Breaking news: Tonight’s 5 p.m. Special mid year budget review meeting will be broadcast live on Los Al TV. Also, that ugly flu bug has got Council Member Gerri Graham-Mejia down. Her presence tonight is unlikely, but will probably be a “game time” decision (by our coaching and medical staff?)
(2/22/11, Los Alamitos) In addition to the LAMC expansion plan’s second reading and important issues about the related Kaylor abandonment, tonight’s 7 p.m Council meeting includes an important item regarding the rather unique position Mayor Poe instituted last year on Council Comments. From the agenda (item 9, Discussion items A:
During the regular City Council Meeting of February 7, 2011, Council Member Graham-Mejia requested that staff place an item on the City Council agenda regarding the City’s current policy on public comment for non-public hearing agenda items. The current policy requires that persons who desire to comment on non-public hearing agenda items must provide those comments during the Oral Communications portion of the City Council agenda.
Recommendation: Should the City Council choose to amend its current practices regarding public comment it would be appropriate to provide further direction to staff.
This was a innovation that was at the Mayor’s discretion, and Ken Stephens at one point seemed to indicate he would change it back but so far hasn’t. Until last year, people could speak at the opening comments or when a specific item came up on the agenda. They could speak for a maximum of five minutes each time, on as many items as they wanted to comment on, although very few commented more than once or twice during a meeting.
This gave the public input just prior to the Council’s discussion, making a more coherent meeting.
Now, if you wanted to comment on two agenda items, unless they were part of public hearings, you would have to make all your comments at the start of the meeting and keep it to five minutes total. Unless, of course, it was at the meeting just before the election where Mayor Poe decided to put all the public comments at the end of the meeting. . . after decisions had been made! (See OCNews180′s excellent article, Council Meeting Collapses Amid Outcry–Mayor Leaves Dias, with 3 excellent photos.)
For many, this comes down to disrespect for the people and a poor decision making process for the Council.
I think the best decisions are made when all viewpoints are considered. The current majority appears to think the best decisions are made when the elected officials and their hand-picked experts are allowed to function without the distraction of public input. Or even input from Commissioners who might have a different perspective.
I like J M Ivler’s take on this agenda item:
Every public elected agency that I know of allows for
comments before the items are discussed from the agenda. Los Alamitos did it until Mr. Edgar and Mrs.Poe decided to eliminate the procedure.
If multiple items are on the agenda, and you have items that are not, you are limited to sometimes less than one minute to express your concerns or explain a somewhat more complex subject.It is not just about fairness and equity to the public, but also to those that sit on the dais, so that they can have an opportunity to hear something they may not be aware of.
Openness and transparency is NOT just for Egypt, but for us here in Los Alamitos as well.
As always, your thoughts and comments are welcome, as is your reporting on tonight’s meetings, in a post that will go up later.
Related posts:
- Council’s Monday agendas include public comment policy, new lawsuit, but not Kaylor
- Lower solar installation fees, park naming policy on Council’s Monday agenda
- Public Hearing on Los Alamitos Medical Center & more on Tuesday Council Agenda
- Los Al Mayor calls Special Council Meeting for Saturday afternoon
