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Pine City council weighs train‑the‑trainer plan to ease open‑meeting-law access for volunteers
Summary
Councilors debated a low‑cost ‘train‑the‑trainer’ approach and documentation alternatives after volunteer committee members struggled to access League of Minnesota Cities training that requires a city email account.
A Pine City council member proposed a low‑cost "train‑the‑trainer" approach to ensure volunteer committee and commission members understand open‑meeting law without the city purchasing email accounts for each volunteer. The council discussed requiring either proof of completing the League of Minnesota Cities (LMC) course or a signed acknowledgement that a volunteer read the relevant state statute.
"What what is the cost of emails in the year asking the bills? Like, $26 a month per user per year," a council member said while outlining the financial barrier to giving each volunteer a city email account. City staff said the LMC course requires a city email and that some volunteers cannot access the LMC catalog without that account. The attorney recommended narrowing the curriculum to core points and offering alternatives such as a recorded Teams session or a one‑page LMC summary for volunteers.
Councilors and staff discussed making training a condition of committee membership or requiring documentation during application or budget approval for committees. The city attorney noted that reading the statute alone may not be sufficient for many volunteers, and recommended a mix of materials, recorded sessions and a short acknowledgment form so volunteers understand the risks of noncompliance. The council directed staff to develop options and cost estimates to bring back for consideration.
Provenance: topicintro SEG 014; topfinish SEG 131.
