Interest has been expressed by the Climate Change Advisory Committee to allow committee members to utilize a listserv as an option to engage in discussions and exchange information. Due to the unique nature of the work of the committee, which often requires review and analysis of complex technical documents and communications and document preparation related to such matters, and challenges in scheduling more meetings of the committee due to time demands on committee members, an option of utilizing a listserv would be beneficial and would increase the productive capacity of the committee.

Under Chapter 2.37 of the Bainbridge Island Municipal Code (“BIMC”), which governs the committee, the committee’s meetings are to be held in accordance with the state law Open Public Meetings Act (“OPMA”) (Chapter 42.30 RCW). In order to avoid confusion regarding what constitutes a “meeting” of the committee for the purposes of the OPMA in the context of use of a listserv by committee members, it is proposed that Chapter 2.37 BIMC be revised to make clear that the committee’s use of a listserv to engage in discussions and exchange information, under conditions described in the attached proposed ordinance, would not be regarded as a meeting of the committee for the purposes of OPMA requirements that the City otherwise imposes on its advisory committees.

The proposed revision to Chapter 2.37 BIMC is consistent with the OPMA because the committee’s work is purely advisory in nature. Generally speaking, the committee’s role is to provide input and recommendations to the City Council. Additionally, the proposed revision is intended to increase the productiveness of the committee and enhance transparency and the public’s involvement with the committee. Under the proposed ordinance, all discussions and exchanges of information by committee members via the committee’s listserv would be open to the public on a read-only basis. Use of the listserv would supplement the work that the committee will continue to conduct at its committee meetings, which will continue to be publicized and open to the public.