WAC 183-07-030   Public hearing procedures.  The commission seeks to foster public comment on proposed salary schedules through its public hearing process. The commission will, whenever possible, allow any person an opportunity to present written or oral testimony at its public hearings, upon compliance with reasonable procedures. Such procedures include, but may not be limited to the following:

     (1) Those wishing to present oral testimony shall sign the public testimony roster. The commission will generally call for public comments in the order appearing on the public testimony roster but reserves the right to take testimony out of order if deemed necessary or beneficial. Elected officials and expert witnesses may be scheduled first because their testimony may help answer pending questions from the public.

     (2) The commission's sign-in form does not ask persons attending any commission meeting to provide personal information such as a home address, e-mail address, or telephone number. Persons providing personal information are advised that such information becomes a public record and may be subject to public inspection and copying if not protected by federal or state law.

     (3) To ensure that everyone attending the hearing can hear all oral testimony and questions, speakers shall address the commission after being recognized by the presiding member of the commission.

     (4) Oral testimony and questions should be addressed to the presiding member of the commission.

     (5) Because the commission wants to hear from as many people as possible, the commission may place reasonable limits on the time allowed for oral testimony. Time for testimony is generally limited to five minutes per person. Answers to questions from the commission are generally limited to three minutes. These time limits may be reduced if deemed necessary by the presiding member of the commission to accommodate all speakers.

     (6) Persons testifying, whether orally or in writing, shall state their name and identify whether they represent an organization. If they represent an organization, they shall identify the organization.

     (7) Speakers should focus their testimony on the relationship between elected officials' salaries and the duties of their position (RCW 43.03.300 and 43.03.310(1)). Testimony should not focus on elected officials' job performance. Consideration of job performance is the responsibility of the voters, not the commission.

     (8) Speakers shall briefly describe the identity and nature of any documents referenced in their comments, and indicate where the document can be reviewed or obtained.



[Statutory Authority: RCW 43.03.300 through [43.03].310. 09-12-077, § 183-07-030, filed 6/1/09, effective 7/2/09.]