City attorney reviews Open and Public Meetings Act at council work session

City Attorney Tina Petersen led the required annual Open and Public Meetings Act training during the April 8 work session, telling the Pleasant Grove City Council that the law is rooted in the principle that "the people's business should be conducted in public." She walked members through the statute's broad definition of "meeting," which includes workshops, executive sessions, and many forms of electronic communication, and stressed the requirement to post agendas at least 24 hours in advance to the Public Notice Website and the City's website.

Petersen outlined the narrow exceptions that permit closed meetings, explained the documentation required when a meeting is closed, and warned that knowingly and intentionally violating OPMA is a criminal offense enforceable by the state attorney general or by private suit. She also referenced the Utah League of Cities and Towns Powers and Duties handbook and its 2024 update as the training source. "Every meeting, even if anticipated to be closed, must be convened as a public meeting before a motion is made to close the meeting to the public," she said.

The training sets a baseline for council practice and followed discussion items in the work session on the city's FY2026 budget. Petersen's presentation served as a reminder to members to avoid group texts, phone trees, or other private deliberations about items within the city's jurisdiction, and to ensure minutes reflect substance, attendees, and votes for any closed session. The council did not take policy action following the training; the briefing was informational and part of the council's annual compliance obligations.