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| county home > board of supervisors > meeting information |
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| Board of Supervisors Meeting Information |
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| (An Assisted Listening System is Available through the Clerk of the Board) |
- Jon McQuiston, Supervisor, District I
- Don Maben, Supervisor, District II
- Mike Maggard, Supervisor, District III
- Ray Watson, Supervisor, District IV
- Michael J. Rubio, Supervisor, District V
- Department Staff
- Kathleen Krause, Clerk of the Board
- Bernard Barmann, County Counsel
- Ronald Errea, County Administrative Officer
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Kern County is a "general law" county; that is, the county
governmental structure is determined by the State Constitution and State
General Law. The Board of Supervisors is composed of five members elected
from the five separate districts of the County, on a non-partisan basis to
serve four-year staggered terms. It is the Board's responsibility to enact
ordinances, resolutions and orders necessary for governing the affairs of
the County. The regular meeting of your Board of Supervisors is a vital
part of the democratic process in the conduct of the County's affairs.
These meetings are open to the public and conducted by your elected
representatives who are responsible as a body for the operation of Kern
County Government. The Board appreciates your interest and urges citizen
participation in government matters. |
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Meetings of the Board of Supervisors are held in the Board Chambers on
the First Floor of the Kern County Administrative Center, 1115 Truxtun
Avenue, Bakersfield, California, every Tuesday at 9:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. |
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| Below are terms and phrases you will encounter during a meeting or when
reading the Agenda:
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Consent Agenda:
All matters are considered routine and generally
approved in one motion. A Board member, department representative or
member of the public may request an item be taken off the consent Agenda
for full discussion prior to the time the Board votes on the motion to
approve.
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Motion:
A proposal for action. After a motion is seconded, the
Chairman will ask if there is any opposition. If not, the motion is
considered unanimously passed or the Board is polled.
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Agenda Packet:
The packet is prepared the Thursday prior to the
Board meeting and contains background material and recommendations on
agenda items. Packets are available for review at the Beale Memorial
Library and the Clerk of the Board's Office.
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Boards, Commissions and Committees:
Board appointed advisory
bodies that carry out functions designated by Board of Supervisors or law.
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Closed Session: A "closed door" meeting provided for
by State law to allow Board members to consider a private legal or
specific personnel and labor negotiation matters.
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Ordinance: An Ordinance or amendment to an ordinance is a "legislative
act" and requires two readings at separate Board meetings, after
which it is enacted. An Ordinance becomes effective thirty days after
enactment. An Urgency Ordinance requires only one reading and is effective
immediately upon enactment.
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Resolution: A formalized action of the Board expressing policy or
directing certain types of administrative action. It becomes effective
immediately and may be changed by a subsequent resolution.
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Staff: The professional employees of the county who direct the
day-to-day operations and carry out policies set by the Board of
Supervisors. The County Administrative Officer attends all meetings of the
Board; advises and assists the Board as requested. The County Counsel
attends all meetings of the Board and acts as advisor in civil legal
matters. The Clerk of the Board of Supervisors is in attendance at all
Board meetings providing clerical services as required, maintaining
minutes of the Board meetings, and maintaining custody of all official
Board records. |
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The Board of Supervisors has established policy for the preparation of
the agenda, minutes and handling of communications addressed to the Board.
Proceedings of the Board are governed under "Robert's Rules of Order"
on all matters pertaining to parliamentary law, but no action of the Board
shall be invalidated or legality thereof affected by the failure to
strictly adhere to such rules.
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Public Requests: If you have a matter which you wish to place
before the Board of Supervisors, you may send a written communication
addressed to the Clerk of the Board. You will receive a response from the
Clerk of the Board notifying you of the disposition of your communication,
including the date it will be placed on the Board's agenda.
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Departmental Requests: Departments place items on the Agenda by
submitting a sub-agenda listing their respective items along with
recommended actions. Each item submitted must have adequate support data
which comprises the agenda packet.
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Public Presentations: Persons desiring to address the Board on
any matter not on the Agenda and over which the Board has jurisdiction may
do so under this portion of the Agenda. Speakers are limited to two
minutes. No formal action will be taken by the Board regarding this
portion of the agenda other than to make a referral to county staff for
review or action.
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Board Member Items: This portion of the meeting is reserved for
Supervisors to present to other Board members and to the public,
information, announcements and items that have come to their attention. No
formal action by the Board will be taken.
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Hearings: Proponents and opponents may address the Board. The
most effective way of communicating your thoughts to the Board on public
hearing matters is by submitting such in written form, preferably no later
than 5:00 p.m. Monday of the week prior to the Board meeting, in order
that your communication may be reproduced and sent out with the agenda
packets. However, legally you may submit such material up to and including
the time of the actual public hearing.
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Audio/Visual Requirements: The public or County departments may wish to use visual or electronic displays during Board meetings. Please notify the Clerk of the Board in advance if visual displays will be used. PowerPoint presentations are due to the Clerk of the Board no later than the Friday, at noon, preceding the Board meeting. The file should be sent via e-mail to the Clerk of the Board at
clerkofboard@co.kern.ca.us
or delivered on CD or DVD to the Clerk of the Board's Office, 1115 Truxtun Avenue, 5th Floor by noon, the Friday before the Board meeting. If written material of the presentation will be provided for the Board of Supervisors, please submit eight (8) copies to the Clerk of the Board preferably no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday of the week before the Board meeting. However, such material may be submitted up to and including the time of the meeting.
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It is hoped this information will be helpful. You are invited to attend
meetings of the Board as often as possible. Should you have additional
questions, please contact the Clerk of the Board
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