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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRES 2007-06 - Board ,. TRUCKEE D O r Resolution No. 2007 - 06 Establishing a Code of Conduct For the Board of Directors WHEREAS the Truckee Community has established the Truckee Donner Public Utility District(District)to provide essential services needed to support the prosperity and general wellbeing of the community;and WHEREAS the District's powers and responsibilities are set forth in the California Public Utility District Act; and WHEREAS that Act requires the election of a Board of Directors to govern the District by meeting in accordance with the California law known as the Brown Act; and WHEREAS the Board of Directors is required to consider complex facts and make many important decisions that impact the prosperity and general wellbeing of the Truckee Community; and WHEREAS the voters of the District have elected a Board of Directors to govern the District, and that Board hereby states that it recognizes the importance of making sound reasoned decisions in a timely and efficient manner; and WHEREAS the Board hereby recognizes the importance of deliberating and making decisions using a process that is orderly, efficient, civil, fact based and proceeds in a timely basis; and WHEREAS the Board wishes to define and adopt a Code of Conduct establishing the Board's process of governance; NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE TRUCKEE DONNER PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT THAT THE FOLLOWING CODE OF CONDUCT IS ADOPTED. General The Board of Directors shall perform its duties in accordance with the processes and rules set forth in this Code governing the deliberation of public policy issues, meaningful involvement of the public, and implementation of policy decisions of the Board by District staff. • The Board shall make its decisions based on the merits and substance of the matter at hand, rather than on unrelated considerations; • The Board shall conduct its business in a manner that supports the maintenance of a positive and constructive work place environment for District staff,private citizens and businesses dealing with the District; • Directors shall prepare in advance of Board meetings and be familiar with issues on the agenda; • Directors shall fully participate in Board meetings while demonstrating respect,consideration and courtesy to others; • Directors shall become familiar with Rules of Procedure and this Code of Conduct; and • Directors shall be responsible for the highest standards of respect, civility and honesty. 1 Board Code of Conduct Res. 2007-06 Directors Conduct with One Another The Board of Directors is composed of individuals with a wide variety of opinions and all have freely chosen to serve in public office. It should be recognized that disagreements will develop and need to be accommodated in a courteous manner. In public meetings the Directors shall: • Practice civility and decorum in discussions and debate; • Honor the role of the Board President in maintaining order and equity. Respect the Board President's efforts to focus discussion on current agenda items. Objections to the President's actions should be voiced politely and with reason; • It shall be the duty and responsibility of the Board President to ensure that the rules of operation and decorum contained in the Code of Conduct are observed; • The Board President shall maintain control of communication between Directors and between the Directors and staff and public; • Directors should request and be recognized by the Board President before speaking. When one Director has the floor and is speaking other Directors shall not interrupt or otherwise disturb the speaker; • Be respectful of other people's time. Stay focused and act efficiently during public meetings. The work at hand is important and decisions must me made; • Staff members assist the General Manager in presenting information to the Board of Directors .. and shall be a resource to the Directors to answer questions arising during discussion. These discussions shall remain focused on the agenda topic in accordance with the Brown Act; • District General Counsel shall act as Parliamentarian to assist the Board President in matters regarding procedure,enforcement of this Code of Conduct and compliance with the Brown Act so that the Board actions remain orderly and proper; and • The Board President may limit the time any Director or other speaker has to address the Board so that the business of the Board appearing on the agenda can be dealt with efficiently. Rules Regarding Public Input It is recognized that an important element of governing the District within the traditions of democracy require and benefit by citizen input. It is also recognized that the Brown Act requires that the Board's meeting agenda provide for the opportunity for public input. It is also recognized that the Board of Directors of the District shall accept public input and consider it seriously. In public meetings the Directors shall: • Listen to public input in a respectful and civil manner; • Directors shall not engage presenter of public input in dialogue, but shall, at the conclusion of public input, discuss and decide the appropriate response to the input; • Public input shall be limited to three minutes per presenter, or as deemed appropriate from the Board President,to provide time for the Board of Directors to efficiently conduct other business on its agenda; and • Equally, public presenters shall be respectful of the Board of Directors and others participating in the meetings. 2 Board Code of Conduct Res. 2007-06 Procedural Considerations The Board of Directors shall commit to annually review important procedural materials. At the beginning of each year the Board of Directors will review Board Code of Conduct,the Brown Act and other matters related to Board procedures. Debate Forum The discussion and deliberations at Board meetings are to secure the mature and reasoned decision of the Board on matters appearing on the agenda. All discussions must be relevant to the motion before the Board. A Director is given the floor only for the purpose of discussing the pending question; discussion which departs from the agenda matter is out of order. Protocol for agenda items: 1. Board President reads the agenda item 2. General Manager or staff representative introduces the question before the Board 3. Report from staff/presenter 4. Public input 5. Director questions and discussion 6. Motion and second • Motion to approve • Motion to amend • Motion to table • Motion to call the question 7. Action PASSED AND ADOPTED by the Board of Directors of the Truckee Donner Public Utility District in a meeting duly called and held within said District on the 4th day of April, 2007. AYES: Directors Aguera, Hemig, Sutton, Taylor and Thomason NOES: None ABSTAIN: None ABSENT: None TRUCKEE DONNER P LIC UTILITY DISTRICT Tim F. Taylor, 'den ATTEST-4 Peter L. Holzmeister, District Clerk 3 Board Code of Conduct Res. 2007-06