(a)
Within 20 days of publication of the notice of intent to petition at a duly noticed meeting of the board, the filing petitioner shall provide a notice of a proposed meeting schedule to all interested stakeholders for the purposes of holding a meeting or series of prepetition meetings for the purposes described in this section.
(b)
Within 45 days of provision of service of a copy of the notice of intent to petition or the reading of the notice of intent to petition at a duly noticed meeting of the board, whichever is earlier, the filing petitioner shall hold at least one meeting with all interested stakeholders.
(c)
All parties shall make a good faith effort to schedule as many meetings as reasonably necessary to achieve the purpose of the meetings during the notice of intent to petition period.
(d)
The purpose of the meetings during the notice of intent to petition period shall be to clarify the issues presented in the notice of intent to petition, to explore means of narrowing and simplifying the issues as much as possible, and to consider areas of substantive agreement and substantive
disagreement.
(e)
All parties shall identify the potential for joint stipulations, joint petition, or partial stipulation on issues and joint petition during prepetition meetings.
(f)
Interested parties may choose amongst themselves to arrange meetings at their own discretion and cost, including arrangements for mediators or alternative dispute resolution processes if desired.
(g)
The prepetition meetings required pursuant to this section are not public meetings. Public notice of these meetings is not required other than as described in this section.
(h)
Members of the board or staff of the board shall not attend any prepetition meetings held pursuant to this
section.
