VII. Procedure and Voting

In addition to the procedures in Rule 21, and consistent with Rule 44, the following requirements apply to quasi- adjudicatory hearings.

Board members shall maintain their impartiality and avoid reaching a final decision in quasi-adjudicatory matters prior to the close of the public hearing. Board members may, however, express tentative opinions and concerns prior to their final decision, as this facilitates robust exploration and discussion of issues with which the Board is concerned. Consistent with the duty of impartiality and the conduct of a fair hearing, Board members are encouraged to explain to those seeking commitment on a vote or project that they cannot make a decision until they have considered all the information presented at the hearing.

Board members shall base their decisions solely on the public record and the information received at the public hearing. Board members may meet with interested parties and go on site visits prior to the public hearing. Where such contacts or site visits occur outside of a public hearing (ex parte), the chair shall have Board members disclose these contacts or site visits, and any material facts learned from the contacts or site visits that are not in the staff report or public record, prior to the opening of the public hearing. This is to ensure all interested parties have an opportunity in the course of the public hearing to respond to any non-public and specific factual information that may have been learned by Board members prior to the hearing.

The Chair has authority to structure quasi-adjudicatory proceedings to fairly address any situation where new and unanticipated issues of importance arise in the hearing.

Notwithstanding Rule 14, all written communications from interested parties with members of the Board regarding quasi-adjudicatory matters shall be submitted to the Clerk for public review. See also Rule 44 concerning Communications Outside of Public Hearings (Ex Parte Communications) generally.

The Chair shall preserve order and decorum and shall decide all questions of order and procedure subject to an appeal to the Board. The nature of any appeal shall be briefly stated and the Chair shall have the right to state the reason for his or her decision.

A Board member wishing to speak shall refrain until he or she has been recognized by the Chair. While a member is speaking, members shall be respectful and shall not engage in or entertain private discussions. Consistent with the purpose of the Rules, members are encouraged to use a formal style, including appropriate titles, in addressing the public, staff and each other. All members shall refrain from the use of profanity, emotional outbursts, personal attacks or any speech or conduct which tends to bring the organization into disrepute.

To assure civility in its public meetings, staff and the public are also encouraged to engage in respectful dialog that supports freedom of speech and values diversity of opinion. To achieve compliance with these Rules, the Board, staff, and the public are encouraged to:

• Create an atmosphere of respect and civility where elected officials, County staff, and the public are free to express their ideas;
• Establish and maintain a cordial and respectful atmosphere during discussions;
• Foster meaningful dialogue free of personal attacks;
• Listen with an open mind to all information, including dissenting points of view, regarding issues presented to the Board;
• Recognize it is sometimes difficult to speak at Board meetings, and out of respect for each person’s feelings, allow them to have their say without comment, including booing, whistling or clapping;
• Adhere to speaking time limit; and
• Adhere to the Board’s policy and commitment of maintaining a Discrimination Free Environment.

The use of electronic documents, via iPads or other electronic means, is encouraged as a means of reducing the production and distribution of paper documents, and thereby decreasing costs.

Any member of the public may view the same electronic documents on line or may request to view the documents in electronic or paper form in the Clerk of the Board’s Office.

The Board shall refrain from emailing, texting, using social media, or otherwise engaging in electronic communications in the Board Chambers on matters that are listed on the Board agenda.

 It shall take at least three affirmative votes of the Board to pass any motion (Govt. Code §25005), except where supermajority four-fifths (4/5) votes or unanimous votes are required by law. Appendix B contains a list of common items that require a four-fifths (4/5) or unanimous vote. Appendix B may be updated without amending these Rules. An abstention shall count as neither an “aye” nor a “no” vote.

A supervisor who is absent from all or a part of: (1) a public hearing, (2) an item that requires findings, or (3) an item that is quasi-judicial in nature, may subsequently vote on the matter if the supervisor has reviewed all evidence received during his/her absence, listened to the Clerk's recording or read a true and complete transcript of the proceedings, and so states on the record.

Roll call votes shall be taken to act on any agenda items when there is not a unanimous action. A record of the roll call vote shall be included in the minutes by the Clerk of the Board.

Each roll call vote shall be made in an order determined by the Clerk or directed by the Chair.

Any member with a disqualifying conflict of interest must, in compliance with the Political Reform Act:

• Publicly state the nature of the conflict in sufficient detail to be understood by the public;
• Recuse himself/herself from discussing and voting on item; and
• Leave the room until after the discussion, vote, and other disposition of the matter is concluded, unless the matter has been placed on the Consent Calendar.

The member may be allowed to address the Board as a member of the public. Disclosure of a conflict shall be noted in the official Board minutes. The member must also comply with all other applicable conflicts of interest laws.

Members may not have a financial interest in a contract approved or considered by the Board. In these cases, disclosure and recusal does not remove the conflict and such a contract is considered void (Government Code §1090). The member is encouraged to discuss possible conflicts with County Counsel prior to the meeting.

Any Board member who votes in the majority on a question, as well as any Board member who was absent, is eligible to make a motion to reconsider. A motion to reconsider shall be in order during the meeting at which the action to be reconsidered took place provided members of the public in attendance during the original action are still present in the Board chamber. In all other cases, motions for reconsideration must be placed on a future agenda for action.

A motion to reconsider shall require a majority vote. A motion to reconsider, if lost, shall not be renewed nor shall any subject be reconsidered a second time within twelve (12) months except by a four-fifths (4/5) vote of the Board. A motion to reconsider is not in order if action has been taken which cannot be changed.

It is the intent of the Board of Supervisors to provide meaningful time for public review of ordinances prior to the Board’s consideration of the ordinances. For non-routine ordinances, this review period may be several weeks in length. The County Administrator will, in consultation with the Chair, County Counsel, and Department Heads, set this review period greater than that legally required based on the significance and potential impact of the proposed ordinance.

Ordinances (other than zoning ordinances) are introduced at one meeting (first reading), then generally placed on the agenda for adoption at a subsequent meeting.

The first reading will become the primary meeting at which: (1) the title of the ordinance will be read; (2) the Board will typically consider a motion to waive the reading of the text of the ordinance and to introduce the ordinance by title only; (3) members of the public shall have an opportunity to address the ordinance; (4) the ordinance shall be introduced by a motion and majority vote of the Board.

At the second reading: (1) the ordinance may be placed on the Consent Calendar for adoption; (2) if pulled from the Consent Calendar for separate action, the title of the ordinance may be read; (3) a motion to adopt the ordinance may be made; (4) a majority vote by roll call will adopt the ordinance.

Pursuant to Government Code §25123, ordinances shall generally become effective 30 days from the date of final passage.

Zoning ordinances are publicly noticed and may be adopted by majority roll call at one hearing. Other ordinance hearing procedures may be used as required by law.

Any member may request the Board to exercise original jurisdiction over a use permit or other planning application, as authorized under the County Code, except in cases where state law requires a recommendation of the Planning Commission prior to action by the Board on the matter. A request to exercise original jurisdiction shall be filed in writing with the Clerk, or made orally at a Board meeting, prior to any decision by a lower-level decision maker approving or denying the subject application. A request to exercise original jurisdiction need not state the reasons for the request but shall be brought as a noticed agenda item to the full Board for majority approval.