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7th District constituents working to create
change in public meetings
State
agency public meetings would be required to allow public testimony under Kretz's measure
When a state agency
advertised a public meeting in Colville last year to discuss wildlife issues,
then refused to allow public testimony on the impacts of the agency
policies at the
meeting, a frustrated constituent contacted
Rep. Joel Kretz.
In response to citizen and local media concerns, the Wauconda Republican
introduced
House Bill 1552, which passed the House unanimously March 4.
The measure would require state agencies to accept individual oral testimony
in the presence of all other attendees at public meetings. This would
apply to meetings held under the Open Public Meetings Act where a state
agency is adopting an ordinance, resolution,
rule, order or directive.
"As agencies go around our state holding public meetings on potential
new rules and regulations, people have shown up believing they would
have an opportunity to comment only to find out public
testimony is not accepted at the meetings," Kretz said. "Folks have been
surprised to find a different set up allowing agencies to direct folks
to kiosks and information centers rather than hearing from them at the
meetings."
A
major concern for Kretz and his constituents is that the current system
doesn't allow for direct interaction between the people affected by the
rule or regulation and the state agency. The process does not allow for
true public input, he said.
"The point of a public meeting, in my mind, is to gauge public
support, hear feedback and ensure government is responsive to the
people it serves," said Kretz. "This bill is about
transparency and not wasting the public's time. What I don't want to see is public opinion dwindling and
attendance dropping because people don't feel like they have a say in
the process."
Kretz added that local media outlets were also concerned. They filed an
initiative petition to the Legislature to make
the process more open and require a two-way dialog with the press and
the public. Their concern, he said, was their readers expect the
reporters to ask questions and then recap the details of the gathering
in the next news cycle. This cannot happen with agencies' current way
of doing business.
"This created quite a dust-up in the media," Kretz said, "Local
newspapers felt as though they could not get enough information to share
with their readers and thought the hearing process was about hiding information,
not sharing it."
"After last fall's incident with the state agency, I am pleased to
report we were able to ask the agency to return and hold another public
meeting that allowed folks to speak up," said Kretz. "The issue
discussed was not controversial, but I know many folks appreciated being
listened to and felt as though it was a more positive interaction with
state government."
Requiring the testimony of individuals be open for all attendees to hear
is critical, Kretz added, because it fosters a working relationship with
the state agency and gives everyone new perspectives on an issue.
"I'm proud of my constituents and our local media," Kretz said. "This is
grassroots action at its best. Folks want a real fix to this problem
and are taking action to change the system. Everyone, including our newspapers
and other media outlets, deserve a lot of credit for this bill's success
so far."
House Bill 1552 was forwarded to the Senate for further public hearings
and consideration.
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For more information, contact:
Bobbi Cussins, Public Information Officer: (360) 786-7252
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