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EDC Board of Supervisors Establish New Meeting Protocols – Reduced Time For Public Comment

December 8, 2017 in EDC BOS

At the December 5, 2017 El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Board established new rules and protocols for accepting public comments on issues and projects before the board.

Previously, the Board’s rules and Protocol for public comment were:

Each individual public comment was limited to 3 minutes per topic.
An individual representing a group was allowed 5 minutes per topic.

The new rules are as follows:

PROTOCOLS FOR PUBLIC COMMENT

  • Public comment will be received at designated periods as called by the Board Chair.
  • Public comment on items scheduled for Closed Session will be received before the Board recesses to Closed Session.
  • Except with the consent of the Board, individuals shall be allowed to speak to an item only once.
  • On December 5, 2017 the Board adopted the following protocol relative to public comment periods:
  • Time for public input will be provided at every Board of Supervisors meeting. Individuals will have three minutes to address the Board.
  • Individuals authorized by organizations will have three minutes to present organizational positions and perspectives and may request additional time, up to five minutes.
  • At the discretion of the Board, time to speak by any individual may be extended.
  • A total of 20 minutes will be allocated for public comment during Open Forum and for each agenda item to be discussed.
  • Public comment on certain agenda items designated and approved by the Board may be treated differently with specific time limits per speaker or a limit on the total amount of time designated for public comment.
  • It is the intent of the Board that quasi-judicial matters have additional flexibility depending upon the nature of the issue.
  • Individual Board members may ask clarifying questions but will not engage in substantive dialogue with persons providing input to the Board.
  • If a person providing input to the Board creates a disruption by refusing to follow Board guidelines, the Chair of the Board may take the following actions;
    Step 1. Request the person adhere to Board guidelines. If the person refuses, the Chair may ask the Clerk to turn off the speaker’s microphone.
    Step 2. If the disruption continues, the Chair may order a recess of the Board meeting.
    Step 3. If the disruption continues, the Chair may order the removal of the person from the Board meeting.

This protocol change was approved by a 5-0 vote of the Board.

These rules and protocols are in effect for the next El Dorado County Board of Supervisors meeting, to be held December 12, 2017.