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Mendocino supervisors adopt new rules of procedure; abstention rule removed, one dissent recorded
Summary
The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors approved updated rules of procedure that limit abstentions and clarify procedures for disruptive behavior; Supervisor Williams cast the sole dissenting vote.
MENDOCINO COUNTY — The Mendocino County Board of Supervisors adopted a revised set of rules of procedure at its organizational meeting, approving a package of changes addressing meeting decorum, the consent calendar and voting protocols.
County counsel said the revisions added more detailed language about handling disruptive behavior after a 2023 state code change. Charlotte Scott, county counsel, told the board the updated text clarifies that a warning should generally be given before taking action against disruptive conduct unless there is a safety threat.
The board also voted to remove a sentence in an appendix that identified public works project change orders “$100,000 or less” as appropriate for the consent calendar. County counsel explained the bullet was inconsistent with a previously adopted county resolution and state law delegating authority for change orders; the board struck the bullet to align the rules with existing delegation.
A second notable change narrows the use of abstentions. The newly adopted rules state that abstentions are not allowed; members are expected to vote or recuse themselves for documented conflicts. Supervisor Williams opposed that language in the roll-call vote, saying abstentions can be a procedural tool when members lack information and would prefer to withhold a vote rather than cause a measure to fail.
The motion to adopt the rules, with the deletion of the consent-calendar bullet about $100,000 change orders, passed by a 5–1 tally, with Supervisor Williams dissenting. The chair and county staff said the rules will be reviewed annually and that the changes aim to streamline meetings and clarify expectations for decorum and recusal.
The board also discussed how the revised rules aim to reduce surprise consent-calendar pulls by asking supervisors to notify the chair and clerk by noon the day before the meeting when they intend to pull an item. The rules retain the board’s ability to pull items during the meeting when necessary.
No changes to existing delegations for public works change orders were made at the meeting; county counsel recommended striking the inconsistent sentence to reflect the county’s prior resolution that allows higher delegated authority.
