Meetings

Stewardship Planning Advisory Group

This group attempts to meet every 3rd Monday of the month. Pls. RSVP with Alice Ringer by email: aringer@valleywater.org or by phone call:408-2652607X3133. Agendas are posted 3 working days ahead. Notes are posted 5 working days after the meeting.

MISSION

Provide a discussion forum for the preparation of three stewardship plans for West Valley, Lower Peninsula and Guadalupe Watersheds

BACKGROUND

In early 2002, the Coyote Stream Stewardship Planning Workgroup under the Flood Management Subgroup concluded its work in assisting the development of the Coyote Watershed Stream Stewardship Plan. Their work strengthened the District proposal for developing three additional stewardship plans. As a result, the District was awarded a CALFED Watershed Program grant, and was in need of a discussion forum the efforts. In April 2002, the Santa Clara Basin Watershed Management Initiative established the Stewardship Planning Advisory Group, formerly known as the Stewardship Planning Workgroup, to provide a discussion forum for the preparation of three stewardship plans for West Valley, Lower Peninsula and Guadalupe Watersheds. The group is co-chaired by a District's staff along with WMI Core Group member. It took about 18 months to get the funding in place. The team started formally in Nov. 2003, and has been working with stakeholders through the Stewardship Planning Advisory Group, complemented by one-on-one meetings, other targeted outreach efforts, as well as a web-based information system sharing working products as the team progresses.

TASKS

1. Assist District’s team (including consultant) in the visioning process, as well as other outreach     efforts to solicit input from stakeholders
2. Provide input to various deliverables from the District’s team in a timely manner
3. Advise on and contribute to problem-solving processes for issues identified by the     consultant
4. Assist in prioritization and decision-making processes
5. Bring SPW experience into other WMI-related work

THE NEED FOR CLARIFYING THE CHARTER

As the team progresses, the WMI concluded its 7-year watershed planning efforts and transitioned into the implementation stage. This document clarifies the purposes and outcomes of the stakeholder group, ultimately helping the District to produce a quality product and affords the WMI the opportunities to endorse efforts that they feel that they could endorse in furtherance of the WMI vision and the Watershed Action Plan implementation.

REFERENCE

Purpose Outcomes

A. Information Exchange Improved communication and understanding; lists of concerns and/or options; better definitions problems or issues

B. Feedback/Consultation Opinions or suggestions for action are obtained; plans or drafts are refined

C. Agreement-seeking or     decision-making Agreements on actions or policies are reached; consensus is developed

Source: SPIDR Environmental/Public Disputes Sector Critical Issues Committee. Jan. 1997. Best Practices for Government Agencies. Guidelines for Using Collaborative
Agreement-Seeking Processes.

Issue/Interest Clarifications Notes

Ownership of the Product Santa Clara Valley Water District Recognizing the WMI’s support strengthens the District’s proposal in getting the CALFED grant, the plans were intended to be a staff-level effort and not decision-documents, typically signified by formal District Board Approval/Adoption. The Stewardship Plans are not a WMI-owned product.

Purpose of the Stakeholder Group Provide stakeholder forum/input. The Advisory Group serves as the main stakeholder group for the planning efforts. It is co-chaired by District Staff and a WMI Core Group member.

Type of Decision Making The Advisory Group does not make decisions, they provide feedback/
consultation to the District Team.
Stakeholders have access to work products throughout the process to provide input/ advice.

Process for Comments and Decisions There is a process in place for submitting comments. The District makes final decisions. Recognizing limited resources/time limitations, the District won’t be able to provide a point-by-point response on all comments.
The District will strive to identify or document key concerns and issues that appear to be critical.

Type of Action by Core Group Endorsement of the Plans would be an agreement–seeking effort by the Core Group. The expectation for WMI Endorsement was first mentioned at the Dec. 10, 2005 COS meeting. Should the District decide to seek endorsement of the plans from the Core Group, the Core Group will apply its Consensus Decision/Minority Report in deciding whether or not to endorse the plans.