Tonight at 5:30 p.m. at Franklin High School, Seattle residents will get a second chance to offer personal testimony and suggest criteria for the search committee hunt for Seattle's next police chief. I attended the first meeting and it was a little rough going. Committee members outnumbered members of the public by more than two to one.

"We're trying to provide a wide range of ways for the community to participate," says Kate Joncas, co-chair of the 28-member committee to seek out viable candidates. In addition to a dedicated web page and public phone line, "all the neighborhood service centers have forms you can fill out, too," she says. "We have a long list of community groups we want to get out and touch."

At this point, Joncas won't comment on how the search is going, saying that it's "too early to tell." What criteria is she looking for? She can't comment for the committee, she says, however she's also instructed search committee members to refer reporters to her. If you want to hear how it's going, Joncas advises attending the public hearing tonight. Helpful.

This meeting marks the second of three hearings meant to foster dialogue and interest in the process (the third meeting will be held Friday, February 26 with language interpreters on hand). In May, the committee expects to interview the top 10-15 candidates from a nationwide pool of applicants. In early June, they expect to make their recommendation of top three candidates to the Seattle's City Council's Safety and Education Committee.