Resolution 235-2011 RESOLUTION NO. 235 -2011
A RESOLUTION OF THE MAYOR AND COUNTY
COMMISSION OF MONROE COUNTY AMENDING THE
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS ADMINISTRATIVE
PROCEDURES TO PROVIDE CLARIFICATION OF SOUNDING
BOARD RULES.
WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) Administrative
Procedures were last amended in October, 2010; and
WHEREAS, notwithstanding that Sounding Board is usually conducted with the person
requesting to be on Sounding Board speaking and no subsequent public or BOCC input; and
WHEREAS, Section 1.03(b), Board of County Commissioners Administrative
Procedures, provides some parameters for Sounding Board but there is no provision in the rule as
to whether, and to what degree, the BOCC may give direction to staff after the person requesting
to be on Sounding Board and any other members of the public have spoken on the matter; and
WHEREAS, it recently came to light that at a meeting of the BOCC in the early 2000's,
the BOCC voted to allow the County Administrator some discretion in placing an item on
Sounding Board, but absence of such authority in the black letter rule has led subsequent
administrators and attorneys to consider the existing rule to allow no discretion to deny
placement on Sounding Board; and
WHEREAS, it is desired to clarify these matters for ease of application of the rule;
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of
Monroe County, that:
1. Section 1.03(b), Board of County Commissioners Administrative Procedures, shall
be revised as follows:
Section 1.03
b) Sounding Board: A separate section of the regular meeting agenda will be reserved
for Sounding Board. Individuals who wish to utilize Sounding Board must contact the County
Administrator's Office in writing in order to be scheduled on the agenda, must specify the
subject matter of the presentation, and must submit the request prior to the deadline for the
revised agenda of the meeting for which the matter is to be scheduled. The County
Administrator may decline to place any item on Sounding Board that he reasonably considers
improper for placement before the Board of County Commissioners. Sounding Board shall be
scheduled for a time approximate for public convenience. The purpose of the Sounding Board is
to allow individuals to address the County Commission on a matter pertaining to County
government, excluding matters in litigation and complaints against specific personnel. The
person who requested to be on Sounding Board shall be the initial speaker and, whether
representing him or herself, or any organization, may address the County Commission for a
period up to ten minutes. Subsequent speakers may speak for three minutes. No action, which
shall include direction to staff, may be taken by the County Commission on an item on the
Sounding Board agenda.
2. This Resolution shall become effective upon the date of its adoption herein.
3. The changes reflected in Item 1 above shall be incorporated in the Board of County
Commissioners Administrative Procedures
PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of County Commissioners of Monroe County,
Florida, at a meeting of said Board held on the 17tbday of August , 2011.
Mayor Heather Carruthers Yes
Mayor Pro Tem David Rice Yes
Commissioner Sylvia Murphy Yes
Commissioner George Neugent Yes
•
%; ►�';� • er Kim Wigington Yes
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BOARD OF COU TY COMMISSIONERS
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