HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-28-2017_Staff Report_Boards-Commissions_Committees_OPMAKITTITAS COUNTY
Board of County Commissioners
AGENDA STAFF REPORT
AGENDA DATE: September 5, 2017
ACTION REQUESTED: Consider approval of a resolution declaring all Kittitas
County boards, committees, and commissions operating
under the direction of the Board of County Commissioners
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 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.
INTERACTION: The Prosecutor's office was directed to draft the attached
resolution.
RECOMMENDATION: Consider the following issues before authorizing the
resolution declaring all Kittitas County boards, committees,
and commissions operating under the direction of the Board
of County Commissioners subject to the Open Public
Meetings Act requirements:
1) Should the blanket declaration include all County
internal boards, committees, and commissions or should
exclusions apply to certain internal entities not subject
to OPMA requirements under State law? Currently, we
have committees operating to aid in the flow of County
business that have procedures in place allowing for
rather quick and timely responses to certain business
requests for the varying departments (ex: Website
Content Request through IT Committee) that will need
to be eliminated to effectuate compliance with this
resolution requiring an overhaul of certain procedures
and delaying responses to certain requests until the next
available open meeting.
2) Providing a delayed effective date, to allow for proper
notification and a transition period for compliance.
3) The need to train these organizations regarding OPMA
requirements and compliance issues.
4) Whether the added encumbrances of a blanket mandate
outweigh a more individualized approach.
ATTACHMENT: Resolution Declaring All Kittitas County Boards,
Committees, and Commissions Operating Under the
Direction of the Board of County Commissions Subject to
the Open Public Meetings Act Requirements.
LEAD STAFF: Stephanie Hartung, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney