Minutes 01-16-2026 - Retreat - Laserfiche WebLink

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30 At 11:32 a.m., a motion was made by Commissioner McKee, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to recess until 11:37 a.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS A motion was made by Commissioner Bedford, seconded by Vice-Chair Fowler, to reconvene the meeting at 11:37 a.m. VOTE: UNANIMOUS 5. Board Functioning a. Petition Process • Public Petitions Chair Hamilton introduced the item and referred to the BOCC Rules of Procedures on page 14. She read the following statement from the Rules of Procedure: "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 referred for Chair/Vice-Chair/Manager review and for recommendations to the full board at a later date regarding a) consideration of the request at a future business 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." Vice-Chair Fowler asked if anyone responds to the public petitioner with information on any actions or follow-up. Chair Hamilton said it's not clear. She said the definition of a "petition" is not clear. Vice-Chair Fowler said if a member of the public is asking for specific actions or discussions that would be a clear petition. Commissioner Bedford said for resolutions or proclamations they do get back to the petitioner. Commissioner Portie-Ascott gave an example of a member of the public who invited the Board to visit her neighborhood. She asked if that is a petition. Commissioner McKee said that was a request of individual board members. He said he didn't know how one would determine if someone speaking was a comment or request or a petition. He said he is leery of trying to interpret any implied request as a petition as it would take up an enormous amount of staff time. He said sometimes people are just speaking their minds or venting. Commissioner Greene said she doesn't think it's very complicated. She said the language comes from the First Amendment, which states, everyone has the right to petition the government for a redress of grievances, and she takes that very broadly. She thinks that's why historically government boards have used that word because it's a fundamental right. She said perhaps the Chair could say, "I'm going to take that as a petition and ask staff for follow-up." She asked if this has been a problem for staff. Commissioner Bedford said the reason it's being discussed is due to Board petitions. Chair Hamilton said public petitions don't automatically mean for the staff to do anything. She said they come to the Chair and Vice-Chair to determine what happens with it. She said she wanted to consider staff time and the other things they are working on. She said it is appropriate for the Chair, Vice-Chair, and County Manager to review for follow-up. She said if something is critical, then it should be assigned for staff to follow-up on and then come back to the Board as either as an information item or as an agenda item. She said Commissioner Greene was correct that they want to give the public the opportunity to address the governing body. She said Vice- Chair Fowler's question about following up is a good point to consider.