Bluffdale attorney delivers required Open and Public Meetings Act training to council, LBA and RDA

Bluffdale — Bluffdale City Attorney Fred Donaldson delivered the required annual training on the Open and Public Meetings Act and related meeting procedures during the council's Jan. 14 meeting.

Donaldson outlined the law’s purpose to promote open government, summarized the statutory definitions of 'meeting' and 'public body,' and emphasized that exceptions allowing closed meetings are narrowly construed. He explained legal requirements for notice (generally 24 hours unless a specific public hearing notice is required), the obligation to keep complete, unedited recordings and written minutes available within 30 days, and the limited circumstances that permit closing a meeting — for example, to discuss pending litigation, security, collective bargaining, or certain personnel matters.

He also addressed electronic meetings and the requirement for an anchor location where the public can participate, a change the legislature restored after the COVID period. On procedure, Donaldson reviewed that motions should be stated in the positive and summarized the steps of handling motions and amendments consistent with Robert's Rules of Order.

Council members asked whether a short email or certificate could be provided to boards that need a training record; Donaldson said he could send an email and offered to provide quick-reference materials upon request.

What this means: The training satisfies the annual statutory requirement for the council, the Local Building Authority and the Redevelopment Agency; staff and board members who asked for proof of training were told they may receive an email confirmation.