(A) A meeting of an organization created under the Interlocal Cooperation Act, being Neb. RS 13-825 et seq.; the Joint Public Agency Act, being Neb. RS 13-2501 et seq.; or the Municipal Cooperative Financing Act, being Neb. RS 18-2401 et seq., or of the governing body of a risk management pool or its advisory committees organized in accordance with the Intergovernmental Risk Management Act, being Neb. RS 44-4301 et seq., may be held by means of videoconferencing if:
(1) Reasonable advance publicized notice is given;
(2) Reasonable arrangements are made to accommodate the public’s right to attend, hear, and speak at the meeting, including seating, recordation by audio or visual recording devices, and a reasonable opportunity for input such as public comment or questions to at least the same extent as would be provided if videoconferencing was not used;
(3) At least one copy of all documents being considered is available to the public at each site of the videoconference;
(4) At least one member of the City Council or advisory committee is present at each site of the videoconference; and
(5) No more than one-half of the governing body’s or advisory committee’s meetings in a calendar year are held by videoconference.
(B) Videoconferencing or conferencing by other electronic communication shall not be used to circumvent any of the public government purposes established in the Open Meetings Act, being Neb. RS 84-1407 to 84-1414.
(C) City Council may allow a member of the public or any other witness other than a member of the City Council to appear before the City Council by means of video or telecommunications equipment.
(D) For the purpose of this section, the following definition shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning.
VIDEOCONFERENCING. Conducting a meeting involving participants at two or more locations through the use of audio-video equipment which allows participants at each location to hear and see each meeting participant at each other location, including public input. Interaction between meeting participants shall be possible at all meeting locations.
(Prior Code, § 33.05)
Statutory reference:
Meetings of public body; notice; method; contents; when available; right to modify; duties concerning notice; virtual conferencing authorized; requirements; emergency meeting without notice; appearance before public body, see Neb. RS 84-1411
Terms; defined, see Neb. RS 84-1409