County managers lay out working norms, public engagement and expectations for task force

Jennifer Davidson, the county manager, and Wendy Lang, the staff liaison, led a presentation on the task force’s purpose, roles and proposed working norms. They reminded members that the Board of County Commissioners set the task force’s advisory scope and that the group lacks authority to award contracts or directly implement projects; its role is to study, deliberate and produce recommendations for the board.

Staff asked that members prepare thoroughly for meetings, use the county liaison to route materials and media inquiries, and consider in-public breakout formats rather than conducting deliberations privately. The presentation emphasized transparency, balanced participation, evidence-based recommendations, and minority reports when consensus cannot be reached. Jennifer Davidson noted an agendizing typo on the meeting’s agenda that precluded formal action on working norms that night, and asked the group to treat that item as discussion-only until it can be properly noticed.