Sub Committee Agenda requirements - Ask Extension
Good morning!
We are creating a new sub-committee for one of our commissions, and I need to know what is required to be on the agenda. We are treatin...
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Sub Committee Agenda requirements #923606
Asked January 14, 2026, 9:39 AM EST
Good morning!
We are creating a new sub-committee for one of our commissions, and I need to know what is required to be on the agenda. We are treating this sub-committee as an open meeting, even though there will not be a quorum.
The City of Menominee is a municipality.
Thank you so much for any help that you can give me.
Menominee County Michigan
Expert Response
Greetings,
While the Michigan Open Meetings Act requires a public body to give public notice when it meets, it has no requirement that the public notice include an agenda or a specific statement as to the purpose of a meeting (OAG, 1993-1994, No 682). No agenda format is required by the OMA (Lysogorski v Bridgeport Charter Twp, 256 Mich App 297, 299; 662 NW2d 108 (2003)).
The only required item during a public meeting is the inclusion of at least one public comment period, thus an agenda must minimally include a time for any member of the public to address the public body. A public body has discretion under the OMA when to schedule public comment during the meeting (MCL 15.263(5)). Thus, scheduling public comment at the beginning or the end of the meeting agenda does not violate the OMA (Lysogorski, 256 Mich App at 302; and OAG, 1979-1980, No 5716).
Also note that, if the city maintains an “official internet
presence” that includes monthly or more frequent updates of public meeting agendas and minutes, the city must also post notice of a special meeting at least 18 hours before the meeting on a portion of the body’s website fully accessible to the public (MCL 15.265(4)).
You are encouraged to review the Open Meetings Act Handbook and the Open Meetings Act. You are also encouraged to consult with an experience municipal attorney on this matter.
While the Michigan Open Meetings Act requires a public body to give public notice when it meets, it has no requirement that the public notice include an agenda or a specific statement as to the purpose of a meeting (OAG, 1993-1994, No 682). No agenda format is required by the OMA (Lysogorski v Bridgeport Charter Twp, 256 Mich App 297, 299; 662 NW2d 108 (2003)).
The only required item during a public meeting is the inclusion of at least one public comment period, thus an agenda must minimally include a time for any member of the public to address the public body. A public body has discretion under the OMA when to schedule public comment during the meeting (MCL 15.263(5)). Thus, scheduling public comment at the beginning or the end of the meeting agenda does not violate the OMA (Lysogorski, 256 Mich App at 302; and OAG, 1979-1980, No 5716).
Also note that, if the city maintains an “official internet
presence” that includes monthly or more frequent updates of public meeting agendas and minutes, the city must also post notice of a special meeting at least 18 hours before the meeting on a portion of the body’s website fully accessible to the public (MCL 15.265(4)).
You are encouraged to review the Open Meetings Act Handbook and the Open Meetings Act. You are also encouraged to consult with an experience municipal attorney on this matter.
