HOW TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND HEARINGS IN CALIFORNIA ?????????????????????

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HOW TO CONDUCT EFFECTIVE PUBLIC MEETINGS AND
HEARINGSIN CALIFORNIA?????????????????????
BYEDWARD WONG OFFICE OF THE OMBUDSMAN CALIFORNIA
AIR RESOURCES BOARD CALIFORNIA ENVIRONMENTAL
PROTECTION AGENCY May 2009??????????
???????????? ??????? ???.?2009???
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OUTLINE??

• Public Meetings - Informational Workshops (prior
  to formal public comment period)
• ???? ????????(?????????)
• How to Prepare for and Conduct Public Hearings
• ????????????
• 45-day formal public comment period (includes
  public hearing)
• 45????????(???????)
• Planning for public hearings ???????
• How to conduct public hearings ?????????
• Post-hearing activities ??????
• Common Issues ????

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PUBLIC MEETINGS INFORMATIONAL WORKSHOPS(prior
to formal public comment period)???? -
????????(?????????)
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Public meetings in California??????????

• Public meetings are used to
• ??????
• Present information to the public
• ???????
• Provide setting for public discussion
• ?????????
• Obtain informal input from stakeholders
• ??????????????
• NOT to make a decision
• ????
• Are held throughout the planning process
• ???????????????

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Public workshops?????

• Public meetings, called workshops in CARB
  practice, are recommended for extensive or
  complex issues
• ??????????????????(?????????)
• Held prior to release of the 45-day notice of
  public hearing and start of the formal public
  comment period
• ??????45??????????????????
• May require several to many workshops to reach
  all stakeholders and clarify issues so rule or
  policy can be drafted
• ??????????????????????,???????????????

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Workshop definition?????

• Workshops are open meetings to inform the public
  and solicit informal input from the affected
  public on rules, plans and policies that are in
  early stage of development
• ???????????????????????????????????????????????
• Are informal gatherings, where agency staff
  presents preliminary proposals and information
  and asks for comments and questions from those
  present
• ??????,????????????????,??????????

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Workshops are informal????????

• Discussion is informal, like a conversation to
  exchange views
• ???????,???????????
• Workshops are open to anyone no restrictions
• ?????????,????
• May attend as individual or representative of
  specific interests
• ?????????????????
• Notice is given, but no official record made
• ????????????
• No official hearing officer is required
• ??????????

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What are the benefits of holding
workshops???????????

• Avoid surprises during the formal rulemaking
  process, including the public hearing
• ???????????????????????????????
• Build support through collaboration
• ?????????
• Build a well-balanced group representing various
  stakeholders
• ???????????????????

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What are the benefits of holding workshops
(cont)???????????(?)

• Identify and investigate the scope and extent of
  technical, economic, and other pertinent issues
• ???????????????????????
• Resolve issues by exploring various options to
  improve the rules, including suggestions for
  draft language
• ?????????????????????????????
• Learn how other related rules may be impacted
  from those that may be affected by the proposal
• ????????????????????????

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Who are workshop participants?????????

• Broad and balanced group of stakeholders
• ?????????????
• Anyone may join
• ???????
• Not pre-selected
• ??????
• Media welcome to attend
• ??????

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What is a stakeholder?????????

• A person or interest group who has a stake in the
  decision, such as
• ???????????????,??
• Businesses ??
• Trade associations ????
• Environmental organizations ????
• Consumer and health groups ????????
• Education groups ????
• Community groups ????
• Labor organizations ????
• Other government agencies, etc. ???????

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How to identify and develop a stakeholders
group??????????????????

• Identify through workshop participation
• ?????????
• Conduct active searches (industry and technical
  literature, press, networking, etc.)
• ????(????????????????)
• Build and update mailing lists and listservs
• ??????????????(LISTSERVs)
• Solicit input on an on-going basis ??????
• Provide websites and contact information for
  public to make contact and through search engines
  such as Google and Yahoo
• ????????????????????????????????????????

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How do you hold workshops?????????

• Notice of open public meeting through the press,
  mailing lists, website, listservs, etc.
• ?????????????????(LISTSERVs)?????????
• In various parts of the state, both urban and
  rural, to reach all interested stakeholders
• ??????????????????????????
• In auditoriums or large rooms at public
  buildings, hotels, community and commercial
  facilities, etc.
• ?????????????????????????

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How do you hold workshops? (cont)????????(?)

• During regular business hours and some evenings
  and weekends, if necessary
• ??????????,??????????????
• Workshop duration of 3 hours or more to cover all
  topics, issues and concerns
• ?????????????????????????????
• Equipment such as computers, projectors,
  telephones, microphones, speakers, etc.
• ??????????????????????

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What happens at workshops??????????

• Staff introduces themselves ????????
• Staff presents proposed rule being developed
• ?????????????????
• Participants express their ideas and concerns (no
  time limits)
• ??????????????(?????)
• Staff and other participants discuss those
  interactively
• ???????????????????????
• At end of workshop, staff ??????,????
• Thanks participants ?????
• Explain how they can stay involved, obtain
  additional information, etc.
• ???????????????????????

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Summary of role of public workshops??????????

• Identify and investigate the scope and extent of
  various issues
• ???????????????
• Explore various options
• ????????
• Learn how other related rules may be impacted
• ????????????????
• Identify stakeholders interested in the issue
• ???????????????
• Public input assists in drafting the proposed
  rule
• ???????????????
• Build popular support for the final decision
• ???????????

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Summary of role of workshops when public hearing
will be held?????????????????

• Better prepare for the hearing
• ??????????
• Minimize surprises at the hearing
• ???????????????
• Resolve all known disputes before the hearing
• ?????????????
• Permits more efficient use of time at the hearing
• ???????????????

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HOW TO PREPARE FOR AND CONDUCT PUBLIC
HEARINGS????????????
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45-DAY FORMAL PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD (INCLUDES
PUBLIC HEARING)45????????(???????)
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What occurs during the 45-day formal public
comment period?45????????????

• 45-Day Notice of Public Hearing, Initial
  Statement of Reasons (ISOR) for the rulemaking,
  and Proposed Rule are released for public review
  and comments
• ???????45??????????,???????????????????????????
  ??????
• Public Hearing is conducted on the Proposed Rule
• ????????????

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What occurs during the 45-day formal public
comment period? (cont)45????????????(?)

• Provides a formal opportunity for the public to
  read the Notice, ISOR, and Proposed Rule, and
  submit written and oral comments before and
  during the hearing
• ????????????????????????????,??????????????????
  ????
• Oral comments given at the hearing become part of
  the written transcript
• ????????????????????

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What occurs during the 45-day formal public
comment period? (cont)45????????????(?)

• All written and oral comments become part of the
  public rulemaking record
• ?????????????????????????
• Hearings normally required by California law if
  requested by one member of the public 15 days
  before expiration of comment period
• ?????????????15??????????????????
• CARB holds a hearing for every rulemaking
• ???????????????

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PLANNING FOR PUBLIC HEARINGS???????
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Where and when should the public hearing be
held???????????????

• Location and time depends on the agency and type
  of hearing
• ??????????????????
• CARB generally holds hearings at its
  headquarters, but also at other State buildings,
  local air district offices, and hotel meeting
  rooms
• ??????????????,???????????????????????????????
• CARB hearings held during regular business hours
  and for up to two days, if necessary
• ????????????????,???,???????

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