Agendas

The Executive Officer, in cooperation with the Santa Barbara County Local Agency Formation Commission (Commission) Chair, shall prepare an agenda for each Regular and Special meeting of the Commission in accordance with the Ralph M. Brown Act (California Government Code Section 54950). The regular agenda allows request by Commissioner at a hearing for future agenda items subject to Commission concurrence.

Any member of the public requesting that a matter directly related to LAFCO business be placed on the agenda of a regularly scheduled Commission meeting may make their request during public comment period. The Chair may refer matters raised during the "Public Comment" period to the appropriate staff.

This policy does not prevent the Commission from receiving public comments at Regular and Special meetings of the Commission on matters which are not on the agenda that a member of the public may wish to bring before the Commission. However, the Commission shall not discuss or take action on such matters at that meeting, other than providing brief general directions to staff regarding the matter, if appropriate.

At least 72 hours prior to the time of all Regular meetings, an agenda, which includes but is not limited to all matters on which there may be discussion and/or action by the Commission, shall be posted in a place that is freely accessible to members of the public (California Government Code 54954.2 (a)(1)). If the SBLAFCO maintains a website, the agenda shall be posted on the website for public information at the same time. All information made available to the Commission (except confidential information allowed by State law per legal counsel authority) shall be available for public review prior to the board meeting.

The agenda for a Special meeting shall be posted at least 24 hours before the meeting in the same location as for Regular Meeting agendas (California Government Code Section 54956).

The Executive Officer of the meetings described herein shall determine the order consisent with Commissioner Handbook in which agenda items shall be considered for discussion and/or action by the Commission, subject to re-ordering of the agenda by the Chair at the meeting.

Meetings

1. Regular Meetings of the LAFCO Commission shall be held on the first Thursday of each calendar month at 1:00 p.m. in the County Board of Supervisors Chambers.
2. Special Meetings of the Commission may be called by the Chair or by a majority of the Commission by delivering written notice to each member of the legislative body and to each local newspaper of general circulation and radio or television stations, requesting notice, in writing and posting a notice on the LAFCO web site. The notice shall be delivered personally or by any other means at least 24 hours before the time of the meeting as specified in the notice. The call and notice shall specify the time and place of the Special meeting and the business to be transacted or discussed. No other business shall be considered by the Commission at these meetings.
3. Emergency Meetings. In the event of an emergency situation involving matters upon which prompt action is necessary due to the disruption or threatened disruption of public facilities, the Commission may hold an Emergency Special meeting without complying with the 24-hour notice. An emergency situation means a crippling disaster which severely impairs public health, safety, or both, as determined by the Chair or a majority of the Commission. Newspapers of general circulation in the County, radio and television stations which have requested notice of Special meetings shall be notified by at least one hour prior to the emergency meeting. In the event that telephone services are not functioning, the notice requirement of one hour is waived, but the Commission, or its designee, shall notify such newspapers, radio stations, or television stations of the fact of the holding of the Emergency Special meeting, and of any action taken by the Commission, as soon after the meeting as possible.
   Closed session may be held during an Emergency meeting by a unanimous vote of the members present, and all other rules governing Special meetings shall be observed with the exception of the 24-hour notice. The minutes of the Emergency meeting, a list of persons the Commission or designee notified or attempted to notify, a copy of the roll call vote(s), and any actions taken at such meeting shall be posted for a minimum of ten days in the LAFCO office as soon after the meeting as possible.
4. Adjourned Meetings. A majority vote by the Commission may terminate any Commission meeting at any place in the agenda and adjourn the meeting to any time and place specified in the order of adjournment, except that if no Commissioners are present at any Regular or Adjourned Regular meeting, the Executive Officer may declare the meeting adjourned to a stated time and place, and he/she shall cause a written notice of adjournment to be given.
5. Standing Committee Meetings. The meetings of standing Committees (comprised of three Commission members less than a quorum), are subject to the notice and open meeting provision of the Brown Act.

The Commission Clerk shall ensure that all required and appropriate information is available for the audience at meetings of the LAFCO Commission, and that physical facilities for said meetings are functional and appropriate for all persons.