Agenda 10-03-19 Item 1 - Discussion on Public Comments at BOCC Meetings

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is 19 (c) The board may, by approval of a majority of its members, i.e. an affirmative vote equal to a quorum, add an item at the meeting that is not on the agenda. Comment: Because of the increased volume and complexity of the matters they must consider,nearly all boards use an agenda. Some boards use an agenda only to organize the material they must consider and to give themselves an opportunity to study the issues before they meet. These boards generally allow last- minute additions to the agenda by general consent. This rule takes that approach. Other boards use their agenda to control the length of their meetings. Often a board that uses its agenda for this purpose will hold a work session before the regular meet- ing to ask questions and thoroughly explore the proposals that must be voted on at the regular meeting.Generally these boards take a stricter approach and do not allow late additions to the agenda unless an emergency exists. Rule 9. Public Comments - Items Not on the Printed Agenda. The county manager shall include on the agenda of each regular meeting a time for comments or questions from members of the public in attendance. The chair will first recog- nize individuals or groups who have signed up to be heard, and then may recognize others, subject to available time. Speakers will be allowed three minutes each up to an hour total. After the hour set aside for public comments has expired, the chair will recognize further speakers only upon motion duly made and adopted. Petitions/Resolutions/Proclamations and other similar requests submitted by the public will not be acted upon by the Board of Commissioners at the time presented. All such requests will be re- ferred for Chair/V ce Chair/Manager review and for recommenda- tions to the full Board at a later date regarding a) consideration of the request at a future regular Board meeting; or b) receipt of the request as information only. Submittal of information to the Board or receipt of information by the Board does not constitute approval, endorsement, or consent. Comment: The board may decide as a matter of general policy to set aside part of each meeting for individuals or groups to address the board.The rule allows any individual or group to get on the agenda but lets the board decide whether there is time to hear its comments.