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A baseball game fields nine players defending a field of play against batters and baserunners of an opposite team who attempt to move from home plate through three bases and back to home plate again. A ball is thrown between a pitcher and catcher, successfully (strike) or unsuccessfully (ball), attempting to elude a batter who tries to hit the ball within field boundaries or over an ultimate boundary. A group of umpires and referees determine if play is consistent with the rules of the game. The process and eventual outcome are the result of skill and knowledge, mixed with opportunity and, to some degree, luck.

In all sports, a special group of people study the rules of a game and act as ultimate arbiters of whether they are being correctly followed. It isn’t always clear when rules are broken, so if someone is asked to make a judgement call that can have extreme consequences, deciding the outcome of a contest, it is important to have a high level of confidence in the knowledge and expertise of those individuals. As the stakes increase, outcomes become highly scrutinized and subject to interpretation. Not everyone agrees with all decisions, but it is understood that without constraints, decisions would be argued indefinitely and deferred without resolution. The result would be chaos.

Our entire system of government is based on the same principle… rules and procedures are essential. They depend on reasonable expectations observed by a majority, subject to appeal with cause and consequences if broken. From an ordinance at the municipal level through every layer of public administration, the rule of law and stated process is designed to give guidance to the general population and a sense of order; the bedrock of our society. In order to give the public confidence in the results of deliberations, a clear and understandable process is important. In order to achieve this, public meetings and hearings are held to weigh arguments of interested parties. Without adequate input, the process degenerates into ideological corridors of power.

The public has an obligation to pay attention to the issues and concerns raised by fellow citizens and deliberative bodies. It may be that some issues have little immediate direct impact on residents, but even small, indirect concerns have a way of accumulating and aggregating to become consequential. The same can be said for our politicians, especially at the local level. Along with the power to make and modify rules and regulations, our elected representatives and their staff have an obligation to understand existing guidelines and consider requested and necessary modifications. It is incumbent on the electorate to assess the sincerity and capacity of those entrusted with this responsibility.

Recently, a special board meeting was held by the Alameda County Water District (ACWD) to consider an opportunity to purchase, singly or in partnership the 50,500-acre N3 Cattle Ranch in Livermore. Board members are being asked to consider a major purchase that can impact water supply, quality and storage. Impacts of such a transaction could have a major effect on supplies, district prioritization, rates and debt. Although currently under study, this is the type of key decision that depends on the expertise of our elected representatives and public interest to assure a rational and fiscally responsible outcome. The public is being asked to scrutinize, comment and help judge the viability and wisdom of a major decision. Although there may be no way to know whether this is a future ball or strike, it is now on our field of play.