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3 <br />focus groups being a part of the forum, the creation of a Youth <br />Council and how to support collaboration about youth service volunteer <br />groups will be considered. <br />RIILES FOR PIIHLIC COMMENT: <br />Commissioner Gordon stated that it is important to have <br />sufficient information to make a decision. However, unplanned public <br />hearings at regular Board meetings need to be addressed. Staff <br />comment could be limited at public hearings so that there would be <br />additional time for citizen comment. At regular Board meetings the <br />time allocated for unplanned comments could be more strictly limited. <br />Commissioner Willhoit requested that time for staff presentations <br />not be limited. It is important that issues be clearly and thoroughly <br />presented. He prefers scheduling another public hearing, if <br />necessary, over cutting the time allocated for staff presentation. <br />Chair Carey suggested scheduling another public hearing whenever <br />the Planning Board recommendation is significantly different as a <br />result of the original public hearing. Staff could notify the Board <br />when suggested changes are significant. <br />Geof Gledhill responded to a suggestion that verbal comment not <br />be accepted at the Planning Board meeting. He felt it would be poor <br />policy to dictate to whom the Planning Board could listen. However, <br />the Planning Board must notify speakers that only written comments <br />will be taken into the decision making process. <br />Chair Carey stated that his understanding of the comments being <br />expressed is that the current process for taking public comment be <br />continued. However, a notice will be added to the agenda stating when <br />public comment will be received. County staff will flag items .that <br />are significantly different from when originally presented so that the <br />Board of Commissioners can consider holding another public hearing. <br />The discussion regarding the possibility of scheduling another <br />public hearing would be held at the staff agenda review and then <br />discussed at the agenda review with the Chair and Vice-Chair. <br />Occasionally, the decision to hold an additional public hearing will <br />be made as a result of unexpected citizen interest at the regular <br />meeting. <br />John Link requested that the Board of Commissioners consider at a <br />later time whether to set time limits for proponents and opponents on <br />a given issue. He felt that this is a way to encourage citizens to <br />stay focused on the issue. <br />OPEN MEETINGB LAW: Geof Gledhill reviewed several handouts on the <br />changes in this law. He stated that because of a broader definition <br />of the term "public body" there are many more groups covered. All <br />"public bodies" need to keep minutes, sunshine lists and notice their <br />