The recording of public commentary ceased on October 5, 2010.
6. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION OF NON-AGENDAED ITEMS The public commentary was recorded as follows: The following individuals offered comments: Dee McNamara, Barbara Jean weber, Peter Timm, Loretta Sharpe, James Stafford, and Mary Burnette.
A few of us over the past year or so have asked that public commentary be recorded in the city Minutes. The subject was brought up again at the last city commission meeting on December 20. It is not the first time that I have mentioned it but it was the first time that anyone on the dais asked staff about it. Thank you, Mayor.
The City Clerk said, "The change and the writing style changed several years ago when the city commission voted to require that we keep permanently all Board audio...and so the general public can now access from mid 2006 forward...we follow industry standards right now which is to concentrate on the issue and not the comments of the individual who makes them. We follow industry standards."
Well, it changed a little over one year ago during budget hearings, not several years ago. That is a fact. The City Manager, trying to make life somewhat easier on her top people (as they have been taking on more responsibilities since staff has been reduced), more than likely asked them for suggestions on what could be eliminated from their current duties and still not affect the overall efficiency of operations. That would be an educated guess. As the Public has never been a priority, that was an easy decision to make. "We can now tune our ears totally off when the public speaks...it will be recorded on the audio anyway."
Let's get it changed back, Commissioners. This is a policy decision and since you all have stated more than once that public participation is important, there is no reason why condensed commentary made by the Public not be in the Minutes. Afterall, we only get to speak for 2 minutes now and still have to deal with those blue comment cards.
The public should not be easily dismissed in this fashion IF you really believe that what we say is relevant.
10 comments:
"Well, it changed a little over one year ago during budget hearings, not several years ago. That is a fact. The City Manager, trying to make life somewhat easier on her top people (as they have been taking on more responsibilities since staff has been reduced), more than likely asked them for suggestions on what could be eliminated from their current duties and still not affect the overall efficiency of operations. That would be an educated guess. As the Public has never been a priority, that was an easy decision to make. "We can now tune our ears totally off when the public speaks...it will be recorded on the audio anyway.""
This really p's me off about the CM. I am so glad Stanton is gone, she never wanted to listen to the public. She was the worst!
LOL. I guess it gives you a little cheap thrill to turn everything around against Susan Stanton.
I have said over and over again that she takes direction from the Commission. We spoke out against this change in policy and they did NOTHING about it.
Are you ever going to get it or are you just going to continue to rip apart the wrong person?
This new commission did the same thing as the old commission. They listened to staff and then let the whole thing die. Stanton's not here anymore, right? Whose fault is this?
What gives with you anony at 9:28? You want to slam people who represent us, use your damn name--coward! I hate stinking little cowards who attack in cyber space and have no guts to really stand up for what is right. The only one who is clueless is you and the horse you rode in on. I will do exactly what you did and sign as anonymous. Have a great day. Just don't meet me anywhere in this city.
Yes, let's see if this commission will be any different and make better decisions about?
Wasn't it the devil himself, Maxwell, who several times raised the issue of moving to a better system of recording public comment and by using a more citizen / public friendly software to accomplish just what everyone is asking for? In fact didn't the city clerk state at the last meeting that at the request of Maxwell, she was looking into an improved system?
Thank you number one super fan of the Vice Mayor. I am not talking about audio here. I am talking about getting comments written into the minutes. Just simple stuff. Carry on.
Let's give Maxwell credit for saving the the city from itself and for being a great humanitarian.
Ahhh Yes lets have a written record of every one of Peter Timm's comments....We need more time spent on the man who single handedly causes each and every commission meeting to double in time, and with out really every saying a thing. Well anything that makes any sense...Barf!
Pam Lopez stopped including the names of individual commenters and what they said about 4 years ago.
Comm. Jennings and the 2008 or 9 Commission insisted that she return to respecting the public and their comments by including their names and a synopsis of what each said and this change was made.
Apparently Ms. Lopez took it upon herself to shorten the minutes.
Hopefully this Commission will respect the public and insist that the time honored procedure be followed.
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