A deadlocked San Diego County Board of Supervisors failed to advance a transparency measure to end the practice of creating ad-hoc subcommittees with little public insight or knowledge on Tuesday.
Supervisors Joel Anderson and Jim Desmond voted in favor of Anderson’s proposal, while their colleagues Paloma Aguirre and Monica Montgomery Steppe were opposed.
Board Chair Terra Lawson-Remer was absent from Tuesday’s meeting.
The measure will return to the board on June 25, unless the item is moved to another date.
Montgomery Steppe raised concerns about possible public safety and privacy issues for some who appear at ad-hoc subcommittee meetings, such as family members who spoke at one focusing on juvenile justice.
“If we create the same rules for different situations, then we will not have as robust policy discussions that we should have and owe the public,” the board vice chair explained. Montgomery Steppe said she didn’t realize the possibility of retaliation until the juvenile justice ad-hoc committee began its work.
“Sometimes you don’t know where you end up going when you start,” she added.
Anderson said it was possible to have a more open process while also making sure residents were protected. “I’ve made my best pitch — if you have to vote no, I certainly understand it,” he responded. However, he added: “We say we’re for transparency, and then we find all the reasons under the sun not be transparent.”