§ 5.06 Meetings

The 2026 draft's § 5.06 beside the current code's § 5.06: removed words are struck through, added words underlined.

Comparison with a draft: not adopted. The archive holds no public hearing, ordinance or vote adopting the recodified Code through the October 20, 2026 meeting packet. Until one is adopted, every page here compares the consolidated code with a draft that can still change: the revised draft with the October 6 changes is not in the archive.

A comparison with the August 2026 draft recodification prepared by Iowa Codification for the City. The draft has not been adopted and can still change; the current code (unofficial compilation) governs until a recodified Code is adopted. Matches between sections are made by machine from the texts and are reviewed where uncertain.

Wording changed largely rewritten (60% same words)

Notable changes

New requirement: …of Iowa, Sec. 21.7) 6. Electronic Meetings. A ~~meeting may be conducted by electronic means only~~ governmental body shall provide for hybrid meetings, teleconference participation, virtual meetings, remote participation, and other hybrid options for the members of the governmental body to participate in circumstances where such a meeting in person…

What changed

All meetings of the Council, any board or commission, or any multi-membered body formally and directly created by any of the foregoing bodies shall be held in accordance with the following:
1. Definitions. The following terms are defined for use in this section.
A. “Closed session” means a meeting to which all members of the public do not have access as allowed by Section 21.5 of the Code of Iowa.
B. “Hybrid meeting” means a meeting involving both remote participation and in-person participation by members.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(a))
C. “Open session” means a meeting to which all members of the public have access.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.2(3))
D. “Remote participation” means real-time participation by a remotely located individual in a meeting which is being held in a different physical location using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(b))
E. “Reasonable notice” means advising the news media who have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and posting the notice on a bulletin board or other prominent place which is easily accessible to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if not such office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be held.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.4(1))
F. “Teleconference participation” means participation using audio conference tools involving multiple participants in at least two separate locations.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(c))
G. “Virtual meeting” means a meeting involving real-time interaction using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools, in which participants do not share a physical location.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(d))
2. Notice of Meetings. Reasonable notice, as defined by State law, of the time, date, and place of each meeting and its tentative agenda shall be given.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.4)
2. 3. Meetings Open. All meetings shall be held in open session unless closed sessions are held as expressly permitted by State law.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)
3. 4. Minutes. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings showing the date, time and place, the members present, and the action taken at each meeting. The minutes shall show the results of each vote taken and information sufficient to indicate the vote of each member present. The vote of each member present shall be made public at the open session. The minutes shall be public records open to public inspection.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)
4. 5. Closed Session. A closed session may be held only by affirmative vote of either two-thirds of the body or all of the members present at the meeting and in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.5)
5. 6. Cameras and Recorders. The public may use cameras or recording devices at any open session.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.7)
6. 7. Electronic Meetings. A ~~meeting may be conducted by electronic means only~~ governmental body shall provide for hybrid meetings, teleconference participation, virtual meetings, remote participation, and other hybrid options for the members of the governmental body to participate in ~~circumstances where such~~ official meetings. A governmental body conducting a meeting ~~in person is impossible or impractical and then only in compliance~~ pursuant to this subsection shall comply with all of the provisions of Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.
(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8)

Word-level comparison of the current text with the draft's; spacing and paragraph breaks come from the documents' text. Footnotes are left out.

Current code

§ 5.06 Meetings

All meetings of the Council, any board or commission, or any multi-membered body formally and directly created by any of the foregoing bodies shall be held in accordance with the following:

1. Notice of Meetings. Reasonable notice, as defined by State law, of the time, date, and place of each meeting and its tentative agenda shall be given.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.4)

2. Meetings Open. All meetings shall be held in open session unless closed sessions are held as expressly permitted by State law.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)

3. Minutes. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings showing the date, time and place, the members present, and the action taken at each meeting. The minutes shall show the results of each vote taken and information sufficient to indicate the vote of each member present. The vote of each member present shall be made public at the open session. The minutes shall be public records open to public inspection.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)

4. Closed Session. A closed session may be held only by affirmative vote of either two-thirds of the body or all of the members present at the meeting and in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.5)

5. Cameras and Recorders. The public may use cameras or recording devices at any open session.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.7)

6. Electronic Meetings. A meeting may be conducted by electronic means only in circumstances where such a meeting in person is impossible or impractical and then only in compliance with the provisions of Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8)

2010 Code, Chapter 5 · source page

2026 draft

§ 5.06 Meetings

All meetings of the Council, any board or commission, or any multi-membered body formally and directly created by any of the foregoing bodies shall be held in accordance with the following:

1. Definitions. The following terms are defined for use in this section.

A. “Closed session” means a meeting to which all members of the public do not have access as allowed by Section 21.5 of the Code of Iowa.

B. “Hybrid meeting” means a meeting involving both remote participation and in-person participation by members.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(a))

C. “Open session” means a meeting to which all members of the public have access.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.2(3))

D. “Remote participation” means real-time participation by a remotely located individual in a meeting which is being held in a different physical location using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(b))

E. “Reasonable notice” means advising the news media who have filed a request for notice with the governmental body and posting the notice on a bulletin board or other prominent place which is easily accessible to the public and clearly designated for that purpose at the principal office of the body holding the meeting, or if not such office exists, at the building in which the meeting is to be held.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.4(1))

F. “Teleconference participation” means participation using audio conference tools involving multiple participants in at least two separate locations.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(c))

G. “Virtual meeting” means a meeting involving real-time interaction using integrated audio, video, and other digital tools, in which participants do not share a physical location.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8(4)(d))

2. Notice of Meetings. Reasonable notice, as defined by State law, of the time, date, and place of each meeting and its tentative agenda shall be given.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.4)

3. Meetings Open. All meetings shall be held in open session unless closed sessions are held as expressly permitted by State law.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)

4. Minutes. Minutes shall be kept of all meetings showing the date, time and place, the members present, and the action taken at each meeting. The minutes shall show the results of each vote taken and information sufficient to indicate the vote of each member present. The vote of each member present shall be made public at the open session. The minutes shall be public records open to public inspection.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.3)

5. Closed Session. A closed session may be held only by affirmative vote of either two-thirds of the body or all of the members present at the meeting and in accordance with Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.5)

6. Cameras and Recorders. The public may use cameras or recording devices at any open session.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.7)

7. Electronic Meetings. A governmental body shall provide for hybrid meetings, teleconference participation, virtual meetings, remote participation, and other hybrid options for the members of the governmental body to participate in official meetings. A governmental body conducting a meeting pursuant to this subsection shall comply with all of the provisions of Chapter 21 of the Code of Iowa.

(Code of Iowa, Sec. 21.8)

August 2026 draft · page 22

Back to draft chapter 5 · All changes

Data last updated October 22, 2026. Built from the archive's documents; see how the data is built.