Hon. Richard T. Crotty

Mayor of Orange County

201 S. Rosalind Ave., 5th Floor
Orlando, FL  32801

Dear Mayor Crotty,

In recent years, County Watch has published Gateway Reports which outline our views of process and public access for various local institutions. 

We have reviewed Orange County Commission Process, once again and have the attached observations for your review and study. 

Please let us know if you will require additional information or if we can assist you in any manner in improving the quality of our schools and their governance.

Best Regards,

Doug Head

Chair

• District 1 Commissioner - Teresa Jacobs

• District 2 Commissioner - Robert B. "Bob" Sindler

• District 3 Commissioner - Mildred Fernandez

• District 4 Commissioner - Linda Stewart

• District 5 Commissioner - Bill Segal 

• District 6 Commissioner - Homer L. Hartage

A REVIEW AND UPDATE

ON THE GATEWAY REPORT

ON ORANGE COUNTY COMMISSION PROCESS

The following are suggestions we would like to see implemented which were first suggested in our 1994 study of County government and later updates.


User-friendly government

Public commentary at BCC work sessions. 

A. Currently, there is no provision for public comments, unless the Mayor so decides. 

County Watch suggestsA time should be allocated for (brief) comments on what is or is not on the agenda, at the beginning of the 1:30 afternoon agenda.  Groups should be able to designate representatives to speak for them.

B. Currently, no time is allowed for public/citizen input during the three day budget hearings to the BCC in July. 

County Watch suggests both pro-active and re-active opportunities.  Citizens should be encouraged to make suggestions at a meeting in early February, as the budget process is beginning.  A draft budget should be published in June and an evening meeting set up early in July so that members of the public can make suggestions before staff presents the budget to the BCC later in the month.

Electronic Democracy

BCC and other meetings are televised and shown on cable-only Orange TV.

A. County Watch suggests:  Investigate how these meetings can be fed to satellite or over-the-air stations so that citizens without cable but with satellite or direct TV can see them.

Citizen-owned government

 Enforcement of lobbyist registration. 

A. County Watch suggests:  lobbyist sign in be done in electronic form and a regular weekly audit be made of the logs by a designated office.