|
Home: Executive
of Office: Information Booklet
Information Booklet
Click here for a
PDF version on Information Booklet
Table of Contents
- I. GENERAL INFORMATION REGARDING
THE BOARD OF SUPERVISORS
- II. PREPARATION OF AGENDAS
- Approval to Place Items on Agenda
- Structure of Agendas
- "A" Item Agenda
- Supplemental Agendas
- Posting of Agendas
-
- III. CONDUCT OF TUESDAY BOARD MEETINGS
- Seating on the Dais
- Information Person
- Requests to Address the Board
- Rules of the Board
- Sergeant-at-Arms
- Executive Officer of the Board
- Consent Calendar
- Set Items/Held Items
- Order of Business
- Procedures for Addressing the Board/Time
Limits
-
- IV. PUBLIC HEARINGS BOARD MEETING
(FOURTH TUESDAY OF MONTH)
- V. BUDGET/HEALTH COMMITTEE MEETINGS
- VI. MISCELLANEOUS INFORMATION
- Ordinances
- Cassette Recordings and Transcripts of Board
Meetings
- Language Translation Devices
- Statements of Proceedings
- Lobbyist Registration
- For Further Information
-
- VII. APPENDIX - EXCERPTS FROM
RULES OF THE BOARD
The Board of Supervisors is the governing body of the County, enacting
ordinances and establishing specific laws for the administration
of County Departments and special districts such as Flood Control
and Fire Protection. In addition, the Board sets salaries and conducts
public hearings on zoning, real property transactions, and other
proceedings that require that the public be given an opportunity
to have input.
The regular meetings of the Board of Supervisors are held every
Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. in the Board's Hearing Room (381B Kenneth
Hahn Hall of Administration). The regular meeting of the Board
held on the fourth Tuesday of each month is primarily for the
purpose of conducting legally required public hearings on zoning
matters, fee increases, special district proceedings, property
transactions, etc. On Tuesdays following a Monday holiday the
meetings begin at 1:00 p.m.
As business necessitates, at the call of the Mayor, the Board
of Supervisors may meet as the Budget/Health Committee of the
Whole to consider budget and Health Department budget-related
issues.
The Executive
Officer of the Board is the administrative head of the Department
and is responsible for preparing the Board's agendas, communicating
the actions taken by the Board, preparing the minutes of the meetings,
and for maintaining the Board's records.
Back to Table of Contents
The agendas for the Tuesday meetings, and for the Thursday meeting
if there is one that week, are prepared by the Executive Office
of the Board on Wednesday afternoons and are distributed on Thursday
mornings. Copies of agendas are available by calling (213) 974-1746.
In addition, Internet users may access the agenda on the Los Angeles
County home page at http://lacounty.info,
clicking on the "Board of Supervisors" button, and scrolling to
the "Board Agenda" heading.
Approval to Place Items on the Agendas
All items submitted by departments for the Board's agendas are
reviewed by the Chief Administrative Officer, or the appropriate
Supervisor, depending on the subject matter. The Executive Officer
has the authority to place items on the agenda that are statutorily
required. The Chief Administrative Office reviews all recommendations
that have a County-wide or fiscal impact. The Supervisors review
recommendations that impact only their specific district. After
review, the Chief Administrative Officer or the Supervisor recommends
approval or some other appropriate action and the item is placed
on the agenda.
Structure of Agenda
The agendas are structured alphabetically by Department and each
item is assigned a number. There is a brief summary of the department's
recommended action, and a corresponding recommendation from the
Chief Administrative Officer, indicated in capital letters. If
an item has been reviewed by a Supervisor, the department's recommended
action is followed by the words, "for approval". When appropriate,
each entry includes the supervisorial district affected by the
action, indicated by the supervisorial district number in parentheses,
i.e. (1). The agenda also includes notations regarding the number
of votes required to approve each item.
"A" Item Agenda
Included at the end of each agenda are items which have been
continued from previous meetings for further discussion and action
by the Board. This portion of the agenda is commonly referred
to as the "A-Item agenda". Generally, when an item on the regular
agenda is continued more than three times without discussion,
or is at an impasse because of extenuating circumstances, the
item is placed on the A-Item agenda. The item will remain on the
A-Item agenda for approximately three months, depending upon circumstances,
and if not acted upon, the item will be returned to the submitter.
At the request of a Supervisor, items on the A-Item agenda can
be called up for consideration at any time.
Supplemental Agendas
On Friday afternoons, the Executive Office prepares a supplemental
agenda that includes corrections and additions to the printed
agenda for the next Tuesday meeting and Thursday meeting if there
is one. This document is referred to as the "Green Sheet". The
intended purpose of the Green Sheet is to correct errors on the
printed agenda and to add items that require immediate attention
by the Board. The supplemental agenda and supporting documents
are also available electronically, as previously described.
Posting of Agendas
In accordance with the Brown Act, all matters to be acted on
by the Board must be posted at least 72 hours prior to the Board
meeting. In cases of an emergency, or when a subject matter needs
immediate action or comes to the attention of the Board subsequent
to the posting of the agenda, upon making certain findings the
Board may act on an item that was not on the posted agenda.
The Board's agendas and supplemental agendas are posted on the
Board of Supervisors' Official Bulletin Board which is located
outside the Board's Hearing Room, located at 500 West Temple
Street, Los Angeles. The agendas and supplemental agendas are
viewable 24-hours a day.
Back to Table of Contents
The Board's meetings are conducted in accordance with Roberts
Rules of Order, the Brown Act, and the Rules of the Board. The
Chief Administrative Officer, the County Counsel and the Executive
Officer, or their deputies, attend each Board meeting.
Seating on the Dais
Space is provided on the dais for each Supervisor and their deputies,
the Executive Officer and staff, the Chief Administrative Officer
and staff, the County Counsel and staff, and news media representatives.
All persons on the dais, with the exception of the Board members,
the Executive Officer, the Chief Administrative Officer and the
County Counsel, must wear an identification badge. Those persons
not wearing a badge or a press pass will not be permitted on the
dais.
Information Person
Seated at the railing, next to the "Agendas and Information"
sign, is an Executive Office staff person who assists members
of the public by answering questions and providing copies of agendas.
Copies of back-up information relating to individual agenda items
are available for review, but are not handed out to the public.
Copies of individual agenda items can be obtained from the receptionist
in Room 383 of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of Administration.
Requests to Address the Board
A member of the public requesting to address the Board on an
agenda item will be allowed a total of three (3) minutes per meeting.
Persons requesting to address the Board must fill out a "Request
to Speak" form (which may be obtained from the Information Person)
and submit the form to the Information Person prior to the start
of the meeting. The Board may limit the public input on any item,
based on the number of people requesting to speak and the business
of the Board.
In addition, a member of the public has the right to address
the Board on items of interest which are not on the agenda and
which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board.
A person may make one presentation in any three-month period,
on a non-agenda item, but the presentation shall not exceed three
minutes in length. Not more than five persons may address the
Board on non-agenda items at any meeting. (NOTE: Also see "Procedures
for Addressing the Board/Time Limits", this publication.)
A person addressing the Board on a matter under the supervision
of the Department of Children and Family Services shall not disclose
any case identifying information which is made confidential under
the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 827 and
10850. Such person is advised that such matter is not within the
subject matter jurisdiction of the Board,that it is not within
the power of the Board to alter the outcome of a court matter
and that because of confidentiality laws, the Board may not comment
on any such matter. Therefore, the Chair shall request that the
person's comments which relate to confidential case identifying
information be put into writing and forwarded to the Director
of Children and Family Services Department. The Chair or any member
of the Board may request the Director to provide the Board with
a confidential report on the case.
Rules of the Board
In order to assure that business is conducted in an orderly fashion
and that all have an equal opportunity to see and hear the proceedings,
the Board has adopted a set of rules for conduct during the Board
meetings. An excerpt from The
Rules of the Board, which outlines the responsibilities of
the public, is printed as an appendix to this information pamphlet.
Copies of the full text of the Rules of the Board can be obtained
from the receptionist in Room 383 of the Kenneth Hahn Hall of
Administration, or by calling (213) 974-1424.
Sergeant-at-Arms
The Board's Sergeant-at-Arms, who is a deputy sheriff, attends
all meetings of the Board. His services are commanded by the Chair,
and he carries out all orders and instructions given by the Chair
for the purpose of maintaining order and decorum at the meetings.
Executive Officer of the Board
The Executive Officer maintains the continuity of the meeting.
She is responsible for calling the agenda items, writing the motions
in a manner which reflects the intent of the Board, keeping track
of items which are held or continued and noting the actions taken
by the Board on each item. Additionally, she responds to questions
regarding procedural and legal requirements for legal advertising
and setting of hearing dates.
Consent Calendar
The regular agendas for the first, second, third and fifth Tuesdays
of the month are basically a consent calendar and all items are
automatically approved unless a Supervisor or member of the public
requests discussion of a specific item. Prior to the start of
each meeting, a representative of each Supervisor notifies the
Executive Officer of those items he or she wishes to continue
or hold for discussion. A member of the public requesting to address
the Board will be allowed a total of three (3) minutes per meeting.
Set Items/Held Items
Items which are set for a time certain may or may not be called
up at exactly the time indicated, depending on the business of
the Board. The items that are held for discussion may be taken
up at any time, depending on the business of the Board.
Order of Business
The Tuesday meetings are called to order by the Chair, and immediately
proceed with an invocation and the pledge of allegiance. On a
rotating basis, each Supervisor picks a representative of his
district to give the invocation, and the Director of Military
and Veteran's Affairs picks a veteran to lead the pledge, rotating
between supervisorial districts. After the invocation and pledge
of allegiance, the hosting Supervisors introduce and present a
scroll of appreciation to the minister and pledge veteran. A County
photographer is present to take pictures of the presentations.
After the scrolls of appreciation, the Executive Officer proceeds
to call the agenda by Department. For example, the Executive Officer
will call "Page 4, Board of Supervisors, Items 1 through 13; she
will then state any requests to hold or continue any of those
items; the Chair will then call for a motion and second for approval
of the remaining items, and then "so order" the approval of the
remaining items and any requests for continuances. The items that
are held for discussion will be taken up later in the meeting.
After the Executive Officer reads through the entire agenda and
the items listed on the Supplemental Agenda, the Board will then
present scrolls of commendation.
Upon concluding the scroll presentations, the Board may take
up items not on the posted agenda. A Supervisor may call up an
item that has been held for discussion, and present motions to
adjourn the meeting in memory of deceased persons, or to commemorate
ceremonial occasions. Adjourning and commemorative motions may
be acted upon even though they do not appear on the agenda.
Items not on the posted agenda are presented and placed on a
subsequent agenda for action, unless the item requires immediate
action because of an emergency situation, or where the need to
take immediate action came to the attention of the Board subsequent
to the posting of the agenda.
After each Supervisor has presented his motions not appearing
on the posted agenda, the Board takes up the remaining items that
were held for individual discussion.
After all of the business of the Board has been concluded, an
opportunity is given for members of the public to address the
Board on items of interest that are within the subject matter
jurisdiction of the Board.
Procedures for Addressing the Board/Time
Limits
When members of the public address the Board on agenda items,
the Chair determines the order in which speakers will be called
and the length of time each speaker will be permitted to speak.
The Chair will call three persons at a time to be seated at the
speakers podium directly in front of the Board. After each person
speaks, they should immediately step down from the podium to allow
another person to be called up.
If the Chair has imposed a time limit for speakers, the Executive
Officer will time each presentation, and as the allotted time
expires, the orange lights will be turned on and the "time expired"
sign will be raised. If a person has not finished their presentation
when their time has expired, they should immediately conclude
their remarks.
Back to Table of Contents
The fourth Tuesday of the month is reserved for public hearings.
At the start of the meeting, the Executive Officer swears in all
members of the public who intend to testify. After swearing in the
speakers, the Executive Officer announces the items that will be
continued to a later meeting. After the continuances are announced,
the remaining items are called up individually, and usually in the
order on the printed agenda. Most items are started with a presentation
of the subject matter by a department representative and there are
often legal questions to be asked of the representative by the County
Counsel.
At the discretion of the Chair, items may be taken up out of
order. Further, depending upon the business of the Board and the
number of persons requesting to be heard, the Chair may limit
the time allotted for persons to address the Board, and may request
a spokesperson for each side of an issue.
At the conclusion of the public hearings, the Board may consider
Supervisors' motions and any Departmental recommendations.
After all matters are disposed of, the Board may hear public
comment.
Back to Table of Contents
As business necessitates, at the call of the Chair, the Board
of Supervisors may meet as the Budget/Health Committee of the
Whole to consider budget and Health Department budget-related
issues. Each item is called up individually and usually in the
order on the printed agenda. After all matters are disposed of,
the Committee may hear public comment.
Back to Table of Contents
Ordinances
Most ordinances considered by the Board require two readings,
one week apart. For example, the first week, the ordinance is
introduced, reading of the ordinance in full is waived, and the
ordinance is ordered placed on the following Tuesday agenda for
adoption. The second week the ordinance is adopted.
Following a legally required public hearing, an ordinance can
be adopted immediately, without the second reading.
Ordinances generally take effect 30 intervening days following
adoption; however, some ordinances take effect immediately.
Video Recordings and Transcripts
of Board Meetings
All Board meetings are available to the public on video and transcript.
For duplicate videos, call (213) 974-1424. There is a charge of
$25.00
per video. Video tapes are also available in Spanish. An online
transcript with corresponding video, and audio (in Spanish and
English)
is available within 24-48 hours of Board meeting at
http://bosvideoap.co.la.ca.us/mgasp/lacounty/homepage.asp.
In addition, the Board's Transcripts are available at
http://lacounty.info/BOS/SOP/TRANSCRIPTS/
in Microsoft Word and PDF
formats for searching by word or topic, and may be printed in
its entirety
or selected pages. The archives include all Board meetings beginning
January 2003. For inquiries regarding transcripts of Board meetings,
call (213) 974-1426.
Language Translation
American Sign Language (ASL) Interpreters are available with
at least three business days notice before the meeting date. Please
telephone (213) 974-1431 or (213) 974-1707 (TDD), from 8:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday.
Assistive listening devices, agenda in Braille and/or alternative
formats are available upon request.
Spanish language translation devices available upon request.
Maquinas de traducción disponibles a petición.
Spanish interpreters for the Board of Supervisors' meetings available
upon request.
Interpretes para las juntas de los Supervisores del Condado de
Los Angeles.
Statements of Proceedings
After each Board meeting the Executive Office prepares a Statement
of Proceedings which indicates every action, including the
vote, that is taken by the Board during the meeting. The Statements
are published in a newspaper and distributed to interested persons.
A recorded message is available immediately following Board meetings,
regarding which items were approved by the Board (Call (213) 974-7207).
The printed Statements of Proceedings are available the week following
the meeting. For a copy of a Statement of Proceedings, call (213) 974-1424.
In addition, Internet users may access the agenda on the Los Angeles
County home page at <http:www.co.la.ca.us> clicking on the
"Board of Supervisors" button, and scrolling to the "Statement
of Proceedings" heading.
Lobbyist Registration
Any person who seeks support or endorsement from the Board of
Supervisors on any official action may be subject to the
provisions of Los Angeles County Code, Chapter 2.160,
relating to lobbyists.
Violation of the lobbyist
ordinance may result in a fine and other penalties.
FOR INFORMATION, CALL (213) 974-1093.
For Further Information
For more specific information regarding the Board of Supervisors
and their meetings, please call (213) 974-1411.
Back to Table of Contents
Section 10. REMOVAL FROM BOARD ROOM. At the discretion of the
Chair (Mayor) or upon vote of the Board the Chair (Mayor) may
order removed from the Board Room any person who commits the following
acts of disruptive conduct in respect to a regular, adjourned
regular or special meeting of the Board of Supervisors:
- Disorderly, contemptuous or insolent behavior toward the Board
or any member thereof, tending to interrupt the due and orderly
course of said meeting;
- A breach of the peace, boisterous conduct or violent disturbance,
tending to interrupt the due and orderly course of said meeting;
- Disobedience of any lawful order of the Chair (Mayor), which
shall include an order to be seated or to refrain from addressing
the Board;
- Any other unlawful interference with the due and orderly course
of said meeting; and
Any person so removed shall be excluded from further attendance
at the meeting from which he or she has been removed, unless permission
to attend is granted upon motion adopted by a majority vote of
the Board, and such exclusion shall be executed by the Sergeant-at-Arms
upon being so directed by the Chair (Mayor).
- In addition, any person so removed on the basis of disruptive
conduct described above may not be allowed to address the Board
for up to a maximum of ninety (90) days. The period of prohibition
from addressing the Board will be determined by the Board Chair
(Mayor), or the Board upon a vote, based on the number and severity
of prior incidents of disruptive conduct.
Section 31. ADMITTANCE INSIDE RAILING. Subject to the direction
of the Mayor, no persons other than Board members, County and
district officials, and recognized representatives of the news
media shall be admitted inside the railing to the floor of the
Board Room. Other persons may be admitted upon the request of
a member and the consent of the Mayor or of a majority of the
Board.
Section 32. SIGNS. Except with prior authorization of the Mayor,
no placards, signs, posters or packages, bundles, suitcases or
other large objects shall be brought into the Board Room.
Section 33. SEATING. Unless addressing the Board or entering
or leaving the Board Room, all persons in the audience shall remain
sitting in the seats provided. No person shall stand or sit in
the aisles or along the walls nor shall the doorways be blocked.
Section 34. DISRUPTIONS. All demonstrations, including cheering,
yelling, whistling, hand clapping and foot stamping are prohibited.
Section 35. DISTRIBUTION OF LITERATURE. Except with prior authorization
of the Mayor, the distribution of literature, of whatever nature
or kind, is prohibited.
Section 36. SMOKING. Smoking is prohibited in the Board Hearing
Room.
Section 37. REQUESTS TO ADDRESS BOARD ON AGENDA ITEM. A person requesting to address the Board will be allowed a total of three (3) minutes per meeting. Requests to be heard must be submitted to the Executive Officer-Clerk of the Board before the item is called. Any individual found to have engaged in disruptive conduct, as defined in Section 10 of these Rules, may be prohibited from addressing the Board at future meetings as set forth in Section 10 (e).
Section 38. ADDRESSING THE BOARD. No person shall address the Board until he/she has first been recognized by the Mayor/Chair. The decision of the Mayor/Chair to recognize or not recognize a person may be changed by order of the Board. All persons addressing the Board shall give their names and addresses for the purpose of the record. The Mayor/Chair may, in the interest of facilitating the business of the Board, limit the amount of time which a person may use in addressing the Board. A person addressing the Board on a matter under the supervision of the Department of Children and Family Services shall not disclose any case identifying information which is made confidential under the provisions of Welfare and Institutions Code Sections 827 and 10850. Such person is advised that such matter is not within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board, that it is not within the power of the Board to alter the outcome of a court matter and that because of confidentiality laws, the Board may not comment on any such matter. Therefore, the Mayor/Chair of the Board shall request that the person's comments which relate to confidential case identifying information be put into writing and forwarded to the Director of the Children and Family Services Department. The Mayor/Chair or any member of the Board may request the Director to provide the Board with a confidential report on the case.
Section 38.1 USE OF CELL PHONES AND PAGERS DURING BOARD MEETINGS. All pagers and cell phones belonging to the public, press or County personnel must be placed on vibrate mode or be turned off while a Board meeting is in session.
Section 39. PUBLIC COMMENT - NON-AGENDA ITEMS. Notwithstanding any other provision of these rules, members of the public shall have the right to address the Board on items of interest which are within the subject matter jurisdiction of the Board. A person requesting to address the Board on a non‑agenda item will be allowed up to three (3) minutes per meeting. A person addressing the Board shall avoid personalities on an agenda or non-agenda item. Any individual found to exhibit disruptive conduct, as defined in Section 10 of these Rules, may be prohibited from addressing the Board on agenda items and during public comment at future meetings as set forth in Section 10 (e).
Back to Table of Contents
|
