Borough Will Facilitate NOAA Teleconference on Connelly Lake

In response to requests from Haines residents, the Borough will makes its teleconference equipment available for the Tuesday, June 26, 9-noon meeting at NOAA in Juneau.  The teleconference line is not a toll-free line, but the Borough will absorb the minimal cost ($18.00 estimate) for the 3-hour long connection.

In setting setting this link up, Glen Martin, Project Manager with Alaska Power & Telephone Company, explained the purpose of the Juneau meeting and requested that Haines listen in, reserving comments for the public meeting in Haines the following evening.  Mr. Martin writes

This meeting is meant for the resource agencies to discuss this project in a focused way and is therefore not meant for a full discussion with public involvement. I hope those members of the public that listen in will respect this and allow the agency meeting to proceed without interruption (email to Stephanie Scott, June 21, 2012.)

The Haines public meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, June 27, at the ANB Hall, 6-8 PM.

Sufficiency/Insufficiency of Public Comment During Assembly Meetings

Is there sufficient opportunity for the public to be "heard" during Assembly deliberations?  The answer to that question could be subjective and probably depends on the topic. It also depends on what being "heard" might be taken to mean.

So let's let that lie for the moment and try to answer the question: What are the opportunities for the public to be heard during an Assembly meeting? This is an easier question, though I understand that the answer might not be satisfying. Just to be clear, I'd like to put those opportunities "on the table" so we are all on the same page regarding  the status quo. Then in a second post I will discuss the more subjective question: what does it mean to be "heard" and is the opportunity to be "heard" sufficient.

There are opportunities opportunities to be heard specifically outlined on the Agenda, and then there are opportunities that the Assembly and the Chair can manage through the rules outlined in Chapter 2.10 of the Haines Borough Code, Assembly Procedures.

First - the Agenda:

The Assembly agenda specifically provides two opportunities for a member of the public to speak to the Assembly about any topic whatsoever. The first comes at the beginning of the meeting and is listed on the agenda as: PUBLIC COMMENTS [Any topics not scheduled for public hearing]. The last comes at the end of the meeting and is listed simply as PUBLIC COMMENTS.

In-between, the Agenda also lists PUBLIC HEARINGS for Ordinances.  The public may also speak to Resolutions. Although not specifically listed for public hearing,  Haines Borough Code 2.12.110 Resolutions – Reading – Hearing – Final passage – Posting (B) requires that

"all persons interested who appear shall be given an opportunity to be heard. After such hearing, the assembly may finally pass such resolution with or without amendments."

Sounds like a public hearing to me!   

So, at our most recent meeting June 12, there were 14 standard opportunities for public comment or for the public "to be heard."

Next - Assembly rules.

First of all, it is the case the the presiding officer can make a rule more or less on the spot, for the moment, but any such rule making is a function of the statutory obligation to "...preserve order and decorum among the assembly members" and spectators;  and the responsibility "... for the conduct of all meetings in compliance with the rules of the assembly."  

HBC 2.10.010 Procedures of the assembly.

A. The mayor shall preside at all meetings of the assembly. The mayor shall preserve order and decorum among the assembly members and is responsible for the conduct of all meetings in compliance with the rules of the assembly. The mayor may at any time make such rules as the mayor deems proper to preserve order among the spectators in the assembly chambers during sessions of the assembly.

I lean on this section of code when I ask people to speak within a time frame, to speak to the topic, to try for a civil tone, and even in some cases, to not speak, if it is not time for that according to the Agenda and rules.

Assembly members can engage the public outside of a public hearing, but there is a rule.  Here it is:

HBC 2.10.050 E. Asking Questions. After obtaining recognition from the chair, a member may ask direct questions of another member of the assembly or to a person appearing before the assembly. The questions may not be argumentative.

I am sure you have seen this rule in practice.  An Assembly person raises their hand, then says, "Through the Chair, may I ask.... a question?" The answer is almost invariably, "Yes."Although the Assembly is provided with as much information as possible pertinent to the topics on the agenda, there is always the possibility that some one in the audience will be in possession of a key to the puzzle.  The key to the ability to follow this rule is to understand the difference between questions that are for information and questions that are argumentative. Rhetorical questions are usually argumentative. I can't know the nature of the question before it is posed, but it is my job to call a halt to the interaction if it is "argumentative." I am not sure I have ever had to interrupt a question/answer situation, but I am alert to the possibility. It is a "hot spot" for me!

Rules are important.  We follow them because they help us be efficient and civil. Civility is one of the foundations of resolution.  But no set of rules can fit all situations, so we have a rule for that! It is called "Suspension of the Rules."

HBC 2.10.050 Assembly rules – Amendment, suspension and violation.

B. The borough assembly rules and order of business shall be observed in all cases, unless suspended temporarily for a special purpose by a vote of the majority of assembly members present. Any member may move at any time for the suspension of any rule, and such motion must be seconded to entitle it to consideration.

So, should a member of the Assembly wish to have a public hearing on a topic on the Agenda that is not scheduled for a public hearing, that member could move to suspend the rules for that purpose (i.e. hold a public hearing on topic x).  If the majority of the Assembly agrees, then so be it.

Weatherized and Efficienct = SAVINGS!

The University of Alaska Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) recently published study of the State of Alaska Home Energy Rebate program estimates that households have saved $22 million.  Read a synopsis of the report in the Alaska Journal of Commerce or download the full report from the ISER site.  Scroll down to the middle of the page where it says "Snapshot: The Home Energy Rebate Program."  According to the Snapshot:

The researchers found, among other things, that the roughly 16,500 Alaska homeowners who have been through the program since 2008 are saving an estimated average of 26% on their heating bills, and that every $1 million in state spending for the program creates 12 Alaska jobs.

Announcing - Energy Award!

In honor of our local Earth Day celebration today, I am announcing the Mayor's Energy Award.

The Haines Borough Mayor’s  Energy Award

The Haines Borough Mayor will offer an Energy Award annually.  The first awardee will be announced at the spring Earth Day Event, 2013.  The award will honor innovation and actions in two categories: (A) energy conservation and efficiency that  substantially reduces the cost of energy and (B)  installations of renewable energy technology to replace or significantly supplement energy supplied by fossil-based fuels.

All Haines Borough residents, including Borough employees, officers, and elected officials, are eligible to receive the award.  People may nominate themselves or may be nominated by someone.  Businesses and non-profit groups are also encouraged to participate.

The Energy Award will include a check for $100 funded from the Mayor's discretionary funds, a framed Mayoral proclamation describing the contribution of the awardee.

All applicants will be showcased in a publication prepared by the Mayor’s office celebrating the local commitment to energy conservation, efficiency, and utilization of renewable energy sources. 

Examples of projects may include installation of energy efficient heating systems, lighting retrofits, weatherization projects, energy generation systems using solar, wind, biomass, hydro, or geothermal technology.

Nomination forms and instructions will available at the Haines Borough Administration Building, online at the Haines Borough website.  The nomination period is open until January 31, 2013.  Completed nomination forms can be dropped off at the Haines Borough Administration Building, or emailed or mailed to the Mayor at the Haines Borough:

MAYOR
103 Third Avenue S.
P.O. BOX 1209
HAINES, ALASKA 99827
PH - (907) 766-2231

sscott@haines.ak.us

Working the Case, Not the Clock

Depending on our interests, different details draw us in.  I am grateful that Tracy Mikowski's abiding interest in both domestic and wild animals drew her to the abandoned seal pup early Wednesday morning.  Mikowski and HARK executive director Steve Vick took no notice of the time when they started running down the resources needed to respond to the pup's situation. 

In my short tenure as Mayor, I have had the opportunity to observe this un-sung trait in borough employee after borough employee.   Thank you.

You can follow the rehabilitation of the pup at the Seward Sea Life Center.  The photos are great!

Lemonade Day - Haines, May 6, 2012

I spent yesterday with a five-year old Lemonade Day entrepreneur.  Her planning is impressive!  Her decisions are strategic.  Her enthusiasm is infectious!  Please mark this day on your calendars - Sunday, May 6.  Look for Lemonade Stands popping up all over Haines.  Please buy some lemonade and help these teams of emerging entrepreneurs meet their expenses, if not turn a tidy profit!  My five-year old informant tells me that she will donate 25% of her profits to her favorite charity and then deposit the rest in a college savings account.  She wants to be a ferry boat captain and she knows that will require planning and investment.  What an inspiration!

Lemonade Day Alaska started in Anchorage last year.  It is a statewide initiative that helps students in grades K through 12 learn how to operate their own businesses - a lemonade stand.  The Haines initiative is sponsored by Southeast Conference and organized in Haines by Jan Hill.

Strategic Plan 2012-13 Update #2

Development took place for items 4 and 8 and were reported to the Assembly April 24. The Summer Communication workshop (Item 4) subcommittee met 4/16 and modified the proposed day-long seminar.  The subcommittee (Buxton, Hoffman, Lapp, Scott) recommends a 2-evening session seminar open to the public and focused on skills an Assembly member needs in order to listen and communicate effectively with the public and with each other.  Further communication with the proposed contractor (Daniel Henry) is needed before a formal recommendation will be made to the Assembly.

Investigation into the possibility of conducting election of Assembly members from a list of candidates (Item 8) so that all candidates run against each other has been started with emails between the Mayor and local government specialist Glen Hamburg from the Department of Community and Regional Affairs.  The Assembly is considering retiring the current practice of having candidates run for "seats."  Mr. Hamburg writes:

The downside to having candidates register as a candidate and run for a specific "seat" may be that they end up losing the election while actually having received more votes than someone else who gets elected to the governing body.  For example, say Jane Doe registers as a candidate specifically for assembly seat "A" and has to run against Bob Smith for that specific seat.  At the same time, maybe Sally Sue is the only person who registers as a candidate for seat "B."  At the election, Jane receives 101 votes, Bob receives 145 votes, and Sally receives 60 votes.  If the election rules are such that the candidate who receives the most votes for a specific seat wins that seat, Bob would win seat A and Sally would win seat B, even though Sally received less votes than Jane.  This system often then leads to candidates strategizing over which seat they'll run for given who their challengers might be.

Typically though, first class cities that label their council seats A, B, C, D, E, and F are having candidates all competing against each other.  Their elections rules and ballots explain that the two candidates with the most votes overall will end up in the vacant seats.  The lettering then just acts a convenient way to keep track of when the term for that seat expires.  This is especially helpful when one seat is prematurely vacated, as you've described.