City Council Policy and Procedure:

The Council Member Ferre's defensive statements at to the nature of her use and obedience to the Policy and Procedures of the GT City Council were heard and addressed. She stated that for 15 months she has been only abiding by what is written in the policy book, she refused to accept that there was any level of her own personal disgression taken on how she holds or conducts the meetings. She adheres to the directions in the Policy and procedure Book and the Direction of the City Attorney.

Later in the discussion of the issue of allowing more time, she stated that she always gave public speakers the same amount of time to respond so that everyone has the same opportunity and fairness. She felt it was unjust to BLAME her or Fault her for her following the Law..... as it is in the document. Her protests of being blamed for doing her job as Mayor as Directed by the Policy and Procedure and the Attorney was unfair. She repeated this saying she treats everyone the same.

WE know this is not true. One example of this was a statement during Public Comment regarding the Essco Building. The Council Member Ferre did not cut the Attorney Mr. Johnson off from presenting all the issues, to the public or the council. Not that this impacted their decision even when the City's OWN attorney said, that the OAC EIR and Plan overlay the requirements for the proposed site, and will no doubt result in legal action. EVEN when the 3 minute rule was violated, the council did not hear.

So Council Woman Ferre, your in error, you don't treat everyone the same with regards to the rules of procedure or process. There are other instances but the one offered is one of the rare ocations where a position counter to that of the Staff actually was permitted to be voiced in its full course.

You have also cut off Council Members from holding discussions on items on the agenda and rushed a motion a second and a vote prior to letting a member finish their comment on a topic.

AN IDEA>>> OHHH here it comes.

IN the Policy and procedure, there should be an extension allowed by any member of the Council at the request of a speaker during public presentation, or public comment after the 3 minute limit. The speaker could say, May I ask for a council member to extend the 3 minute rule and provide me the floor to continue my presentation on the issue being addressed in the public interest, ANY council member should be able to a lot the additional time.

OOOOO that is an IDEA... look out it may work...

An extra paragraph, without an interpetation with your three minutes are up, please summarize. Come on, if the speaker is reading off of a document don't interrupt to give them a time check. The interruption is a distraction, and interferes with the communication of a thought. Public speaking is difficult enough. We don't need a principals yardstick method of management. There are other means to keeping order in a meeting. YES this critiquing fall to the Current Council Member Ferre's decorum as she pushes through the agenda in an "Orderly" way.

The Document called Policy and procedure for the City Council and Mayor of Grand Terrace, is not LAW, it is a Policy and procedure Document. It is hoped that the procedure is in accordance with the legal requirements, local, county, state and federal.

AS far as the interpretation of words, this City attorney has interpreted the words in the Brown Act, the council "May" Meet in Closed Session, to be "The Council MUST Meet in Closed Session" under these limited situations. There is a difference in MAY and MUST, and the Current City attorney interpret the word in a way to consistently mean MUST, thus limiting the citizens ability to be fully informed as to the workings of its government. THIS POLICY should be addressed in the revised document of Policy and Procedure.

Mr. Miller and Mr. Hilkey wanting to review and confirm the changes recommended were included in the copy not read aloud or provided to the public on the city web page was raised as being an issue of gender bias. Council Woman Cortez said if it were one of us women making the request to delay it would be ridiculed. Deliberative action of any member of the council has not been ridiculed. Gender has not been an issue raised, so what is she suggesting, Men are too busy to be public servants? Perhaps the answer would be make the information availabe after the agenda is set, not 72 hours befor the meeting. Make it available to everyone, including the public on the web page. THE BOOK should be available to all on the web.

Should a member of the Public or the City or Council provide jpg files on the Policy and procedures as proposed, they will be posted for PUBLIC EDUCATION AND REVIEW.

It was interesting how tonight's public comments were used as examples of how the rules apply. Perhaps The TRUCKING BUSINESS issues should have been put on the Agenda, so there would have been no limit to the time Patricia Farly could have made her presentation, and the Trucking company would be limited to a 3 minute reply as a public response to charges and concerns.

It was interesting that there was a reference to a time when the council was made up of 3 people who were tilting in alignment with Council Member Hilkey, with the inference that now it is the Women against the Men on the Council. Interesting dynamic to be observed.

More interesting was the promotion of the implication that it is difficult to amend the Policy and Procedure Document. This should be a living document, and if it needs to be changed it can be changed, it does not need to take years or months to make a change, it takes council agreement, not the passing of time. OF course if county, state, or federal law makes a change it should be updated immediately not years down the road.

This was an interesting agenda item.