Agenda Staff Report_OPMA Revised

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KITTITAS COUNTY Board of County Commissioners AGENDA STAFF REPORT AGENDA DATE: September 19, 2017 ACTION REQUESTED: Approve a resolution declaring the Kittitas County boards, committees, and commissions operating under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners, but excluding staff only internal boards, committees, and commissions not otherwise subject to the Open Public Meetings Act, subject to the Open Public Meetings Act requirements. BACKGROUND: In response to concerns raised by the Kittitas County Records Management Committee and the Kittitas County Prosecutor’s Office, the Kittitas County Board of Commissioners requested a legal opinion addressing the legal implications for County boards, committees, and commissions in regards to the Open Public Meetings Act. The Prosecutor’s office researched the pertinent legal issues and provided an opinion and matrix to the County analyzing which of those organizations are subject to the Open Public Meetings Act and why or why not at a Special Meeting of the Board of County Commissioners on August 15, 2017. At that meeting, the Board determined that it was in the best interest of the County to impose a mandate declaring all boards, committees, and commissions subject to the Open Public Meetings Act rather than analyze the nuances of each and every board to determine individually or on a case by case basis whether compliance with the Act is necessary. At Agenda Session held on September 5, 2017, the implications of including internal staff only boards in this directive were discussed and it was determined by the Board that they should be excluded until the State legislature directs otherwise. INTERACTION: The Prosecutor’s office was directed to draft the revised attached resolution. RECOMMENDATION: Approve the attached resolution.