Morro Bay Issues: Effective Participation

Morro Bay Issues

Information Resources for Concerned Citizens
Effective Citizen Participation in City Government

The best way to make Morro Bay the kind of city you want to live in is to participate in local government. In a small town like Morro Bay, citizens can make a real difference. For example, a group of neighbors recently banded together to stop a lot split that they believed would seriously harm the character of their neighborhood and damage their property values.

Public Meetings

Written Communications

Local Elections

Public Meetings

Citizens are welcome to attend meetings of the City Council, the Planning Commission, and various City Boards, except closed sessions, where legally sensitive issues such as contract negotiations and personnel issues are discussed. The business of the city is the business of its citizens, and you have a right to participate in public meetings.

Every meeting includes a public comment period where you will generally be given three minutes to speak on any topic you choose. If a formal hearing is held during the meeting, there is a separete public comment period specifically for the hearing topic(s). Public comment is generally limited to three minutes, but may be shorter if there are a large number of speakers.

The following rules for participation in City Council meetings have been documented by the City.

"To increase the effectiveness of the Public Comment Period, the following rules shall be
followed:

When recognized by the Mayor, please come forward to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Comments are to be limited to three minutes.
All remarks shall be addressed to Council, as a whole, and not to any individual member thereof.
The Council respectfully requests that you refrain from making slanderous, profane or personal remarks against any elected official, commission and/or staff.
Please refrain from public displays or outbursts such as unsolicited applause, comments or cheering.
Any disruptive activities that substantially interfere with the ability of the City Council to carry out its meeting will not be permitted and offenders will be requested to leave the meeting.
Your participation in City Council meetings is welcome and your courtesy
will be appreciated."

The rule against cheering or otherwise verbally commenting on what is being said is always enforced. Attendees are encouraged to wave their hands or to wave signs indicating their support for speakers.

Our public officials have, in the past, often responded best when a group of people with a common cause come to speak on their issue and support each other, so you are more likely to get what you want if you can demonstrate that a lot of residents (voters) want the same thing.

Speaking at a public meeting of the Council, Planning Commission, or a City Board is also an opportunity to get "air time" for your issue, ensuring that a large number of other citizens hear what you have to say. Meetings are filmed, and are televised on the public access channel (channel 20 on Charter cable).

For more information on public meetings, such as where to find agendas and minutes, see Information Sources: Public Meetings

Written Communications

Email addresses and for the Mayor and City Council are published on the City Web site. Most are fairly quick to respond to communications from citizens.

Since they must read a great deal of material in order to do their work, messages that clearly state your concern or question and what you want, as briefly as possible, are most likely to get a quick response. In some cases, your question or concern may be referred to the City Attorney or another member of the City administration/staff for resolution.

If a communication is particularly important, you may want to read it aloud at a public meeting, during the public comment period, and bring copies for the intended recipient(s). State that you would like this done, and staff member will take your copies and ensure that they are distributed.

If you do not get a response within a week or two, you may want to follow up to ensure that your communication was received. Some residents have complained that letters sent via regular mail sometimes are not delivered to the City officials for whom they were intended.

Local Elections

General Information

The County of San Luis Obispo's Web site provides links extensive information on its Elections and Voting page. If the information you need is not provided there, citizens report that the City Clerk can often answer election-related queries.

Evaluating the Candidates

"I have the best interests of Morro Bay citizens at heart!"

"I will lead this City to a better future!"

"I have the experience and background that will enable me to fix the City's financial problems!"

"I will fix the problems that my incumbent opponent has caused!"

Every election, we hear promises like these. They sound nice but, as the lady in the old commercial asked, "Where's the beef?" We think there are some key characteristics of the candidates that need to be evaluated:

Motivation and Committment: Why is the person running for office? Is it due to a sincere desire to serve the all of the people, protect their interests, and implement the will of the majority while considering the desires and needs of the minorty? It takes a great deal of time and work to do a good job as mayor or as a City Council member. Is this person likely to put in the time and effort necessary to do a good job for the City and all of its residents? Sometimes, yes, but people also run for office because they want the power to protect the interests and implement the will of a small special interest groups. Sometimes they are more interested in prestige and/or influence than in true public service. We suggest doing some research into the candidate's past record.

If an incumbent, does the candidate appear well-prepared at meetings? Does (s)he ask questions and state concerns that indicate a knowledge of, and true interest in, the topics being discussed? Was this the case throughout the person's service, or does the person's enthusiasm for the job seem markedly greater in the months just before an election?

If the candidate is an incumbent, what his his/her voting record on the issues that are important to you? (you can check these in public City Council meeting minutes)

Does the candidate have a history of participation in City government, or did (s)he suddenly come "out of nowhere"? The latter is not necessarily bad, but an apparently sudden interest in public service, from someone who has no record of it, probably warrants further investigation. Some might claim they had business or family commitments that prevented earlier participation, but if they didn't have the time before, how likely is it that they would after being elected?

Has this person appeared at public meetings to express views and support causes - BEFORE announcing his/her candidacy for office? If so, did the candidate generally address issues and causes affecting the majority of residents, or did (s)he appear primarily concerned with issues and causes that primarily affected him/herself and/or small groups of individuals?

Has the candidate served the City in an unpaid capacity, on City boards and/or committees, and/or in significant volunteer activity in support of City events?

If the person served on a board or committee, is there any evidence to suggest that self-interest was a primary reason? (For example, if the candidate joined a City committee that was formed to study some proposed regulation for boat rental businesses, and a close relative or a close friend of the candidate happened to own one, altruistic motives related to public safety would seem unlikely).

Who are the person's primary supporters? Do they seem to be people from various walks of life, or are they primarily members of a smaller, identifiable group? What are their stated reasons for supporting the candidate? (What they say may or may not be the actual reason, and it may be necessary to do more research.)

Who are the person's opponents? Again, are they members of an identifiable group? What are their stated reasons for opposing the candidate? (What they say may or may not be the actual reason, and it may be necessary to do more research).

Would the candidate and/or his relattives or close associates potentially gain any financial benefits by having "one of their own" in office?

Integrity and Reliability: Is this person likely to keep his/her campaign promises? This is a small town, and it is generally not diffficult to locate people who have had some kind of dealings with a candidate, or who can refer you to people who have, and can report their own experiences.

Experience: Some suggest this may be the least important of the characteristics discussed here. Morro Bay recently contracted with Management Partners to assess the City's organization and financial options, and to develop a set of recommendations for actions necessary to restore the City to financial stability and health.

It has been suggested that with this kind of guidance available, work experience is less important than other qualities. However, we believe opinions on this are likely to differ, and that some past experience may be very useful. Here are some questions we believe may be helpful to ask.

Has the candidate participated in City government in an official capacity, such as a City board, for a significant period of time? This kind of service is a good way to "learn the ropes", and gain a good understanding of City government from the inside.

Does the candidate claim that his/her past work experience makes him/her better qualified than others? If so, has the candidate been specific as to the unique skills (s)he posesses, and exactly how those will be applied to benefit the City?

Has the candidate's experience enabled him/her to develop the strong "people skills" necessary to forge productive relationships within City government, in the community, and with other government agencies? (How do other citizens, coworkers, employees, supervisors, rate the candidate's ability to work productively with others? Is the person known as a "team player", someone who listens and respects others, and can both follow and lead effectively?)

Evaluating the Issues

Evaluation of the issues is what this Web site is all about. We recommend studying all sides of an issue, and trying to understand opposing viewpoints before making a decision. Many issues turn out to be more complex than they appear on the surface, and what some people say about them may be inaccurate, incomplete, or even deliberately deceptive.

The brief descussions of issues and viewpoints offered on this site are only a starting point for further investigation.

Putting an Initiative on the Ballot

If you are really dissatisfied with some City policy or law (or lack thereof), you may want to work to put an intiative on the ballot to correct the problem. This is not a minor undertaking. It will require work, and good legal advice. Improperly worded initiatives might make it to the ballot, and even be "voted in", only to be thrown out later by a court because of a wording problem.

Extensive information on initiatives is available from the County, in the Initiatives Manual.

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	Morro Bay Issues Information Resources for Concerned Citizens Effective Citizen Participation in City Government
	The best way to make Morro Bay the kind of city you want to live in is to participate in local government. In a small town like Morro Bay, citizens can make a real difference. For example, a group of neighbors recently banded together to stop a lot split that they believed would seriously harm the character of their neighborhood and damage their property values. Public Meetings Written Communications Local Elections
	Public Meetings Citizens are welcome to attend meetings of the City Council, the Planning Commission, and various City Boards, except closed sessions, where legally sensitive issues such as contract negotiations and personnel issues are discussed. The business of the city is the business of its citizens, and you have a right to participate in public meetings. Every meeting includes a public comment period where you will generally be given three minutes to speak on any topic you choose. If a formal hearing is held during the meeting, there is a separete public comment period specifically for the hearing topic(s). Public comment is generally limited to three minutes, but may be shorter if there are a large number of speakers. The following rules for participation in City Council meetings have been documented by the City. "To increase the effectiveness of the Public Comment Period, the following rules shall be followed: When recognized by the Mayor, please come forward to the podium and state your name and address for the record. Comments are to be limited to three minutes. All remarks shall be addressed to Council, as a whole, and not to any individual member thereof. The Council respectfully requests that you refrain from making slanderous, profane or personal remarks against any elected official, commission and/or staff. Please refrain from public displays or outbursts such as unsolicited applause, comments or cheering. Any disruptive activities that substantially interfere with the ability of the City Council to carry out its meeting will not be permitted and offenders will be requested to leave the meeting. Your participation in City Council meetings is welcome and your courtesy will be appreciated." The rule against cheering or otherwise verbally commenting on what is being said is always enforced. Attendees are encouraged to wave their hands or to wave signs indicating their support for speakers. Our public officials have, in the past, often responded best when a group of people with a common cause come to speak on their issue and support each other, so you are more likely to get what you want if you can demonstrate that a lot of residents (voters) want the same thing. Speaking at a public meeting of the Council, Planning Commission, or a City Board is also an opportunity to get "air time" for your issue, ensuring that a large number of other citizens hear what you have to say. Meetings are filmed, and are televised on the public access channel (channel 20 on Charter cable). For more information on public meetings, such as where to find agendas and minutes, see Information Sources: Public Meetings Written Communications Email addresses and for the Mayor and City Council are published on the City Web site. Most are fairly quick to respond to communications from citizens. Since they must read a great deal of material in order to do their work, messages that clearly state your concern or question and what you want, as briefly as possible, are most likely to get a quick response. In some cases, your question or concern may be referred to the City Attorney or another member of the City administration/staff for resolution. If a communication is particularly important, you may want to read it aloud at a public meeting, during the public comment period, and bring copies for the intended recipient(s). State that you would like this done, and staff member will take your copies and ensure that they are distributed. If you do not get a response within a week or two, you may want to follow up to ensure that your communication was received. Some residents have complained that letters sent via regular mail sometimes are not delivered to the City officials for whom they were intended. Local Elections General Information The County of San Luis Obispo's Web site provides links extensive information on its Elections and Voting page. If the information you need is not provided there, citizens report that the City Clerk can often answer election-related queries. Evaluating the Candidates "I have the best interests of Morro Bay citizens at heart!" "I will lead this City to a better future!" "I have the experience and background that will enable me to fix the City's financial problems!" "I will fix the problems that my incumbent opponent has caused!" Every election, we hear promises like these. They sound nice but, as the lady in the old commercial asked, "Where's the beef?" We think there are some key characteristics of the candidates that need to be evaluated: Motivation and Committment: Why is the person running for office? Is it due to a sincere desire to serve the all of the people, protect their interests, and implement the will of the majority while considering the desires and needs of the minorty? It takes a great deal of time and work to do a good job as mayor or as a City Council member. Is this person likely to put in the time and effort necessary to do a good job for the City and all of its residents? Sometimes, yes, but people also run for office because they want the power to protect the interests and implement the will of a small special interest groups. Sometimes they are more interested in prestige and/or influence than in true public service. We suggest doing some research into the candidate's past record. If an incumbent, does the candidate appear well-prepared at meetings? Does (s)he ask questions and state concerns that indicate a knowledge of, and true interest in, the topics being discussed? Was this the case throughout the person's service, or does the person's enthusiasm for the job seem markedly greater in the months just before an election? If the candidate is an incumbent, what his his/her voting record on the issues that are important to you? (you can check these in public City Council meeting minutes) Does the candidate have a history of participation in City government, or did (s)he suddenly come "out of nowhere"? The latter is not necessarily bad, but an apparently sudden interest in public service, from someone who has no record of it, probably warrants further investigation. Some might claim they had business or family commitments that prevented earlier participation, but if they didn't have the time before, how likely is it that they would after being elected? Has this person appeared at public meetings to express views and support causes - BEFORE announcing his/her candidacy for office? If so, did the candidate generally address issues and causes affecting the majority of residents, or did (s)he appear primarily concerned with issues and causes that primarily affected him/herself and/or small groups of individuals? Has the candidate served the City in an unpaid capacity, on City boards and/or committees, and/or in significant volunteer activity in support of City events? If the person served on a board or committee, is there any evidence to suggest that self-interest was a primary reason? (For example, if the candidate joined a City committee that was formed to study some proposed regulation for boat rental businesses, and a close relative or a close friend of the candidate happened to own one, altruistic motives related to public safety would seem unlikely). Who are the person's primary supporters? Do they seem to be people from various walks of life, or are they primarily members of a smaller, identifiable group? What are their stated reasons for supporting the candidate? (What they say may or may not be the actual reason, and it may be necessary to do more research.) Who are the person's opponents? Again, are they members of an identifiable group? What are their stated reasons for opposing the candidate? (What they say may or may not be the actual reason, and it may be necessary to do more research). Would the candidate and/or his relattives or close associates potentially gain any financial benefits by having "one of their own" in office? Integrity and Reliability: Is this person likely to keep his/her campaign promises? This is a small town, and it is generally not diffficult to locate people who have had some kind of dealings with a candidate, or who can refer you to people who have, and can report their own experiences. Experience: Some suggest this may be the least important of the characteristics discussed here. Morro Bay recently contracted with Management Partners to assess the City's organization and financial options, and to develop a set of recommendations for actions necessary to restore the City to financial stability and health. It has been suggested that with this kind of guidance available, work experience is less important than other qualities. However, we believe opinions on this are likely to differ, and that some past experience may be very useful. Here are some questions we believe may be helpful to ask. Has the candidate participated in City government in an official capacity, such as a City board, for a significant period of time? This kind of service is a good way to "learn the ropes", and gain a good understanding of City government from the inside. Does the candidate claim that his/her past work experience makes him/her better qualified than others? If so, has the candidate been specific as to the unique skills (s)he posesses, and exactly how those will be applied to benefit the City? Has the candidate's experience enabled him/her to develop the strong "people skills" necessary to forge productive relationships within City government, in the community, and with other government agencies? (How do other citizens, coworkers, employees, supervisors, rate the candidate's ability to work productively with others? Is the person known as a "team player", someone who listens and respects others, and can both follow and lead effectively?) Evaluating the Issues Evaluation of the issues is what this Web site is all about. We recommend studying all sides of an issue, and trying to understand opposing viewpoints before making a decision. Many issues turn out to be more complex than they appear on the surface, and what some people say about them may be inaccurate, incomplete, or even deliberately deceptive. The brief descussions of issues and viewpoints offered on this site are only a starting point for further investigation. Putting an Initiative on the Ballot If you are really dissatisfied with some City policy or law (or lack thereof), you may want to work to put an intiative on the ballot to correct the problem. This is not a minor undertaking. It will require work, and good legal advice. Improperly worded initiatives might make it to the ballot, and even be "voted in", only to be thrown out later by a court because of a wording problem. Extensive information on initiatives is available from the County, in the Initiatives Manual.

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