The council will meet at the County Council Hearing Room in Friday Harbor, or such other venue as may be deemed appropriate by the council. On any day that a regular Tuesday meeting will not be held at the County Council Hearing Room, a notice of the alternate location shall be posted at the entry to the County Council Hearing Room. The council desires to hold four regular Tuesday meetings each year on other islands across the three districts.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.1; Ord. 44-2008 § 2; Ord. 21-2024 § 2)
Regular business meetings of the council shall be held on Tuesdays unless otherwise held by action of the council. Council work sessions and workshops will be held on Mondays, unless otherwise determined by action of the council. Changes or postponements will be posted on the County website and notice will be sent to the media list maintained by the clerk of the council.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.2; Ord. 44-2008 § 3; Ord. 6-2013 § 2; Ord. 21-2024 § 3)
The County Charter provides that the council shall annually elect one of its members to serve as its chair, who shall preside at meetings of the council and be recognized as the head of the County for ceremonial purposes. The council shall also elect a vice-chair from among its members who, in the absence of the chair, shall have the duties of the chair.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.5)
It is the duty of the chair and council members to maintain dignity and respect for their offices, County staff and the public. While the council is in session, the council members shall preserve order and decorum, and no member of the public shall, by conversation or otherwise, delay or interrupt the proceedings of the council, or disrupt or disparage any person while speaking. Council members and the public shall obey the proper orders of the chair.
Any person making disruptive, disparaging or impertinent remarks, or unreasonably interrupting the business of the council, either while addressing the council or attending the proceedings, shall be asked to leave, or be removed from the meeting. Continued disruptions may result in a recess, while assistance of the sheriff is requested, or adjournment, as set forth in SJCC § 2.04.430.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.7)
Persons other than council members and the county manager may address the council at appropriate times and only after permission is given by the chair or by at least two members of the council.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.8; Ord. 21-2024 § 6)
A. 
Attendance, Excused Absences. Article 4, Section 4.60 of the San Juan County Charter provides that a council member may forfeit his/her office by failing to attend three consecutive regular meetings without being excused by the legislative body or being absent from the County for more than 30 days without being excused by the legislative body. Members of the council may be so excused by complying with this section. The member shall establish contact with the clerk of the council prior to the meeting and state the reason for his/her inability to attend the meeting. The clerk of the council shall convey the message to the chair. At the start of a public meeting, the chair shall inform the council of the member's absence, state the reason for such absence, and inquire if there is a motion to excuse the member. Upon passage of such motion, the absent member shall be considered excused and the clerk of the council will make an appropriate notation in the minutes.
B. 
Remote Participation. Remote participation by council members is allowed.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.9; Ord. 32-2009 § 2; Ord. 21-2024 § 7)
A. 
Work Sessions. The purpose of Monday council work sessions is to make council members aware of impending business and allow informal discussion of issues that might be acted on at a future meeting. The council may also conduct routine nonlegislative business such as authorizing or approving communications with other governmental units and legislative bodies, approving arrangements for special meetings and housekeeping chores, so long as any statutory requirement for public notice has been satisfied. Council may conduct regular business during work sessions as needed.
B. 
Public Input. The floor may be opened for brief statements from the public at the beginning of the work session and may be opened for comment on specific issues at the discretion of the council chair or acting chair.
(Ord. 44-2008 § 4; Ord. 6-2013 § 3; Ord. 21-2024 § 8)
The clerk of the council shall keep minutes as required by law, and shall perform such other duties in the meeting as may be required by the council. In the absence of the clerk of the council, the council shall appoint a person to act as the clerk of the council. The clerk of the council shall record and publish, when feasible, all public meetings of the County council.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.11; Ord. 21-2024 § 10)
A. 
Attend and record all of the proceedings of the legislative authority;
B. 
Record the vote of each member on all motions;
C. 
Be the custodian of official council records, including maintaining records of all proceedings, ordinances, resolutions, and other acts of the council;
D. 
Coordinate and prepare council agendas, and schedule council meetings and hearings;
E. 
Ensure proper posting of public meeting notices; and
F. 
Perform all other duties required by rule or order of the legislative authority.
(Res. 37-2006; Ord. 21-2007 § 2.12; Ord. 21-2024 § 11)
Decision-makers and citizens at all levels of the County should have adequate time to thoroughly consider the issues prior to final decisions. It is the intent of the council that the council and County manager abide by the "three-touch principle" whenever possible. The following procedural guidelines are designed to avoid "surprises" to the council, citizens, and administrative personnel:
A. 
Any pending request or proposal for adopting or changing public policy, ordinances, resolutions, or directives which will require a decision of the County council or County manager should normally "touch" (oral, written or any combination thereof) the decision-makers at three separate meetings. Quasi-judicial matters and any subject discussed in executive sessions are excluded from application of the "three-touch principle."
B. 
Unexpected circumstances may arise wherein observance of the "three-touch principle" is impractical. However, when unusual circumstances arise which justify a "first discussion" decision, the persons requesting the expedited decision should also explain the timing need. This principle excludes staff reports and other general communications not requiring a future council decision.
(Ord. 21-2007 § 2.13; Ord. 21-2024 § 12)
The funds allocated to the office of the County auditor in the adopted budget to perform the duties of the clerk of the board of County commissioners (County council) and/or deputy clerk shall be transferred to the budget of the San Juan County council and budgeted to fund the functions of the clerk of the council/office manager and/or deputy clerk.
(Res. 37-2006)