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Board to test new two‑phase public comment procedure and add land acknowledgment at next meeting
Summary
Thurston County staff told commissioners they will test a new two‑phase public comment procedure at the next business meeting, with one comment period confined to items on the day's business agenda and a later open comment period; staff also plan to include a land acknowledgment at the start of the meeting.
Board members reviewed a planned change to the county's public comment procedure and the addition of a land acknowledgment for the upcoming business meeting. County staff said the trial will use two separate sign‑up sheets — one for comment limited to items on the day's business agenda and a second for an open public comment period later in the meeting; both lists will be pulled at 2 p.m.
The chair said they will read an advisement at the start of the meeting and explained the two periods: an initial public comment period confined to items on that meeting's business agenda and a later open period (item 13 on the posted agenda) for other comments. Board members asked staff to place the script that the chair reads on the sign‑up table so participants can see the guidance. One staff member confirmed, "Yes, we will have 2 different sign up sheets. They will both be pulled at 2PM."
Staff also noted the board will include a land acknowledgment at the beginning of the meeting and that the pledge of allegiance will be led by the District 4 commissioner. The clerk will distribute updates and highlighted agenda items for the afternoon meeting.
Ending
Staff said they would prepare copies of the chair's public comment script for the sign‑up table for the board's first use of the two‑phase comment process and will monitor any confusion to determine if the procedure needs refinement.
