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Public and commissioners press commission to fix audio, room capacity and access at traveling meetings
Summary
Multiple members of the public and commissioners told the commission on March 13 that room capacity and audio quality at off-site meetings are preventing effective public participation and asked staff to prioritize sound systems and accessible venues when scheduling future sessions.
During public comment and again near the end of the March 13 session in Blaine, attendees and commissioners raised repeated concerns about meeting accessibility, sound and venue choice for the commission’s traveling meetings.
Several speakers said online attendees could not hear the meeting and that in-room audio was inconsistent. One public commenter told the commission, “people online can’t hear you guys at all,” and asked the commission to “find a better solution” for remote participants. Other attendees said the venue was crowded, that some people stood outside for long periods because there was not enough seating, and that emergency egress and fire-code issues merited attention.
Commissioners acknowledged the complaints and urged staff to book future off-site sessions only at locations with an adequate sound system and sufficient capacity for expected attendance. Commissioner comments ranged from asking staff whether additional county-owned microphone systems were available to recommending that meetings return to council chambers if off-site venues cannot consistently provide required audio and seating. The commission also noted offers from local organizations that have community centers or sound systems for future meetings.
The commission did not adopt a formal policy change at the March 13 meeting but directed staff to pursue practical fixes—finding venues with built-in audio systems, considering procurement or temporary rental of microphones and confirming fire-code capacity—before scheduling future traveling meetings.
Members of the public who described difficulties said they would follow future agendas and that better audio and seating would increase participation from residents across the county.
