The Board of Trustees of the Orland Fire Protection District welcomes public participation and will hear any interested individual pursuant to the guidelines outlined in this policy. Therefore, at the beginning of each regular monthly meeting, a period of time not to exceed 30 minutes will be devoted to concerns presented by the public. Before appearing before the Board, the members of the public are urged to seek solutions to their concerns through administrative channels. If there are no members of the public wishing to address the Board, the Board may continue with its meeting.

The following rules shall govern speakers who address the Board:

1.      Members of the public wishing to speak are asked to call the Executive Secretary before 4:30 p.m. on the day of the meeting and provide their names, addresses and topics on which they wish to speak. If applicable, the individual will provide the organization or association with which they are affiliated.  NOTE: Members of the public will not be allowed to discuss individual personnel issues or confidential matters, and the speakers’ concerns or comments should be limited to Fire District business. No public comments shall be heard on behalf of or opposed to a candidate for public office nor on any matter that may be subject to discussion by the Board of Trustees in closed/executive session in accordance with the Open Meetings Act.

2.      The time allowed for each person to speak will be five (5) minutes. Speakers are asked to strictly adhere to time allocated.

3.      Speakers must identify themselves and topic(s) before speaking.

4.      Speakers may provide written copies of their concern to the Board.

5.      Groups are asked to designate a single spokesperson.

6.      Board members will not respond to comments from speakers. The Board President or other presiding officer may respond as appropriate and, for example, direct speakers to the appropriate staff member for assistance. Issues requiring possible action by the Board may be added to a future agenda.  Issues that may need to be addressed by the administration will be duly noted.

7.      Abusive language and/or personal attacks will not be permitted and shall promptly be ruled out of order by the President or other presiding officer.

8.      Individuals addressing the Board must at all times adhere to the Fire District policies and other rules as may be necessary for the efficient and orderly conduct of the meeting.

9.      The thirty-minute time limit and/or five minute maximum per speaker may be extended upon a majority vote of the Board.

The Board vests in the Board President or presiding officer, the authority to terminate the remarks of speakers who fail to adhere to the above rules.

 All public comment shall be addressed to the Board as a whole and no comments shall be addressed to individual members of the Board, Fire District staff or other members of the public.

There shall be no debate on any matters raised during public comment. The Board may, however, refer any matter of public comment to the District Administrator, District staff, an appropriate agency for review, or may place the matter on a subsequent agenda for discussion.

No final action may be taken on any public comment or concern which requires a resolution, or written contract, or which has the effect of approving any expenditure of funds. The Board may, however, direct that any matter raised on these subjects be set for a future agenda, including the preparation of resolutions or other documents for consideration at such time.