PUBLIC OUTREACH
COMMITTEE
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ACTION
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2. |
Review and Develop
Recommendation to the Board on the Revised Draft Public Outreach Plan |
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Meeting Date: |
April 3, 2008 |
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From: |
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Committee Chair |
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Prepared By: |
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SUMMARY: In the Action Item of February 26, 2008, the Committee reviewed and discussed the draft Public Outreach Plan, charging the Public Outreach Committee to “… broaden the committee’s look at the scope and substance of the draft plan… [to] enable the Committee to potentially address desired methods for communicating with the community on the SWRCB staff’s draft CDO and other key policy issues discussed at the … MPWMD strategic Planning Workshop.”
At the March 6 Public Outreach Committee meeting, the draft Public Outreach Plan was noted as being incomplete since its October 23, 2007 meeting (due to workload priority conflicts). An immediate detailed review had been deferred at the February 26 meeting due to time spent on finalizing publicity regarding the Draft Cease & Desist Order, and further work on the draft prepared by General Manager Berger was not possible due to his imminent resignation. However Committee Chair Doyle agreed to work on the draft with consultation with staff.
Director Doyle, having discussed the development of the plan with former General Manager Berger and Water Demand Manager Stephanie Pintar, and having reviewed the draft for discussion and notes from the Public Outreach Committee (dated October 23, 2007), the model public communication handbook by the Association of California Water Agencies Open and Accessible (dated 2005), the Public Education and Outreach section of the Expanded Conservation and Standby Rationing Program (dated 2008), the District’s Strategic Objectives (for February 13, 2008 through August 7, 2008) and directives from the Public Outreach Committee (dated October 23), has concluded that using the above multiple guidelines to formulate an Outreach Plan will not result in an active, practical plan to further the District’s mission or vision statements.
The Public Outreach Committee needs to take more time to establish the purpose of the Plan, define strategic issues, actual partnerships, realistic tools and methodologies, indicators of success, timetable, budget, and staff availability. The District’s Public Outreach Plan should not consist of passive information of lists of materials and partners. It needs to be thoughtfully crafted, proactive and dynamic in order to engage the public in key decision-making about water issues related to the District’s mission and objectives, particularly in light of the need to find sustainable solutions to the current water crisis.
EXHIBITS
2-A Draft Public Outreach Plan for Discussion dated March 31, 2008
U:\staff\word\committees\PubOutreach\2008\20080403\02\item2.doc