Hello!

First, please do come to public meetings---it really, really makes a difference! If issues seem to be difficult to understand, you should never refrain from saying so and speaking your mind!

I see that I am long overdue to greet you here in this forum opportunity--- I had not seen much activity here a few months ago and am so accustomed to my more daily blogging at pin-the-tail. My sincerest apologies for missing your cordial and inspiring note!

I hope that you'll also consider trying a visit to Monroe County Government's public meeting opportunities. Much of what you describe is indeed very true. Sadly, it is often very late in the stages of local government processes when an item of interest to the public is actually on an agenda for public meeting time and consideration...

The Monroe County Council has been conducting more and more intensive Work Sessions these past three years. At least the week before each Regular Session (where items are voted upon for approval or rejection) we always have a "Work Session." These are not particularly conducive for the citizenry to get directly engaged---but they are much more informative about the reasoning and analysis of our budgeting decisions, etc. (Sometimes we have Resolutions to pass.)

Likewise does the Monroe County Plan Commission conduct many series of public work sessions for governmental processes. The very last phase of planning/land use issues is finalized with decisions made by the Monroe County Commissioners. It is with them, during Friday morning public meetings, that they vote "yay," or "nay" on the recommendations of the advisory Plan Commission. Some times, without much discussion, they overturn the Plan Commission's recommendation...more transparency demanded by the citizenry is needed for conducting this business.

Much of the communication at these meetings seems obscure and stressful to understand at these meetings...it's partly inherent in the nature of the topics (i.e. somewhat tedious and boring and providing a summary backdrop for members of the public trying to understand gets lost in the shuffle) and it is also the result of so much to do in short amounts of time (even though our meetings take hours, a lot of business gets done with relatively short amounts of time devoted to each item...)

But about what you describe about decisions being made already...this is an accurate observation in many instances---especially where "redevelopment" or "economic development" are concerned. And much better outreach could, and must, be conducted so that the citizens fully understand the ramifications of those kinds of serious decisions being made by public officials (elected and appointed.)

I look forward to checking out your links!
Sophia Travis