Board approves land-conservation code amendments under suspension of rules

Supervisor Pagonis moved to suspend the rules and advance an ordinance to amend sections of county code (17.05 and 17.06) that change applicability and exemptions; the motion to suspend rules achieved the necessary two-thirds and passed 27–0. The board then considered the ordinance on the floor and voted to adopt it, again by a unanimous 27–0 tally.

Several supervisors asked for clarifications about an acronym used in the amendment (LCD). Supervisor Folstead and others noted the amendment text did not define LCD in the amendment itself; staff and other supervisors pointed out the original ordinance text defines the Land Conservation Division (LCD) elsewhere in the code. The clerk confirmed Planning & Development and Land Conservation reviewed the changes and recommended passage. The board enacted the ordinance consistent with the staff recommendation; the action was characterized by multiple supervisors as compliance with state statute and federal law.