MEMBERS PRESENT:

H. Budd, Ed Crapo, K. Blount, P. Denton, R. Estes, M. Glaeser, P. Hanrahan, R. Hawkins, C. Martin, J. Massey, F. Peterkin, B. Thomas, J. Wootten and S. Wright

DJ Williams (Staff Liaison), and Pauldine France (Intern)

Doris Bardon, Ron Cunningham, Doug Hornbeck, Commissioner Robert Hutchinson

Summary:

The meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m. by Chair Wootten. A motion was made by Member Martin/Glaeser to approve the agenda. Member Wright suggested an addition to the New Business section of the agenda concerning scheduling. Member Thomas proposed the addition of environmental ordinances prevailing over municipal ordinances under Old Business. The additions were made and the agenda was approved unanimously.

A motion was made to approve the minutes. After several amendments, the minutes were approved unanimously.

Member Hanrahan distributed a proposal to submit language that would allow consideration of adding an Independent Auditor as an elected position. After some discussion, it was agreed that George Nickerson would draft ballot language for this issue. The language is to include the eight points outlined in his March 23, 2000 report letter. DJ Williams was requested to invite Buddy Irby to the April 18, 2000 meeting to provide input on this issue.

There was a concern raised by Member Glaesar about proposed environmental ordinances which prevail over municipal ordinances containing provisions for exemptions. Chris Bird was asked to address this concern. Discussion followed.

A motion was made to move issue three (i.e. single member districts) on the agenda to the second discussion item. After a brief discussion, the motion was passed unanimously.

The issue of single member districts was discussed. Proposals for this issue were presented by Members Martin, Budd, and Glaeser.

After extensive discussion, Member Martin suggested a straw vote on the proposals and specific components. The results of the vote follow:

• Member Budd's plan (consisting of seven members, 4 to be at-large, 3 to be single member district seats, and providing that electors will vote only for candidates where they reside) was passed 8 - 4.
• The issue relating to whether elections should be partisan, non-partisan, or a hybrid was voted upon. Partisan passed with 8 votes; while the non-partisan proposal received 3 votes, and the hybrid proposal received 1 vote.
• There was a decision to maintain the current voting system (i.e. at-large) until a "trigger" (i.e. population or date) takes effect.
• The "trigger" (consisting of population or date) component was voted upon. Using population as a "trigger" passed with 8 votes. Four members voted for year-specific. Additionally, members were unable to agree upon a specific population number.
• There was a unanimous vote to maintain the current procedure for selecting the County Commission Chair (i.e. election from among the membership).
• The number of commissioners which would comprise the proposed composition of the county commission was voted upon. The seven-commissioner proposal was passed with a vote of 7 - 5; five members voted for maintaining five commissioners. This component would also take effect with a population or date "trigger".

• Member Denton suggested leaving the salary level as it is and require commissioners to vote on their salary increases.
• Member Martin proposed that salaries of the county commissioners shall be set by county ordinance.

The March 20, 2000 memo, Dialogue with Advisory Board and Committees", from County Commission Chair Wheat was discussed. There was consensus that Chair Wootten would transmit a letter responding to Chair Wheat's memo which would specify that the appointment process for the CRC was well-organized, some members thought that the CRC should be given more time to complete its work and some members thought that the time was adequate.

There was a motion made and seconded that DJ Williams is to develop a timeline working back from July which would place meetings every two weeks. This timeline is to be presented at the April 18, 2000 meeting. The motion passed unanimously.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:00 p.m.