Agenda - 02-10-2015 - 2 - Laserfiche WebLink

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2 EXCERPT FROM THE APPROVED FEBRUARY 8, 2011BOCC MINUTES 2.Discussion on the Process for the Public to Place an Item on a Regular Board Meeting Agenda Chair Pelissier saidthat several times individuals have petitioned the Board to put an item on the regular agenda. The Board needs to discuss how to respond to the public about these types of requests. Commissioner Yuhasz agreed that there needs to be a process. He suggested having a standard policy with a subcommittee of this Board to evaluate these proposals. Commissioner Hemminger said that this came up on the school board, and there were guidelines that a board member would have to champion the item and there would have to be a majority vote to pursue the item. She thinks that the subcommittee would require a lot of staff time. Commissioner Jacobs said that he appreciated Commissioner Yuhasz’s attempt to organize this. He tends to support all public requests just because they are asking, except for Confederate Memorial Day. He said that he would be willing to have a process to refer it to staff and the Chair and Vice-Chair to discuss at agenda review, and report back whether there is sufficient information to move forward or decline. Commissioner McKee said he feels like one of the reasons the County Commissioners are here is that the public can bring these items to the Board. He supported Commissioner Hemminger’s suggestion to refer to staff by a vote at a meeting. If the Board chose not to refer it to staff, then so be it. Frank Clifton said that one of the difficulties they find with this issue is that whoever brings the Board of County Commissioners an item has already made up their mind about something, or the information is erroneous and out of context. To verify or do the research does take some time in these cases. Commissioner Gordon said that currently there is a subcommittee of the Chair, Vice- Chair, and Manager. She suggested that items be voted to referto this subcommittee to work through the process. Chair Pelissier said that these citizens need a response back from the Board in some way or another. She would like to include a way to communicate back to the individual. Commissioner Hemminger said that this is what she likes about taking the vote to refer it to the staff because the public hears a response. Commissioner Yuhasz agreed with having a clear process. He does not think that there necessarily needs to be a motion and a second to refer tostaff. His concern is that some of the motions that the Board has made has included a motion to study the issue and bring it back to the Board at a specific date. He does not necessarily want this. Some responses can be made in a letter. He would rather have a specific process. Commissioner Jacobs said that he personally agreed with Commissioner McKee about the importance of listening to the citizens. He said that Matters Not on the Printed Agenda is one of the few places that are unstructured and he likes this. He recognizes the need for order. He said that almost always the Chair refers these items to staff with the understanding that it will come back to the Board with a recommendation on how to proceed. He said that there ought to be some opportunity for a County Commissioner to bring the issue back up if they do not agree. Frank Clifton said that when the Board refers an item to the staff, that generally means that there will be some staff time involved to research. This means it will be on anagenda in the future, either as a report or something with further direction. Commissioner Foushee said that she thinks that all of the County Commissioners recognize their role as listeners and advocates, but there are limited resources to provide for every petition that comes forward. She asked that staff recommend a process of determining