While on hiatus another day
I went to Wednesday's meeting of the North Hills West Neighborhood Council to witness their "committee huddles" -- a procedure mentioned and heralded by The host during the Coro seminar. I attended with the expressed purpose to steal the idea, or it's workable parts, for the Reseda NC.
Group had huddles during their formation and discontinued them. They were reconstituted when the group became bogged down in too many meetings during a month.
Meeting begins with a short preview of the meeting to come and then breaks into the huddles, on this evening: land use, outreach, election and safety committees. The time allotted was 30 minutes.
Each committee chair is to have a prepared and printed agenda. During the huddles the chairman circulates, nudges and prods the groups, contributing as necessary, and reminds all of the time remaining.
There is 100% participation of the attendees; each stakeholder gravitates to the committee of their interest. In one instance, a committee finished early and members flowed into various other committees still meeting.
When board reconvenes, committee reports are given. Any subsequent motions or actionable items were immediately addressed by the board. In the case where a committee chair knows there's a matter requiring a board vote (often a matter arising from the prior huddle), that item is agendized to meet Brown Act requirements.
Things accomplished out of the huddles:
~~~ Election procedures discussed and amendments to bylaws determined, with an ad hoc committee meeting determined during which to vote on the bylaw amendment, all discussion took place during the committee report including amendments to the amendment;
~~~ Outreach committee reported the twice-monthly meeting inhibited posting and flyer distribution (the two week turnaround is daunting to volunteers) so the board considered a reformat of one of their twice-monthly meetings -- 1 meeting would be primarily committee huddles, w/ 2 45-minute cycles enabling participation in multiple committees and to the seeming delight of many such a procedural change would require just one flyer per month;
~~~ A group of residents sought support for a permanent street closure and after a consensus of the board was taken, the committee chair was directed to write a letter of support for the residents' wishes.
Committee reports -- instructed to be brief – with discussions and voting etc. went as long as 30-35 minutes or as short as 3mins
The meeting also had a guest, LAUSD Boardmember John Lauritzen who spoke and answered questions, and a public commentary period as well.
Meeting was about 2hrs & 45mins long. Group has a PA system and provides coffee and cookies for attendees. Meeting had about 30 stakeholders present, apparently a low turnout. Boundaries include about 30,000 residents.
Group had huddles during their formation and discontinued them. They were reconstituted when the group became bogged down in too many meetings during a month.
Meeting begins with a short preview of the meeting to come and then breaks into the huddles, on this evening: land use, outreach, election and safety committees. The time allotted was 30 minutes.
Each committee chair is to have a prepared and printed agenda. During the huddles the chairman circulates, nudges and prods the groups, contributing as necessary, and reminds all of the time remaining.
There is 100% participation of the attendees; each stakeholder gravitates to the committee of their interest. In one instance, a committee finished early and members flowed into various other committees still meeting.
When board reconvenes, committee reports are given. Any subsequent motions or actionable items were immediately addressed by the board. In the case where a committee chair knows there's a matter requiring a board vote (often a matter arising from the prior huddle), that item is agendized to meet Brown Act requirements.
Things accomplished out of the huddles:
~~~ Election procedures discussed and amendments to bylaws determined, with an ad hoc committee meeting determined during which to vote on the bylaw amendment, all discussion took place during the committee report including amendments to the amendment;
~~~ Outreach committee reported the twice-monthly meeting inhibited posting and flyer distribution (the two week turnaround is daunting to volunteers) so the board considered a reformat of one of their twice-monthly meetings -- 1 meeting would be primarily committee huddles, w/ 2 45-minute cycles enabling participation in multiple committees and to the seeming delight of many such a procedural change would require just one flyer per month;
~~~ A group of residents sought support for a permanent street closure and after a consensus of the board was taken, the committee chair was directed to write a letter of support for the residents' wishes.
Committee reports -- instructed to be brief – with discussions and voting etc. went as long as 30-35 minutes or as short as 3mins
The meeting also had a guest, LAUSD Boardmember John Lauritzen who spoke and answered questions, and a public commentary period as well.
Meeting was about 2hrs & 45mins long. Group has a PA system and provides coffee and cookies for attendees. Meeting had about 30 stakeholders present, apparently a low turnout. Boundaries include about 30,000 residents.
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