In March 1993, the County Board approved Rules and Procedures of the Hennepin County Board of Commissioners (“Board Rules”). These rules have been amended on several past occasions: in March 1996 pursuant to Resolution No. 96­3111R2, in 2018 pursuant to Resolution No. 18­0405R2, and in 2020 pursuant to Resolution No. 20­0034R1.

In February 2017, the County Board also approved the Hennepin County Rules of Public Participation (“Public Participation Rules”) pursuant to Resolution No. 17­0051.

This item proposes changes to both documents to reflect the Board’s current practice and its transition to hybrid meetings. The changes to the Board Rules include an update to Open Forum, to continue the practice of allowing pre-recorded messages and return to Open Forum once per cycle; the continued use of roll call votes; and clarification on the timing of agenda publication and the applicability of Robert’s Rules of Order. The changes to the Public Participation Rules mirror the change to pre-recorded messages during Open Forum and reflect the transition to hybrid meetings.