(A) Subject to the provisions of this chapter, the public shall have the right to attend and the right to speak at meetings of public bodies and all or any part of a meeting of a public body except for closed meetings called pursuant to § 32.04 may be videotaped, televised, photographed, broadcast or recorded by any person in attendance by means of a tape recorder, camera, video equipment or any other means of pictorial or sonic reproduction or in writing.
(B) It shall not be a violation of this section for any public body to make and enforce reasonable rules and regulations regarding the conduct of persons attending, speaking at, videotaping, televising, photographing, broadcasting or recording its meetings. A body may not be required to allow citizens to speak at each meeting, but it may not forbid public participation at all meetings. No public body shall require members of the public to identify themselves as a condition for admission to the meeting nor shall such body require that the name of any member of the public be placed on the agenda to such meeting in order to speak about items on the agenda. The body may require any member of the public desiring to address the body to identify himself or herself. No public body shall, for the purpose of circumventing this chapter, hold a meeting in a place known by the body to be too small to accommodate the anticipated audience. No public body shall be deemed in violation of this section if it holds its meeting in its traditional meeting place which is located in this state. An agency which contracts with municipalities outside the state may hold meetings of any committee outside the state if such meetings are held only in such contracting municipalities. Final action on any agenda item shall only be taken by the agency at a meeting in the state, which meeting shall comply with Neb. RS 84-1408 to 84-1414. The public body shall, upon request, make a reasonable effort to accommodate the public’s right to hear the discussion and testimony presented at the meeting. Public bodies shall make available at the meeting, for examination and copying by members of the public, at least one copy of all reproducible written material to be discussed at an open meeting. Public bodies shall make available at least one current copy of the Open Meetings Act posted in the meeting room at a location accessible to members of the public. At the beginning of the meeting, the public shall be informed about the location of the posted information.
(1997 Code, § 1-509) (Ord. 183, passed 9-10-1985; Ord. 203, passed 9-8-1987)
Statutory reference:
Related provisions, see Neb. RS 84-1412