Minutes 02-10-2015 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Commissioner Rich asked what happens if there is an information item, and the person who can provide the information is not present. She asked if this becomes a petition, or it is still an information item. Bonnie Hammersley said staff is sometimes able to answer the question right away if it is just an information item. She said things are being done a little differently for petitions. She said these are accepted, and then recommendations and next steps for completion are worked out by the manager and Greg Wilder before being brought to the Chair and Vice Chair. Commissioner Rich said she likes to hear that, as it means that every petition gets movement and it sounds like all of them would get resolved. Bonnie Hammersley said if she or her staff inembers do not understand the petition, clarification will be requested. Commissioner Jacobs said he does not think that it is necessary to get the answer instantaneously at the meeting. He said his understanding was that the manager would try to address and handle any concerns expressed by the Commissioners, and if clarification was needed, she would contact the Commissioner or seek guidance from the Chair or Vice Chair. He said there may be times when there is a political issue that requires the Chair or Vice Chair to weigh in. Chair McKee said the goal is to be timelier while still keeping an orderly process. Commissioner Price asked about situations where immediate action is needed, such as a situation where a high school team deserves recognition, and it is the end of the school year. She asked if something like this would require a 2 to 3 week approval. Chair McKee said these will have to be examined on a case by case basis. Commissioner Price said that is fine as long as it allows some flexibility. Commissioner Rich asked the manager if she will recognize when something is an information item versus a petition. Chair McKee said he and the manager will be looking out for this. Chair McKee said he just wanted to make sure everyone was on the same page regarding Board member petitions. Chair McKee transitioned to a discussion of the process for members of the public to place an item on a regular meeting agenda. He asked if anyone has problems with the current process. He feels that all of these should go through agenda review. Commissioner Rich said in the two years that she has been here, there has only been one public petition, and it was approved that same night. She said this was just some sort of recognition. She said she agrees that petitions from the public should go through a process; otherwise the Board would be discussing every petition. Commissioner Burroughs said she agrees that public petitions need to have a process. She said the school board had a requirement that one school board member had to agree to put a topic proposed by a member of the public on an agenda. Commissioner Price discussed the example of public petitions regarding fluoride in the water supply, which is not in the purview of the Board. She said this issue keeps coming before them, and she wonders if there needs to be a discussion and perhaps a tabling of this in a work session. She said she sometimes feels a responsibility to do something other than just let it lie. Chair McKee said he feels this issue can only be addressed in Board comments. Commissioner Pelissier said more than one person should decide whether or not to address a petition. She questioned what would happen if the Chair and Vice Chair do not want to address a petition and all of the other Commissioners do want to address it. She said there should be a way to communicate this to the Chair and Vice Chair.