I've been a lurker on this list but wanted to respond to David's questions
regarding cameras in Council meetings. Of course, Minneapolis is not unique in
being subject to open meeting requirements. The Minnesota Open Meeting Law,
Minnesota Statutes Chapter 13D, applies to all cities and most other public
bodies. The law mandates that meetings of public bodies relating to official
business be "open to the public." I'm not aware of any court decision
interpreting the law to require that cameras be allowed in public meetings.
Minnesota courts have held that the law serves three important purposes: (1) to
prohibit actions being taken at a secret meeting where it is impossible for the
interested public to become fully informed concerning board decisions or to
detect improper influences; (2) to assure the public's right to be informed; and
(3) to afford the public an opportunity to present its views to the [public
body]. I suspect that the City Attorney's office has considered this and has
concluded that moving to the court room where cameras will not be allowed is in
compliance with the law. Of course, such a legal interpretation could be
challenged. Whether the decision to hold meetings in the court room was a good
one is obviously a separate issue.
Bob Vose
Linden Hills
David Brauer wrote:
> Re: the Council's public meetings where cameras are not allowed, here's a
> link to the Pioneer Press's recent story (good going, folks!), probably only
> good for a few more days:
>
> http://www.pioneerplanet.com/seven-days/wed/news/docs/034492.htm
>
> Good for Channel 5's Gary Hill for speaking out against restricted access,
> but BOO to the other TV & radio stations for not getting it together and
> battling this policy. It's just embarrassing, speaking as a journalist (and
> also irresponsible of both council and media, speaking as a citizen). Makes
> me wonder if the TV folks are content to use MTN's feed and put up with the
> two-hour tape delay so they don't have to send a camera crew.
>
> I don't know my media law, but anyone out there who does - is this illegal?
> Does public access to meetings also include the ability to videotape them?
> Can the council get away with this because the courts exclude ALL
> videotaping?
>
> David Brauer
> King Field - Ward 10
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]]On Behalf Of
> Steven Clift
> Sent: Monday, January 15, 2001 3:56 PM
> To: [EMAIL PROTECTED]
> Subject: [Mpls] (Fwd) Minnesota SPJ protests Council meetings where cameras
> ar
> The Minnesota Chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists has issued
> a
> statement protesting the Minneapolis City Council's decision to hold its
> meetings in the federal courthouse where cameras and recording devices are
> not allowed.
>
> See the full statement issued by Minnesota Society of Professional
> Journalist's President Judith Yates Borger at http://www.mnspj.org.
>
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