04/03/2007: ""After Work" Citizen Access To Council"

Responding to external and internal criticism of the prohibition on the Council responding to questions and issues raised by the public during the citizen access time, Councilman Alan Lichter had suggested at the Council “work session-retreat” that the County Council enact new rules, and some new opportunity, that govern when, and where, the public can directly address the Council.

In a parallel move, in deciding to start holding occasional meetings on Lopez and Orcas, the Council will now also attempt to provide at least one Citizen Access period each month on those islands by extending their meetings past the normal quitting time of 4 p.m., to 5 p.m. This is intended to allow the public a chance to address the Council after work, as opposed to the normal 10 a.m. time at the regular scheduled meetings on Tuesday.

The normal 10 a.m. morning slot, when the Council starts their meetings, will still be the norm, but times, they are a changing. There was a late day “open mike” on Orcas when the Council held a meeting there last month, and there will be a late Citizen Access time on San Juan on April 10th, and then again on Lopez on May 15th.

The new guidelines are as follows:

1. The Council welcomes citizen input regarding County issues, including suggestions as to how the County might better serve its citizens. Citizens are welcome to come before the Council as often as they wish, but it is preferable that if a citizen appears more than once a month, the topics be unrelated.

2. Citizen access time is normally scheduled as one of the first items of business each Tuesday the Council meets so that residents of San Juan County have an opportunity for informal and convenient access to the full Council.

3. Persons interested in appearing before the Council are encouraged to notify the Clerk of the Council (378-2898) ahead of time so that appropriate accommodations can be made to the rest of the Council’s work.

4. Each person will have up to five (5) minutes in which to make a statement to the Council. Comments shall be made directly into the microphone, as it is necessary for the public record and for the audience to hear all proceedings. Speakers should first give their name, address and subject they wish to talk about. No comments shall be made from any other location.

5. The Council reminds citizens that their remarks should be polite and civil, avoid personal attacks, and do not involve matters of litigation or personnel.

6. It is rare that the Council will take formal action on topics presented during citizen access time; but the Council may discuss items and direct people to appropriate administrative departments. The Council may place the matter on a future agenda.