Special Notice / Hearing: None__
Vote Required: Majority
To: Honorable Board of Supervisors
From: President Noelia Corzo, District 2
Subject: Introduction of Agenda Builder and Process for Study Session Requests
RECOMMENDATION:
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Adopt Agenda Builder and process for study session requests.
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BACKGROUND:
The Board of Supervisors’ agenda is regularly impacted and a publicly accessible document for communicating when topics are expected to be heard by the board does not exist. To support more intentional planning, staff has developed a Board of Supervisors Agenda Builder for the 2026 calendar year. The Agenda Builder is designed to provide a high-level, forward-looking framework that identifies known and recurring agenda items, such as budget hearings, board retreats, quarterly legislative updates, and other regular Board activities, while also creating space to plan study sessions and policy discussions in a more deliberate and transparent manner that prioritizes the urgent issues. The adoption and use of this tool will result in less crowded agendas as well as the ability for staff to improve the balance between regular, required items with emerging issues and strategic priorities. Board members will be encouraged to request study sessions in board meetings which will then be added to the agenda builder by staff. Study session requests will continue to be prioritized and formally agendized at the direction of the Board President.
DISCUSSION:
The Agenda Builder serves as a planning and coordination tool to:
• Improve predictability and transparency for the public, staff, and Board members.
• Support better coordination across departments and reduce last-minute agenda congestion.
• Assist the Board in being aware of known and recurring agenda items throughout the year.
• Allow for all Board members to be aware of what study session topics have been requested, ensuring adequate time for preparation and meaningful discussion.
Together, these tools are intended to strengthen governance, enhance timely and critical policy deliberation, and improve the overall effectiveness of Board meetings. If the Board of Supervisors Agenda Builder is adopted, staff will use it as a planning reference and tool for subsequent years.
COMMUNITY IMPACT:
A more structured and predictable agenda-setting process benefits the community by improving access, transparency, and engagement in County decision-making. By pacing complex or high priority items and planning study sessions in advance, the Board can provide the public with clearer notice, more focused discussions, and greater opportunity for meaningful input. This approach also helps ensure that community priorities are addressed thoughtfully rather than reactively.
FISCAL IMPACT:
There is no direct fiscal impact associated with introducing the Agenda Builder or the study session request process. However, improved planning and coordination of Board agendas may result in more efficient use of staff time and resources by reducing duplication, last-minute preparation, and meeting overruns.