County prosecutor briefs commissioners on Open Public Meetings Act

Lisa Nickel of the Kitsap County Prosecutor's Office told the Planning Commission on March 3 that all official commission business must be conducted in public under the Washington Open Public Meetings Act and related Kitsap County code. "That's your basic rule," Nickel said, explaining the definition of a "meeting" and what counts as an action that must be open to the public.

Nickel walked commissioners through common pitfalls that can create OPMA violations: serial or "chain" communications that aggregate a quorum, improper use of email or instant messaging among a quorum, and gatherings where deliberation about official business occurs outside public notice. She also reviewed limited exceptions, including genuine interruptions and executive-session rules, and noted potential civil penalties, including fines and the risk that actions taken in violation of the OPMA could be declared null and void.

Commissioners asked for follow-up resources; Nickel said she would provide contact information and written materials for the commission and for posting on the county website. The training was offered as an informational item; commissioners were encouraged to save detailed deliberative questions for a later session.