IFOIC UPDATE

10th Edition of Open Meetings, Open Records Handbook Available

The Iowa Freedom of Information Council's handbook on the state's open meetings and records laws has been updated for the 10th edition as a resource for Iowa citizens, officials and journalists.

The booklet includes the texts of Iowa's access laws - Chapters 21 and 22 of the Iowa Code - plus frequently asked questions about the law, references to Iowa Supreme Court decisions and Attorney General's opinions, related resources and tips for conducting public meetings and handling public records requests. It is produced by the Council with input from some of the state's top media lawyers and the Iowa Attorney General's Office.

More than 90,000 copies of the handbook have been distributed to Iowans since it was first published in 1978. The booklet is updated every two years, and the 10th edition includes changes in the access laws that were passed by the Legislature in 2001 and 2002.

Copies of the handbook are being sent to the state's libraries, and are being distributed through the Iowa Newspaper Association and the Iowa Broadcasters Association, and through the county auditors' offices. They are also available from the Council for $2 apiece, and can be ordered by calling (515) 271-2295 or writing the Iowa Freedom of Information Council, School of Journalism and Mass Communication, Drake University, Des Moines, IA 50311. The text of the handbook is also available on-line at the Council's Web site: www.drake.edu/journalism/foi/ifoi2.html

The Iowa FOI Council is a non-profit coalition of journalists, librarians, attorneys and others concerned about open government. It is based at Drake University in Des Moines.

Spring meeting of the Executive Committee, Iowa Freedom of Information Council

Friday, April 11, 2003, at 12:30 p.m.

Offices of Iowa Newspaper Association, Des Moines

Attending: Mark Bowden, Cedar Rapids Gazette; Brian Cooper, Woodward Communications; Rox Laird, Des Moines Register; Bill Monroe, Iowa Newspaper Association; John Phelan, KCRG, Cedar Rapids; Kathleen Richardson, Drake University; Mike Rolands, Indianola Record-Herald and Tribune; Sue Toma, Iowa Broadcasters Association; Dawn Work-MaKinne Iowa Library Association

Presiding: President Brian Cooper

Secretary: Kathleen Richardson, executive secretary

Minutes: Minutes of the Iowa FOI Council's winter meeting amended to correct Dawn Work-MaKinne's name. Motion to approve minutes as amended made by Monroe, seconded by Phelan. Unanimously approved.

Finances: Richardson provided the committee with a final accounting of the IFOIC's expenditures and income for 2002 and proposed the final budget for 2003. The proposed budget includes the cost of producing an updated version of the Expanded Media Coverage handbook necessitated by changes made in the EMC rules by the Iowa Supreme Court last year. The booklet has not been updated in many years.

Cooper suggested that a subcommittee be formed to discuss the executive secretary's compensation and to set up an annual procedure for reviewing that compensation. The subcommittee will report back to the full committee at the summer meeting. The subcommittee would become a standing three-member group that would include the past, present and future IFOIC presidents. (The members of the first subcommittee will be Laird, Cooper and Phelan.)

Laird moved that the subcommittee on executive compensation be formed. The motion was seconded by Monroe and approved unanimously.

Laird then moved that the committee approve the 2003 budget. The motion was seconded by Phelan and approved unanimously.

Legislative report: Monroe reported on three FOI-related bills that have been considered by Iowa lawmakers this session. A bill that would make veterans' records confidential, which was opposed by the IFOIC, passed through the Legislature. Two other bills are still being considered: one would make more information in government employees' personnel records confidential and another would make it illegal to photograph people without their knowledge. The Legislature is considering amendments to the bills that would make them more FOI-friendly.

Bowden reported on the worrisome trend of secrecy at the Statehouse - through the increasing use of closed-door meetings, circumventing the committee system and open hearings, and the hiring of consultants to conduct policy-making. Richardson volunteered to consult with the committee members and Iowa legislative reporters and to write an op-ed piece to be distributed through the INA and IFOIC.

FOI workshops: The committee discussed a request by the Iowa Newspaper Foundation for a donation from the IFOIC to help finance regional FOI workshops to be conducted throughout the state this fall. There was some discussion about how extensive the IFOIC's role in the workshops should be and who should be hired to conduct the workshops. Cooper, Toma, Monroe and Richardson agreed to meet with Arvid Huisman of the INF to discuss the committee's concerns.

Openness Defense Fund: The committee reviewed a request by broadcasters and newspapers in Red Oak, Iowa, for a grant from the IFOIC's Openness Defense Fund to sue the Montgomery County Board of Supervisors for continuing and egregious violation of the state open meetings law. Monroe, Toma, Richardson (as representatives of the INA, IBA and IFOIC) and attorney Michael Giudicessi had reviewed the request and recommended that it be approved. Laird moved that the request for support be approved, pursuant to the rules of the program. Work-MaKinne seconded the motion and the request was approved unanimously. Richardson will write a letter to the journalists informing them of the committee's vote.

Annual meeting: Committee members agreed to continue using the Cub Club at Sec Taylor Stadium in Des Moines as the location for the meeting. The meeting will be held either of the first two Fridays in October, Oct. 3 or Oct. 10, depending on availability of the club.

The meeting adjourned at approximately 2 p.m.

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