Board debates public-sign-in procedures and Raptor scanners; legal review requested

Summary

Board discussed whether to require electronic sign-up, purchase Raptor scanners (estimated $750 each), permit limited in-person sign-in, or provide staff assistance; concerns about privacy, bottlenecks and consistency led the board to request legal counsel input and to move the item to a later meeting for more work.

As part of proposed revisions to policies BEDH/BEDB on public comment, the board considered options for handling in-person sign-up and visitor check-in. Staff reported a $750 per-scanner cost for a Raptor entry scanner and cautioned that a single device would be insufficient at busy meetings. Director Veil and others said the cost could be covered from board funds but asked security staff whether the Raptor approach is necessary.

Board members discussed alternatives: maintaining an electronic sign-up system, allowing in-person "onesies and twosies" to check in with staff, leaving a sign-up sheet (some raised privacy concerns after people photographed sheets in the past), or paying overtime to an executive assistant to run an in-person sign-in table. Several directors warned a public, ad-hoc sign-up sheet could open inconsistency and fairness complaints. Legal counsel was asked to provide guidance on limited open-forum rules and application; the board agreed to postpone final action on sign-in language and public-forum boundaries and to revisit the item after counsel's advice (suggested timeline: January).