Open Public Meetings Act provides openness, transparency
We have the privilege of living in a democracy that offers many rights and responsibilities. Residents have several freedoms, including the right to vote, bear arms, freedom of speech and attend board meetings held by public agencies.
Residents also have the right to record a public meeting.
At a recent Soap Lake City Council meeting, board member Robert Brown asked to tape record a meeting to record what he said, not to verify what others said, Brown told the council.
The council denied his request in a 4-3 vote. Brown walked out of the meeting.
We think Brown should have been able to record the meeting. We aren't aware of any distinctions in the law preventing him from doing so.
The press and public can tape public meetings and take photographs.
The issue appears to be one of worry about using staff time to review the tape in case of a public records request.
Soap Lake Mayor Raymond Gravelle voiced concern about possible public records requests and city staff having to go through hours of tape, according to Monday's Columbia Basin Herald article.
"There is no problem with the public recording it, because it's not subject to records requests. When the city official is recording it, that is when it becomes subject to the Open Public Meeting Act," Gravelle said.
We don't see a problem with that because all business conducted in the open portion of the meeting should be released to the public. There is no picking and choosing what to release and what not to.
The city already does a good job of posting their council meeting minutes online at www.cityofsoaplake.org. We're sure city officials will resolve this tape recording issue in the public's favor.
As background, the state's Open Public Meetings Act was created in the spirit of open government.
According to the Attorney General's Office website, the purpose of the law is explained in the following portions of the Revised Code of Washington 42.30.010.
"The people do not yield their sovereignty to the agencies which serve them.
"The people, in delegating authority, do not give public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know.
"The people insist on remaining informed so they may retain control over the instruments they have created."
Several resources are available to learn more about our state's ever changing laws governing public meetings.
A good resource for the public, press and officials is the state Attorney General's website at http://tinyurl.com/qft2pra.
To follow the spirit of openness in the Open Public Meetings Act, the Soap Lak
e City Council should reverse last week's decision.
Brown should be able to tape record a public meeting without any restrictions.
It's the right thing to do and it's the law.
- Editorial Board