The elected and appointed representatives of Mill Valley need better training when they enter office. They should have the history of key issues facing our city as well as the current thinking about them. In addition, commissioners receive very little training regarding the perimeters of their jobs, applicable ordinances and state laws. A tutorial on the entire general plan, applicable laws (e.g. The Brown Act), and the specifics of the staff work being done under the purview of the respective civic agencies would provide these representatives with the needed tools to execute their jobs effectively, efficiently and thoughtfully. In addition, everyone needs a better understanding of the purpose of public meetings and the reason for public comment time (the meetings are business meetings, not referendums.)