C. Requirements for Public Meetings

• Library: The Sunshine Law Guidebook (2019 Ed.)

C. Requirements for Public Meetings

1. Notice

a. Generally

Section 610.020, RSMo 2016, requires all public governmental bodies to provide notice of each meeting. The notice must be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting, excluding weekends and holidays when the office is closed. Section 610.020.2. If a meeting must be held on less than 24 hours' notice or at a time or place that is not reasonably convenient to the public, the minutes of the meeting must state "good cause" for failing to comply with the regular notice requirements. Section 610.020.4. Although it is not required by law, it is a good practice to note when the notice was posted and by whom.

b. Enhanced Notice

Notice for a public meeting may be required to be more than 24 hours in advance. Two such instances are listed here, but there may be others.

1. In 2010, the law was amended to require additional notice in certain instances. This provision is not found in Chapter 610, RSMo, but rather in Chapter 67, RSMo. It requires that the public body give four days' notice (not counting weekends and holidays) in the same form as required by § 610.020, RSMo 2016, when the public body is:

· increasing a tax; or

· using eminent domain for retail development; or

· approving a redevelopment plan that will use public funds for financing.

Section 67.2725, RSMo 2016. A public hearing is also required in these instances. Id. There are two important...