Agenda 10-01-19 Item 8-a - Minutes

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7 1 Commissioner Greene said she appreciated the thought, and this is an emotional issue 2 for many. She said she does not want people to feel unheard, but also appreciates 3 Commissioner Marcoplos' comments about work sessions being an opportunity to really work 4 and needing even more work sessions. She suggested an idea that came up in a Board in 5 another jurisdiction, which decided to allow ten minutes at the beginning and end of the work 6 session for public comment. 7 Commissioner Bedford had no comments. 8 Commissioner Price said she is leaning toward the hybrid; and spreading the 9 conversation out over various meetings can stifle real discussion. She said she liked 10 Commissioner Greene's proposal, and she would be inclined to suspend the rules at this time. 11 Commissioner Bedford said the school board does its agendas differently, with most 12 items coming at a work session with public comment before or after a presentation. 13 Commissioner Bedford said the Board should not be in the mode of changing the rules, 14 based on the intensity of a topic; but rather the rule should be made and stuck to. She said she 15 would not want to suspend the rules this time, but would be open to discussing a change for all 16 meetings at a later time. 17 Chair Rich agreed with Commissioner Marcoplos, and said opening discussion before or 18 after a work session allows people to talk about items that are not part of the work session. She 19 said the Board does not have enough time in work sessions, and she would like to keep work 20 sessions as work sessions. She said she is in favor of a public hearing if the Board has an 21 ordinance change. She said this topic got twisted due to an inaccurate post on social media. 22 Commissioner Price said people did speak about noise, and that was put out in the 23 public as a topic for BOCC discussion. She said there were some comments about taking away 24 rights, which were not true. 25 Commissioner Marcoplos said he appreciates the impulse to compromise, but it is 26 confusing to change the rules. He said the public knows when the Board has public comment, 27 and the Board should stick with established procedures. 28 Commissioner Greene said all work sessions are open to the public, and she is willing to 29 limit all public comment at work sessions to the end of the meeting; but if that is not the will of 30 the Board, the public can still come to a work session, pay close attention, and then email the 31 Board of County Commissioners afterwards. 32 Commissioner McKee said the Board cannot regulate social media, and his intent with 33 this petition was to address some concerns as to what was going on. He said most residents 34 got information from other sources, and his sole intent in allowing public comment on 35 September 101h is to make sure that the public gets the right information. He said the 36 Commissioners serve at the will of the public. 37 38 A motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Commissioner Price to hold 39 public comment at the end on September 10th work session, after the County Attorney's 40 presentation and Board discussion, with a one-hour time limit. 41 42 Commissioner Greene asked if there would be a time limit on public comment. 43 Commissioner McKee said one hour. 44 Chair Rich asked John Roberts if the BOCC will be voting on any decisions at the work 45 session. 46 John Roberts said no vote will be taken, and there will be a presentation of examples of 47 how what something could work, and the BOCC will be asked to give direction to staff to study 48 this further and/or ask Planning staff to come up with actual numbers. He said the BOCC will 49 not pass any ordinances at the work session. 50 Commissioner Price said she does not support an hour of time, as that seems a bit 51 indulgent.