Discuss and provide direction regarding city, county, and public alternate members sitting at the dais to enhance participation at LAFCo meetings

1. Invite alternate members to sit at the dais and fully participate in meeting discussion (and not vote unless a regular member is either absent or recuses themselves). Or, if space is a concern, alternate members could sit at the staff/press table immediately across from the dais with access to a shared cordless microphone. 
2. Direct staff to update the Yolo LAFCo Administrative Policies and Procedures accordingly. 

During the June 5, 2024, Ad Hoc Personnel Subcommittee interviews for new public members, there was a discussion regarding other boards countywide having alternates sit at the dais during meetings, and that it could be a benefit for alternate member participation and continuity, in addition to the Commission benefiting from broader input and perspectives. Therefore, this item has been scheduled for Commission consideration and potential change to our practice. 

Yolo LAFCo has always welcomed alternates to participate in meetings, but from the audience, which is limiting. Staff queried selected other LAFCos and they all encourage alternate participation to varying degrees, either from the audience, staff table, or the dais. As many other LAFCos have special districts on the commission, they are often 7 regular members with 4 alternates, so space constraints on the dais are the driving issue when considering where alternates sit. The consensus opinion was to elevate alternates to the dais if space allowed. 

Staff is reaching out to our current alternate city, county, and public members for input. On one hand, it would be beneficial to enhance the ability of our alternate members to participate in meeting discussion to broaden perspectives, improve member continuity, etc. However, it could also raise expectations that alternates attend most or all meetings (10 per year), which may stretch city and county alternate members in particular even more.