County Surveyor Forum

[JasonCamit]

I was wondering if City Surveyor's are allowed to become members of the County Surveyor Forum? It seems that if you are a City Surveyor that you are dealing with similar Planning/Zoning/Subdivision topics of discussion that the members of the County Surveyor Forum are involved in, with the exception of Record of Survey reviews.

[Mr. Smith]

Good question, does admin have any thoughts?

[JasonCamit]

I just sent the Administrator this question. I'll let you know what they say.

[dedkad]

I already asked a few months back. They told me "no." I completely agree with you that we are dealing with many of the same issues, and it frustrates me that we cannot use that forum as a resource. Maybe if enough of us ask, they will change their mind. Unless the County Surveyors object, I don't see why admin would care if City Surveyors also have access to that forum.

[Warren Smith]

I'll chime in. After having been a City Surveyor for 22 years, the topics in the County Surveyors' forum are of interest in some areas such as map processing and the like.
The boundary issues might be a bit more involved, but it's good to know. The common issues relate to public service - monument preservation for example.
The feedback from local agencies should be good for us CS types as well.

[JasonCamit]

Dedkad,
Did the administrator give you a reason? I am suppose to get an answer sometime soon. They are checking into it today.

I would hope all can see the benefit of the dialogue that would occur on the similar issues that we all deal with. I regularly correspond with other City Surveyors and County Surveyors in my area. They do not have any problem with open discussion and sharing information. Having that same dialogue with County and City surveyors all over the state could only help with sharing interpretations on the PLS and SMA acts, as well as, boundary, planning, zoning, map review practices, monument conservation and preservation practices, as Mr. Smith mentioned.

I'm open to discuss pros and cons. Perhaps I am overlooking the cons?

[Mr. Smith]

I have no problem sending the admin. a copy of my contract with the Cities.
maybe that would get us in to the CS group.

I still have a fundamental problem with the secrete forums where full and fateful
members can not participate.

Brian

[mpallamary]

I agree:

I still have a fundamental problem with the secret forums where members can not participate.

[Peter Ehlert]

I think the only problem is that those private discussion areas are on the Public menu.
it is kind of like going into a restaurant and being told "you can't have that".
Just do some simple redesign of the forum front page, done deal.

Private conversations are important. If someone wishes to have you join in you can be invited. If you did not know, you would not be asking... again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again and again

[mpallamary]

Peter, for consideration. The forum is paid for out of membership dues. We, as members own the forum. It is a problem for many hard working people to pay for something they cannot use or see what is going on. That is a huge problem and it presents a number of problems. Giving the large number of forums that the general membership does not have access to is unfair and improper. It is not an issue of privacy; it is an issue of right.

Why should an individual who is paying to finance the use of the forum be prohibited from viewing it? There are far too many aspects of CLSA wherein the membership is banned from viewing or participating in.

[mpallamary]

It is disheartening when things like this happen. It is not healthy for any organization.

[Mr. Smith]

Peter I agree secrets are a part of life, but those can be handled by private email or phone or another blog paid for by
others, not CLSA.

Just my opinion I,am not thinking about abandoning ship over this.

[dedkad]

Dedkad,
Did the administrator give you a reason?

No. They just told me the forum is reserved for County Surveyors only.

[Berk Blake, PLS CA]

Who decided that this forum needed to provide the county surveyors a private messaging system? They have many ways of communicating amongst themselves and they can certainly afford to start their own forum. IMHO