1     
PUBLIC MEETING NOTICE REQUIREMENTS

2     
2015 GENERAL SESSION

3     
STATE OF UTAH

4     
Chief Sponsor: Jon E. Stanard

5     
Senate Sponsor: Evan J. Vickers

6     

7     LONG TITLE
8     General Description:
9          This bill modifies a provision of the Open and Public Meetings Act.
10     Highlighted Provisions:
11          This bill:
12          ▸     eliminates language that excuses specified local government entities with an annual
13     budget of less than $1,000,000 from the requirement to post certain notices to the
14     Utah Public Notice Website; and
15          ▸     makes conforming changes to a provision relating to notice of a municipality's
16     intent to prepare a general plan or amendment.
17     Money Appropriated in this Bill:
18          None
19     Other Special Clauses:
20          None
21     Utah Code Sections Affected:
22     AMENDS:
23          10-9a-203, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2009, Chapter 188
24          52-4-202, as last amended by Laws of Utah 2014, Chapter 434
25     

26     Be it enacted by the Legislature of the state of Utah:
27          Section 1. Section 10-9a-203 is amended to read:
28          10-9a-203. Notice of intent to prepare a general plan or comprehensive general
29     plan amendments in certain municipalities.

30          (1) Before preparing a proposed general plan or a comprehensive general plan
31     amendment, each municipality within a county of the first or second class shall provide 10
32     calendar days notice of its intent to prepare a proposed general plan or a comprehensive general
33     plan amendment:
34          (a) to each affected entity;
35          (b) to the Automated Geographic Reference Center created in Section 63F-1-506;
36          (c) to the association of governments, established pursuant to an interlocal agreement
37     under Title 11, Chapter 13, Interlocal Cooperation Act, of which the municipality is a member;
38     and
39          (d) [(i)] on the Utah Public Notice Website created under Section 63F-1-701[, if the
40     municipality:].
41          [(A) is required under Subsection 52-4-202(3) to use that website to provide public
42     notice of a meeting; or]
43          [(B) voluntarily chooses to provide notice on that website despite not being required to
44     do so under Subsection (1)(d)(i)(A); or]
45          [(ii) to the state planning coordinator appointed under Section 63J-4-202, if the
46     municipality does not provide notice on the Utah Public Notice Website under Subsection
47     (1)(d)(i).]
48          (2) Each notice under Subsection (1) shall:
49          (a) indicate that the municipality intends to prepare a general plan or a comprehensive
50     general plan amendment, as the case may be;
51          (b) describe or provide a map of the geographic area that will be affected by the general
52     plan or amendment;
53          (c) be sent by mail, e-mail, or other effective means;
54          (d) invite the affected entities to provide information for the municipality to consider in
55     the process of preparing, adopting, and implementing a general plan or amendment concerning:
56          (i) impacts that the use of land proposed in the proposed general plan or amendment
57     may have; and

58          (ii) uses of land within the municipality that the affected entity is considering that may
59     conflict with the proposed general plan or amendment; and
60          (e) include the address of an Internet website, if the municipality has one, and the name
61     and telephone number of a person where more information can be obtained concerning the
62     municipality's proposed general plan or amendment.
63          Section 2. Section 52-4-202 is amended to read:
64          52-4-202. Public notice of meetings -- Emergency meetings.
65          (1) (a) (i) A public body shall give not less than 24 hours' public notice of each
66     meeting.
67          (ii) A specified body shall give not less than 24 hours' public notice of each meeting
68     that the specified body holds on the capitol hill complex.
69          (b) The public notice required under Subsection (1)(a) shall include the meeting:
70          (i) agenda;
71          (ii) date;
72          (iii) time; and
73          (iv) place.
74          (2) (a) In addition to the requirements under Subsection (1), a public body which holds
75     regular meetings that are scheduled in advance over the course of a year shall give public
76     notice at least once each year of its annual meeting schedule as provided in this section.
77          (b) The public notice under Subsection (2)(a) shall specify the date, time, and place of
78     the scheduled meetings.
79          (3) (a) A public body or specified body satisfies a requirement for public notice by:
80          (i) posting written notice:
81          (A) at the principal office of the public body or specified body, or if no principal office
82     exists, at the building where the meeting is to be held; and
83          (B) [beginning October 1, 2008 and except as provided in Subsection (3)(b),] on the
84     Utah Public Notice Website created under Section 63F-1-701; and
85          (ii) providing notice to:

86          (A) at least one newspaper of general circulation within the geographic jurisdiction of
87     the public body; or
88          (B) a local media correspondent.
89          [(b) A public body of a municipality under Title 10, Utah Municipal Code, a local
90     district under Title 17B, Limited Purpose Local Government Entities - Local Districts, or a
91     special service district under Title 17D, Chapter 1, Special Service District Act, is encouraged,
92     but not required, to post written notice on the Utah Public Notice Website, if the municipality
93     or district has a current annual budget of less than $1 million.]
94          [(c)] (b) A public body or specified body is in compliance with the provisions of
95     Subsection (3)(a)(ii) by providing notice to a newspaper or local media correspondent under
96     the provisions of Subsection 63F-1-701(4)(d).
97          (c) A public body whose limited resources make compliance with Subsection
98     (3)(a)(i)(B) difficult may request the Division of Archives and Records Service, created in
99     Section 63A-12-101, to provide technical assistance to help the public body in its effort to
100     comply.
101          (4) A public body and a specified body are encouraged to develop and use additional
102     electronic means to provide notice of their meetings under Subsection (3).
103          (5) (a) The notice requirement of Subsection (1) may be disregarded if:
104          (i) because of unforeseen circumstances it is necessary for a public body or specified
105     body to hold an emergency meeting to consider matters of an emergency or urgent nature; and
106          (ii) the public body or specified body gives the best notice practicable of:
107          (A) the time and place of the emergency meeting; and
108          (B) the topics to be considered at the emergency meeting.
109          (b) An emergency meeting of a public body may not be held unless:
110          (i) an attempt has been made to notify all the members of the public body; and
111          (ii) a majority of the members of the public body approve the meeting.
112          (6) (a) A public notice that is required to include an agenda under Subsection (1) shall
113     provide reasonable specificity to notify the public as to the topics to be considered at the

114     meeting. Each topic shall be listed under an agenda item on the meeting agenda.
115          (b) Subject to the provisions of Subsection (6)(c), and at the discretion of the presiding
116     member of the public body, a topic raised by the public may be discussed during an open
117     meeting, even if the topic raised by the public was not included in the agenda or advance public
118     notice for the meeting.
119          (c) Except as provided in Subsection (5), relating to emergency meetings, a public
120     body may not take final action on a topic in an open meeting unless the topic is:
121          (i) listed under an agenda item as required by Subsection (6)(a); and
122          (ii) included with the advance public notice required by this section.