(SAN RAMON, CA.) --- Communications Manager Samone Finney offered elected officials a "roadmap" for the future of San Ramon's social media reach among residents.
Recently promoted to the position, Finney has ambitious goals that she detailed last night at the regularly scheduled meeting.
But before Finney's colorful presentation, last night's agenda began with a discussion about communication with Greg Carr.
The former mayor, councilman, "criticized the agenda's wording for consent calendar items, suggesting 'review and if appropriate approve' instead of simply 'approve' to reflect council's active involvement rather than appearing as a 'rubber stamp," according to OpGov.ai's coverage of last night's meeting.
The platform has followed Carr's presence before elected officials, which began last year more regularly.
Additionally, the platform picked up that Carr had issue the "brief, general description as required by open meeting laws, making it difficult for the public to know what would be discussed."
“You're actively involved in looking at each of these items, and then you come down here to deliberate and approve or not,” Carr said, suggesting better verbiage. "After should be review and if appropriate approve…accept whatever that implies that you've got some skin in the game.”
Greg Carr addresses Mayor Armstrong and the city council last night
If you don't correct the way it reads, residents may get the wrong idea about what I personally believe is going on.
“It's not just approve, implying that the staff is telling you what to do," Carr told them.
Communication remained a key discussion with Finney's presentation soon after as noted in the meeting summary.
"Critically, while the council initiated a 'Communications Roadmap' to improve engagement, public comments highlighted a profound disconnect, particularly regarding the accessibility and transparency of city processes and the perceived influence of developers," OpGov.ai reports. "Several public speakers vehemently criticized the high appeal fees and lack of accessible information, with one commenter even quoting the Mayor's past remarks suggesting that appeals without prior political alignment are likely futile, exposing a potential systemic bias against resident input."
San Ramon Communications Samone Finney
Carr was not the only one with an issue.
After announcing my run for assembly, as noted in the OpGov.ai snapshot below, I return to discuss communication with several citizens after Carr's first comment.
Then I stepped up to the podium.
My platform actually is shorter and clearer than my exact words, so this is what I told the council.
"Chirag responded to previous comments, especially regarding NextDoor misinformation and lack of council engagement. He referenced Measure G, stating that 25 people spoke, but the issue was 'closed in the consent calendar," the platform reports. "He argued that council members can personally respond on NextDoor but have not, leading to a lack of hope among residents and low attendance at meetings. He called for open communication and the ability for the council to respond to public comments."
That's what I said in fewer words, not wasting your time or mine.
If you want to talk about San Ramon's communication with me, email me. I would love to talk.
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