BOARD AGENDA MEMORANDUM
SUBJECT:Title
Consider the May 11, 2022, Recommendation from the Board Policy and Planning Committee to Adopt an Ordinance of Santa Clara Valley Water District Specifying Rules of Decorum in the Participation of Board and Committee Meetings. (Continued from May 24, 2022)
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RECOMMENDATION:Recommendation
Adopt the Ordinance, AN ORDINANCE OF SANTA CLARA VALLEY WATER DISTRICT SPECIFYING RULES OF DECORUM IN THE PARTICIPATION OF BOARD AND COMMITTEE MEETINGS.
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SUMMARY:
The purpose of the proposed ordinance (Ordinance) to promote the safe and orderly conduct of Santa Clara Valley Water District (Valley Water) Board and Committee meetings by enhancing civility and decorum, and by ensuring the safety of those who participate. Valley Water seeks to avoid an atmosphere in public meetings that: is uncivil, threatening, and disrespectful; stifles public participation and debate; threatens the quality of decision making; or otherwise undermines the democratic process.
On March 22, 2022, staff introduced a proposed Rules of Decorum Ordinance for consideration during the Valley Water Board Meeting. The Board of Directors (Board) referred the ordinance to the Board Policy and Planning Committee (BPPC) for further discussion. Staff met with the BPPC on April 5 and May 11, 2022, to obtain feedback and recommendations regarding revisions and implementation of the Ordinance. The current version of the Ordinance (Attachment 1) and the Ordinance Red-Lined Version (Attachment 2) show the revisions made during this process.
The BPPC recommends that all members of the public, all Valley Water staff, and all Board of Directors are subject to metal detection screening prior to entering the Board Chambers. The Valley Water Security Office will also conduct a review of the implementation of the Ordinance in one year to ensure practices support the defined purpose. The Rules of Decorum and/or Ordinance will be posted for viewing on the outside o...
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