Agendas and minutes are the two most important documents created by a local government. They are the primary communication tool cities use to inform the public about the business being conducted by the city.  These documents record what actions have been taken in public meetings. Because these two documents are so important, there are several laws that govern their development and retention.
 
This course will cover all aspects of preparing agendas for public meetings and capturing the details of those meetings in minutes. You’ll learn how to create an agenda, what information agendas are required to contain by law, how they must be posted, how to design your agenda language with your citizen audience in mind, and many best practices and tips for developing an agenda preparation process that will save you time and keep your city compliant with the Open Meetings Act.

You will also learn how to develop an efficient process for writing meeting minutes. We will discuss the various types of minutes, what information you are required to capture in the minutes by law, and records retention laws and requirements. I will also provide you with proven techniques that will make it possible for you to have your minutes completed by the time the meeting is adjourned. Public meeting minutes capture the actions taken by the governing body. They are also a historical record of your local government.

This course will help ensure you are creating and managing these critically important documents as efficiently as possible and in accordance with the law.

About the Speaker

Kerri Craig, TRMC, has been a member of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association since 2014. She has over 25 years of experience in public service in the areas of strategic planning and data analysis, information systems, legislative and legal research, records management, and budgeting. She began her career as a Municipal Clerk in 2014 when she was appointed City Secretary for the City of Dripping Springs. In 2016 she was appointed City Secretary for the City of Horseshoe Bay, where she continues to serve today. Kerri was voted Municipal Clerk of the Year by her peers in the Hill Country Texas Municipal Clerks Association Chapter in 2018, 2019 and 2021.

Kerri is one of the four instructors for the TMCA webinar “City Secretary 101” which provides information on a variety of topics including an overview of local governments in Texas, managing boards, commissions, and committees, preparing for Council Meetings, public notices, performing the Oath of Office, Notary Public services, and certifying documents.

Kerri earned the TRMC designation in October 2016 and completed her first re-certification in 2021. She earned the Certified Municipal Clerk (CMC) designation from IIMC in 2019 and the Master Municipal Clerk (MMC) designation in 2021. Kerri also earned the Certified Public Manager (CPM) designation in 2020. She graduated with a Masters in Public Administration (MPA) degree in 2007, and a Bachelor of Business Administration (BBA) in Management Information Systems in 2001, both from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi while working as the Director of Advancement Services.

Kerri is a native Texan and was raised in San Antonio. She is a member of the Texas Municipal Clerks Association, Hill Country Chapter of TMCA, National Association of Government Archives and Records Administrators, International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC), International City/County Management Association (ICMA), Association of Records Managers and Administrators (ARMA), and the American Society for Public Administration (ASPA).

Be sure to come back to this course to complete your assessment in order to receive credit for this webinar. 

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