07/27/2005: "So Who Needs A Committee Anyway?"

The BOCC has decided that appointing a citizens committee to advise the BOCC on Essential Public Facilities was not only not necessary, but in the words of Public Works Director Jon Shannon, "This is big time stuff we are dealing with…I am afraid we will get bogged down.. I think we need to just move forward". Community Development and Planning Director Matt Zybas agreed with his former boss. The lone voice for going forward with the appointment was Commissioner Lichter, who made a motion that all seven applicants be appointed to the committee. Lichter stated that "I am interested in as much citizen input as possible.. I would like to go with the seven member committee".

Commissioner Miller pointed out "We don't have to appoint this committee".

Lichter responded that "We have intelligent, knowledgeable people on this list, and we have asked them to come forward to apply, and I think we should appoint them"

Commissioner Miller, obviously frustrated, said "This is ridiculous.. as we saw this morning (referring to comments made to the BOCC during Citizen Access Time) not everyone out there is knowledgeable".

Martin Blackman, Senior Planner for the project expressed concern that the County may be open to criticism for twice asking for citizen participation on a committee, and then not appointing one. He advised the Board to seek an opinion from Prosecutor Randy Gaylord, who was present for the meeting, but the Board failed to ask Mr. Gaylord for advice.

In the end it was decided that the Planning Commission would be the "committee", but that the seven would-be volunteers would be specifically asked to attend the PC meetings; which of course are always open to the public in any case.