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Meetings and Technology:. Finding the Right Balance. ILG Mission: Promoting good government at the local level Practical, impartial and easy-to-use materials. Resource Areas. Objectives. How technology and meetings intersect Flag legal and policy issues. About the Handout.
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Meetings and Technology: Finding the Right Balance
ILG Mission: • Promoting good government at the local level • Practical, impartial and easy-to-use materials
Objectives • How technology and meetings intersect • Flag legal and policy issues
About the Handout • Covers all the issues tonight + • Includes references • Marked “draft” • Your suggestions welcome! • Contact information at end
Technology and Meetings:What’s the “Right” Balance? Assessed against the goals of the meeting One size doesn’t fit all
Purposes of Meeting • Consider staff analysis & recommendations • Hear public input • Make a decision • Explain the reasons underlying decision
Technology and Meetings: Three Stages • Before the meeting • During the meeting • After the meeting
Pre-Meeting Technology Issues Electronic agendas Use of agency equipment Technology and public engagement Pre-meeting communications
Electronic Agendas • Can result in savings of resources • Can also make multi-layered information easier to navigate • Caveats: • Need for paper copies won’t totally go away • Closed session materials typically in hard copy
Agency-Issued Equipment • Can ease transition to electronic agendas • Factor into the cost/benefit equation • Be mindful of : • Obligation to only use for agency business • Public records obligations
Using Technology to Enhance Public Input • E-comment/discussion functions • Keypad polling at public engagement events • Social media platforms (Facebook, Twitter, Blogs) • First amendment issues • Open meetings issues for decision-makers
Decision-MakerE-Communications Caveats • If involves a quorum of decision-making body = violation of open meeting law • Be aware of bias issues on quasi-judicial matters
Technology IssuesDuring Meeting Attention to proceedings Messaging during meetings Transparency enhancements
Attention Issues • Special fair process rules for quasi-judicial proceedings • Disclosure of ex parte (outside) information • “He who decides must hear” • Attention to proceedings
Emailing, Texting and OtherCommunications Distraction/transparency Issues: • Communications with fellow decision-makers (open meeting laws) • Communications with others • Response: Policies prohibiting messaging during meetings
Using Technology to Enhance Transparency • Translation equipment at meetings • Streaming video/audio • During and after meeting • After the Meeting: • Minutes on website • Web content in general (www.ca-ilg.org/TransparencyStrategies)