CENTRAL SACRAMENTO COUNTY GROUNDWATER FORUM
Adopted: May 23,
2002
The Groundwater Forum shall be composed of representatives of the following six interest groups.
· Agriculture
· Agriculture/residential groundwater users (ag/res)
· Business
· Environmental and community organizations
· Local government / public agencies
· Water purveyors.
The various interest groups which are a part of the Groundwater Forum vary widely in how they are organized and how they function. For example, water purveyors serving the central County area are clearly identifiable entities and the governing boards of these entities will appoint their representatives to the Groundwater Forum. At the same time, there is no entity or organization to which all ag/res users belong. As a result of this diversity, some individuals who are members of the Groundwater Forum may represent not only their interest group but they also speak on behalf of the specific entity or organization which appoints them. Other individuals participating in the Groundwater Forum represent a particular interest group or point of view but do not have an affiliation with any specific entity or organization.
The roster of Groundwater Forum members shall designate those representatives who are appointed by a specific entity and those who serve as a “representative at large”. In all aspects of the Groundwater Forum’s functioning, however, including decision-making (see Section 7 below), all participants share the same rights and responsibilities.
3. Responsibilities
of Groundwater Forum members.
The responsibilities of Groundwater Forum members include:
· Attend all meetings except when urgent and unavoidable business makes it impossible to do so. This is vital throughout the process. During the Education Phase, it will be critically important for all members to develop a shared understanding of the facts concerning the groundwater basin. During the Resolution of Issues Phase, all members must be on hand to articulate the interests of their constituency and participate in collaborative decision-making.
If a member must be absent, they shall designate an alternate who is empowered to participate in the Forum process (including participation in less-than-consensus decision making, if necessary). During the absence of the member, it is the responsibility of the alternate to keep the member fully apprised of all facts concerning the basin and all activities of the Groundwater Forum. (If both the member and alternate are in attendance at the same meeting, the alternate may participate in discussion, etc. But if less-than-consensus decision making is initiated, only the member may vote.)
In addition, Groundwater Forum members will:
· Listen carefully and candidly discuss issues with those holding differing views
· Avoid stereotyping and/or personal attacks on other individuals or entities
· View disagreements as problems to be solved, not battles to be won.
4. Communication
and accountability between Groundwater Forum members and their constituencies.
Without the support of the interest groups/constituencies represented in the Groundwater Forum, recommendations concerning the groundwater basin will have little chance of being approved and implemented by the appropriate public agencies and other entities. Therefore, Groundwater Forum members must maintain a high level of communication with their constituencies throughout the process, keeping them apprised of on-going discussions and providing feedback to the Forum.
· Those Groundwater Forum members appointed by a specific entity or organization must keep their appointing board fully informed in a timely manner concerning proposals under consideration and transmit board comments/concerns, as needed.
· Groundwater Forum members serving on a “representative at large” basis must, through their community contacts and involvement, keep current with the concerns of their interest group and define and explain these concerns to other Groundwater Forum members.
· In addition, all Groundwater Forum members will conscientiously implement any more formalized communication programs or strategies approved by the Groundwater Forum as a whole.
· Assuming that the Groundwater Forum makes specific recommendations with which a Groundwater Forum member agrees, each member will do everything possible to secure the endorsement/support of their appointing board and/or interest group and will work collaboratively to obtain the approval and implementation of recommendations by publicly elected boards, as needed.
5. Interest
Group Associates
In addition to the five representatives for each of the six interest groups and their alternates, each interest group may include “interest group associate(s)”. An interest group associate is an individual who has a legitimate interest in the work of the Groundwater Forum and specialized knowledge or experience that may be helpful to other members of the interest group or to the Groundwater Forum as a whole. An interest group associate may participate directly in Forum or interest group meetings but does not take part in Forum decision making (as set forth in Section 7 below).
6. Observers
Observers may be present during Groundwater Forum meetings and they shall comply with all Ground Rules. As the Forum has only limited time to complete its work at each meeting, observers may address the Forum only as stipulated in the following paragraph.
If any observer has a specific concern related to the work of the Groundwater Forum which they wish to bring to the attention of Forum members, they will be asked to discuss that item with the appropriate interest group representatives who will then convey their concern to the Groundwater Cluster. (If the observer does not have an identifiable interest group, they will discuss their concern with Forum staff who will convey their concern to the Groundwater Cluster.) The Groundwater Cluster will determine what action should be taken to address the observer’s concern which may include affording them an opportunity to address the Forum directly at a subsequent meeting.
The Forum may invite specific individuals to participate in a meeting in order to have the benefit of technical information or assistance what that individual is able to provide to the Forum.
7. Decision
making.
Groundwater Forum members shall strive for consensus (agreement among all participants) in all its decisions and recommendations. In reaching consensus, some members may strongly support a particular item, while others merely accept it as workable. This still constitutes consensus.
However, in certain circumstances, one hundred percent agreement may not be reached even after all interests and options have been thoroughly discussed and considered. Less-than-consensus decision-making shall not be undertaken lightly but if it becomes necessary, the following shall apply.
· A member who disagrees with a particular item or proposal shall have an opportunity to “stand aside” and let the rest of the Groundwater Forum reach consensus. This may be done silently by letting a proposal stand without spoken support or approval or it may be done verbally by noting both disagreement AND willingness to stand aside and allow other members to form a consensus.
· If a member disagrees with a proposal and cannot stand aside, the following shall apply:
Ţ two-thirds of the members (20 out of 30) of the Groundwater Forum must approve the proposal
AND
Ţ the two-thirds majority must include at least two members of
each interest group.
8. Communications
outside of the Groundwater Forum and guidelines concerning contacts with the
press and other media.
When discussing any aspect of the Groundwater Forum’s work with anyone outside the process (including representatives of the media), Forum members and alternates should present their own views only and should conscientiously refrain from characterizing or prejudging the views of others.
Groundwater Forum members shall not seek out the press and, if contacted by the press or other media representatives, they shall avoid debate in the media concerning any aspect of the Forum’s work because such debate could do serious harm to a process which is based on frank discussion in a setting engendering mutual confidence and trust.
Representatives of the press and/or other media may wish to attend meetings of the Groundwater Forum. If they do so, they will be asked to identify themselves and to abide by the Ground Rules adopted by the Forum.
It is understood that representatives of the media may be present in other settings when a Forum member must publicly comment on the progress of the Forum’s work. At such times, the Forum member shall:
· Be aware of the complex and delicate nature of a collaborative process
· Present their own views only
· Convey a positive tone whenever possible.
(Any contact with the media should be reported to Forum staff on the day it occurs, or as soon thereafter as possible, so that they can ensure appropriate follow-up. Staff should be told whom the Forum member spoke with, what media outlet they represent, what information they were seeking and what information the Forum member provided. Also, the Forum member should note any follow-up that may be necessary and what the deadline for such follow-up may be.)
If at any time, the Groundwater Forum members decide to issue a statement to the press on any aspect of their work, or to initiate any other contact with the media, such a statement or contact must have the prior explicit approval of Forum members.
9. Enforcement
of these Ground Rules.
It is the joint responsibility of Groundwater Forum members, Forum staff and the facilitator/mediator to assure that these Ground Rules are observed and enforced. Forum members may revise or amend these Ground Rules as needed.