Public Meetings Law

What are public meetings laws?

Public meetings laws ensure meetings of a governing body are open and accessible, promoting transparency and accountability. They allow the community to stay informed about decisions impacting their lives. When these laws are not followed, individuals may file grievances alleging violations.

The Legislative Assembly passed House Bill (HB) 2805, which gives the Oregon Government Ethics Commission (OGEC) authority to investigate violations of Oregon’s public meetings law (ORS 192.610 to 192.705). HB 2805 creates mandatory prerequisites for submitting public meetings law complaints to OGEC. Oregon Administrative Rules (OAR) 199-050-0070 require the public body to publish on its website the contact information of how an individual may submit a grievance alleging a violation by the governing body of provisions in the public meetings law. The full text of this rule can be viewed by clicking here. These prerequisites also apply to executive session provision complaints.

Do you believe a public body has violated public meetings law?

Before you can file a complaint with OGEC, you must submit a written grievance to the public body at issue, setting forth the facts and circumstances of the alleged violation. This written grievance must be submitted to the public body within 30 days of the date the alleged violation occurred. The written grievance needs to include:

• Date of submission of the grievance.
• The name and contact information of the person filing the grievance.
• The date that the alleged violation of the public meetings law occurred.
• A description of the facts and circumstances of the alleged violation of ORS 192.610 - 192.705.

How many days does the public body have to respond to the written grievance?

The public body has 21 calendar days to respond to your written grievance. The public body’s written response should acknowledge receipt of the written grievance and may:

• Deny the facts and circumstances alleged in the grievance; then describe the public body’s version of the facts and circumstances and explain why they do not violate public meetings law.
• Admit the facts and circumstances alleged in the grievance but deny that those facts and circumstances violate public meetings law.
• Admit the facts and circumstances alleged in the grievance and admit those facts and circumstances violate public meetings law. Then explain the steps the public body will take to address the violation.

What steps should I take if I haven't received a response within 21 days, or if I'm not satisfied with the response?

If, upon receiving the Public Body’s response, or upon receiving no response within 21 days of your written grievance, you wish to submit your complaint to OGEC. When you submit your complaint to OGEC, you must include documentation that you satisfied these mandatory prerequisites. This documentation would include your written grievance and the public body’s written response (or affirmation that no response was received within 21 days). 

What happens if I fail to satisfy the mandatory prerequisites? 

If you fail to satisfy these mandatory prerequisites before filing your complaint with OGEC, your complaint will be dismissed under ORS 192.685(3).

How do I make a Public Meetings Law Grievance?

You can submit a public meetings law grievance by:

Option #1: Complete the Public Meetings Law Grievance Online Form
or
Option #2: Complete the PDF Form below, then do one of the following:

• Email the form to cityrecorder@ci.wilsonville.or.us
• Mail the form or bring it to:

City Recorder’s Office
29799 SW Town Center Loop East
Wilsonville, OR 97070

• Fax the request to 503-682-1015