036 – Both Chapters – Pleasant Valley School District 5/5/22) Pending    
  3. Carlson, Tracy (22FC:0124 – Chapter 21 – Kossuth Co. Board of Supervisors 12/3/22) Intake
  4. Gomes, Analicia (22FC:0058 – Chapter 21 – Bettendorf Comm. School Board 6/2/22) Pending
  5. Huffman, David (22FC:0047 – Both Chapters – Batavia City Council 5/25/22) Pending
  6. Johnson, Kevin (22FC:0060 – Chapter 22 – City of Hamburg 6/6/22) Pending
  7. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0126 – Chapter 22 – Jasper County 12/14/22) Intake
  8. Radtke, Mari (22FC:0050 – Chapter 22 – City of Paullina 5/26/22) Pending
  9. Siri, Aaron (22FC:0128 – Chapter 22 – University of Iowa 12/20/22) Intake
  10. Thompson, Stacy (22FC:0130 – Chapter 22 – Kossuth County 12/23/22) Intake
  11. Trappe, Christoph (22FC:0125 – Chapter 22 – City of Marion 12/13/22) Intake
  12. Willson, Sam (22FC:0107 – Chapter 21 – Louisa County Conservation Board 10/3/22) Pending

IX.          Committee Reports                                                                         

  1. Communications – (Toresdahl)
  2. Legislative – (Johnson) -
  3. Rules – (Strawhun) –
  4. Executive Director Search – (Pottorff)         

X.         Office status report.

                  1.  Annual Report (Toresdahl) – Review/approval *

                  2.  Contacts and activity * (Johnson)                                                       

                  3.  Financial/Budget Update (FY23) * (Toresdahl)

                  4.  Presentations/Trainings (Johnson) –    January 18, 2023 Iowa Association of Counties 

                  5.  District Court Update (Johnson)

XI.       Next IPIB Board Meeting will be held in the Wallace Building, 3rd Floor, E/W Conference Room, February 16, 2023 at 1:00 p.m.

XII.      Adjourn                                                                                                                      * Attachment

Electronic Meeting Guide/Outline:            

  1.  Each agenda item will be called in order.
  2.  IPIB staff will introduce the agenda item.     
  3.  Other parties to the agenda item will be asked for comment -- complainant, then respondent.
  4.  Chair will ask IPIB members for comment -- called upon alphabetically.
  5.  Chair will request a motion and second.
  6.  There will be a roll call vote on each agenda item to be voted on.
  7.  We request that speakers other than IPIB members identify themselves before speaking. Only speak when the chair acknowledges you.
  8. Place phones on mute, not on hold.
  9. Speak directly into your phone (please no speaker phones).

 

Minutes: 

IOWA PUBLIC INFORMATION BOARD

January 19, 2023

                                                            Approved Minutes

The Board met on January 19, 2023 for its monthly meeting at 1:00 p.m. in an electronic meeting by conference call originating in the IPIB 3rd floor Office Conference Room in the Wallace Building with the following members participating by phone: Joan Corbin, Pella; E. J. Giovannetti, Urbandale; Barry Lindahl, Dubuque; Joel McCrea, Pleasant Hill (in-person); Monica McHugh, Zwingle; Julie Pottorff, Des Moines; Jackie Schmillen, Urbandale. Absent: Daniel Breitbarth, Des Moines.  Also present in person were IPIB Executive Director Margaret Johnson, Brett Toresdahl, Deputy Director, and Daniel Strawhun, Legal Counsel. A quorum was declared present.

Others identified present by phone: Zach Palmer, Michael Savala, Mari Radtke, Trisha Halverson, and Doug Herman.

NOTE: Electronic meeting pursuant to Iowa Code section 21.8 – In circumstances where an in-person

                        meeting is impossible or impractical due to distance of travel for board members, winter

                        weather, and brevity of agenda.

On a motion by Lindahl, second by McHugh, the agenda was unanimously adopted 7-0.

On a motion by Giovannetti, second by Corbin, to approve the December 15, 2022 minutes. Unanimously adopted 7-0.

Johnson stated the reason for today’s electronic meeting.

      Public Forum – None

Items Discussed

  1. Board Chair –

Pottorff summarized the meeting of the Executive Director Search Committee.  She shared the proposed timeline and announced that candidate interviews will take place in open session during the February Board meeting.

2) Advisory Opinions –

  1. None

 3)  The board was briefed on cases and took action as indicated: 

  1. Anderson, Rodney (22FC:0079 – Both Chapters – Massena City Council 8/20/22). A motion by Lindahl, and second by Schmillen, to determine that probable cause does exist but dismiss the complaint as a matter of administrative discretion as the city council has completed terms set forth. Unanimously approved 7-0.
  2. Bax, Kay (22FC:0100 – Chapter 21 – City of Fontanelle & Council 9/14/22). A motion by McCrea and second by Giovannetti to approve the informal resolution report and set for compliance.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  3. Klein, Adam (15FC:0034-Chapter 22 - DCI / Burlington Police Dept. 5/15/15). A motion by McHugh and second by Schmillen to approve the dismissal order.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  4. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0071 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 7/20/22). A motion by McCrea and second by Giovannetti to approve the final report as the terms were successfully completed.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  5. Palmer, Zach (22FC:0123 – Chapter 22 – Iowa Department of Corrections 11/22/22). Zach Palmer and Michael Savala spoke. A motion by Giovannetti and second by Lindahl to approve the acceptance order.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  6. Radtke, Mari (22FC:0069 – Chapter 22 – City of Paullina 7/21/22). Mari Radtke and Trisha Halverson spoke. A motion by Lindahl and second by Giovannetti to continue the matter until the next meeting.  Approved, 6-1, with McCrea voting nay.
  7. Sellers, Dakoda (22FC:0119 – Chapter 22 – City of Vinton 11/11/22). Doug Herman spoke. A motion by McCrea and second by McHugh to approve the acceptance order.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  8. Sly, Diana (22FC:0053 – Chapter 21 – Lorimor City Council 6/1/22). A motion by Lindahl and second by Corbin to approve the final report as the terms were successfully completed.  Unanimously approved, 7-0.
  9. Taylor, Tom (22FC:0114 – Both Chapters – Sibley Ocheyedan School Board 10/18/22).  A motion by Giovannetti and second by Lindahl to approve the informal resolution report and set for compliance.  Unanimously approved, 6-0 with Corbin abstaining.

  4)   Matters Withdrawn. No Action -

  1. Ellis, Sam (22FC:0129 – Chapter 22 – Iowa Department of Revenue 12/21/22) withdrawn
  2. Goche, Joe (23FC:0001 – Chapter 22 – Kossuth County 1/6/23) withdrawn
  3. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0127 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 12/14/22) withdrawn
  4. Merritt, Michael (23FC:0002 – Chapter 22 – City of Newton 1/10/23) withdrawn

  5)  Pending complaints that required no board action.  Informational

  1. Aultman, Richard (22FC:0131 – Chapter 22 – Fremont County Auditor 12/27/22) Intake
  2. Beck, Tim (22FC:0036 – Both Chapters – Pleasant Valley School District 5/5/22) Pending    
  3. Carlson, Tracy (22FC:0124 – Chapter 21 – Kossuth Co. Board of Supervisors 12/3/22) Intake
  4. Gomes, Analicia (22FC:0058 – Chapter 21 – Bettendorf Comm. School Board 6/2/22) Pending
  5. Huffman, David (22FC:0047 – Both Chapters – Batavia City Council 5/25/22) Pending
  6. Johnson, Kevin (22FC:0060 – Chapter 22 – City of Hamburg 6/6/22) Pending
  7. Merritt, Michael (22FC:0126 – Chapter 22 – Jasper County 12/14/22) Intake
  8. Radtke, Mari (22FC:0050 – Chapter 22 – City of Paullina 5/26/22) Pending
  9. Siri, Aaron (22FC:0128 – Chapter 22 – University of Iowa 12/20/22) Intake
  10. Thompson, Stacy (22FC:0130 – Chapter 22 – Kossuth County 12/23/22) Intake
  11. Trappe, Christoph (22FC:0125 – Chapter 22 – City of Marion 12/13/22) Intake
  12. Willson, Sam (22FC:0107 – Chapter 21 – Louisa County Conservation Board 10/3/22) Pending

6)  Committee Reports

  1. Communications – No report
  2. Legislative – Monitoring the following bills: LSB1156 which is the 60-90 day bill; and SSB 1036 which relates to 22.4 and acknowledgement of requests.
  3. Rules – Governor has placed a moratorium on rule making.
  4. Executive Director Search – Applications are being taken. Deadline to apply is January 31, 2023. Committee will select candidates to interview at the February Board Meeting.

8)  Updates for the board.

a. Annual Report – On a motion by Lindahl, and second by McHugh, the annual report was approved for distribution subject to the completion of the biography section.

b. Johnson provided an overview of the December website use and year end case totals.

            c. Toresdahl shared the FY23 financials and FY24 appropriations update.

            d. Johnson shared presentations – January 18, 2023 Iowa Association of Counties 

            e. A district court case has been filed by Jack Swarm. An answer by the IPIB has been filed.                                                                               

The next IPIB meeting will be in the Wallace Building, 3rd Floor, E/W Conference Room, February 16, 2023, at 11:00 a.m.   This early start time will allow for candidate interviews in the afternoon.

At 2:23 p.m. the meeting adjourned on a motion by McHugh and a second by Giovannetti.  Unanimously approved.                                                                                       

                                                                                                Respectfully submitted

            Brett Toresdahl, Deputy Director 

__________________________

IPIB, Chair

Approved