Cross_cutting

13:34 Clear, factual, criteria-based comments are the most effective. Most hearings are held online through WebEx, which is our online meeting platform. If you'd like to attend any hearing, simply ask staff to send you an invitation. I'll show you what the invitation looks like in the next slide. At the start of the hearing, staff will explain how to participate, including how to raise your hand when it's time to testify. The order is usually the following. The hearings examiner will provide an introduction to the public hearing. Staff will then provide the slide presentation on how to participate in the public hearing. And then staff will provide the presentation of the case at hand or the application process. At the end of staff's presentation, the hearings examiner may ask staff or the applicant questions about the proposed project, staff report, and/or conditions. In addition, the hearings examiner will allow the applicant up to 20 minutes to provide their testimony or their response

14:33 to the county's presentation. After the applicant's presentation, the hearing examiner typically allows public testimony. First, they will ask if anyone wants to speak that's in favor of the project. And then they'll ask if anybody wants to speak that is opposed to the project. After public testimony, the hearing examiner often allows staff and then the applicant to offer final comments should they choose. The applicant always has the option to provide the final rebuttal at the hearing. Please keep in mind, however, the hearings examiner has complete control of the hearing. And they may vary from this typical process from time to time as they deem necessary. If you prefer not to speak, you can still submit written comments up until the public record closes. And those comments carry the same weight, even while not being limited to the testimonial time constraints. Here's an example of the email invitation that we send out.

15:31 See the green box there that says join webinar? You just click on that, and it brings you into the meeting. Tips for delivering testimony. When it's your turn to speak, keep it simple and authentic. Use your own words. You don't need legal terms. Plain language is perfect. Speak clearly into your microphone and have a short outline in front of you so that you stay on track. Organize your points around the Clark County approval criteria. Rehearsing your comments help you stay within the time limit and reduce nerves. Avoid personal attacks. They distract from your message. And always direct your comments to the hearing examiner, not to staff, the applicant, or other speakers. I have to apologize. I forgot to mention that the hearings always start at 6 PM on the second and fourth Thursdays of every month. Sometimes during holidays, they'll

16:30 change that day to accommodate whatever holiday it is. And there also may be several cases discussed at each one of those hearings. OK, so as far as being concise and complete, decision makers appreciate comments that are focused and to the point. If you have a longer written statement, you can submit your written testimony to the project planner and then summarize the key points during your oral testimony, as we discussed before. The hearings examiner will ask you to provide your comments in writing to the Kellogg County planner beforehand or after. And staff will add your comments as an exhibit of the public record. Once something is made in exhibit, that's read by all staff and the hearings examiner for the project. By submitting your public comments, obviously it's a voice to the hearings examiner. So we advise that you submit these. State in your position, be clear about where you stand. Do you support the staff recommendation? Do you oppose it? Are there specific conditions you

17:30 want to see added or removed? If someone else has already made a point you agree with, it's perfectly fine to simply say you agree. That reinforces the point without repeating it. If you're speaking on behalf of a group, please say so at the beginning of your presentation. Groups are the most effective when each member covers a different issue rather than repeating the same points. You can also request additional time if you're representing a group and the other people in the group don't wish to testify. You can get their time. Continuation of hearings-- currently, standard Clark County policy is to add at least one week to open record period after the close of a hearing. The examiner may grant additional open record time if they deem necessary. It is not unusual for hearings to be continued to a later date. This is called a continuance. Any participant can request additional time to submit additional evidence or testimony,