community engagement committee...
TRANSCRIPT
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CommunityEngagementCommitteeMeetingJuly10,2018–CARegionalWaterQualityControlBoard,PalmDesertPreparedbytheConsensusBuildingInstitute(CBI)
MeetinginBrief• BuildingHealthyCommunities’(BHC)EnvironmentalJustice(EJ)campaignsharedits
proposedapproachtoassisttheCommitteeandStatetodeepenengagementwithcommunitiesintheEasternCoachellaValleyinthe10-YearPlanandlongrangeplanningfortheSaltonSea.TheproposalwaswellreceivedandwillbeputintoactioninthecomingweeksincoordinationwiththeStateandCommittee.
• PhilRosentraterisleavinghispositionasCommitteeChairtochairthenewlyformedSSMPWaterQualityAdvisoryCommittee.RebeccaTerrazas-Baxter,DirectorofIntergovernmentalRelationsDirectorforImperialCounty,andSilviaPaz,DirectorofBuildingHealthyCommunitiesEasternCoachellaValley,willco-chairtheCommitteegoingforward.
• TheStatewillhostcommunityworkshopsinthefallintendedtomoreintentionallyengagelocalcommunitiesinSaltonSeaplanningandprojects.TheStatewillworkwiththeCommitteeandtheBHCEJcampaigntodesignandrollouttheworkshopstoraiseawarenessandbuildcapacityforengaginginSaltonSeaplanningwhileseekinglocalinputonplanningobjectives.
Clickhereformeetingagendaandmaterials.
ActionItemsWho What TimelineRyan/CBI EmaildraftmeetingsummarytoCommitteeforreview 7/27All EmailsuggestededitstoRyan/CBIontheDraftCommunity
EngagementCommitteeCharterand/orMeetingSummary8/3
All EmailBruceWilcoxifyouhaveadditionalsuggestionsforCommitteemembership.CopyRyan/CBI([email protected]),PhilRosentrator/SSA([email protected]).
8/3
Silvia/Sahara(BHC)
CirculateproposedengagementstudytotheCommitteeforreviewandcomments
7/27
Co-chairs Meetw/Bruce,DWR,BurkeRix,andCBItoplanfallworkshopsandbetterunderstandplanningparametersandtimeframes
8/23
Josh(BurkeRix)
CirculatetoCommitteeforinput:workshopformat/timeframesandlocations,andchartshowing2017meetingattendance
7/27
JuandeLara(SSAC)
CirculateSaltonSeapresentationasapotentialspringboardfordevelopingmaterialswithacommon,consistentmessage
7/31
EngagementCommitteeUpdates
• Thisisthefirst2018meetingofthefullCommittee,althoughaworkinggroupmettwiceinthespringtodiscusshowtoimprovetheState’sengagementwithlow-income,minoritycommunitiesconsistentwithenvironmentaljusticeprinciples.
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• Attheworkinggroup’srequest,theStatechangedthenameoftheCommitteefrom‘Outreach’to‘Engagement,’withtheintenttofocustheSSMPtheonmeaningful,two-wayengagementwithimpactedcommunitiesinCoachella,Imperial,andRiversidecounties.
• CBIandBurkeRixworkedwiththeStateandCommitteeChairtodraftaCharterfortheCommittee,emphasizingtheaboveEJprinciples,clarifyingtheCommittee’sfunctionintheSaltonSeaManagementProgram,andsettingoutCommitteerolesandresponsibilities.CommitteemembersshouldreviewtheCharterandsendsuggestededitsbytheendofJuly.
• PhilRosentraterannouncedheisleavinghispositionasCommitteeChairtochairthenewlyformedSSMPWaterQualityAdvisoryCommittee.BruceWilcoxannouncedthatRebeccaTerrazas-Baxter,DirectorofIntergovernmentalRelationsDirectorforImperialCounty,andSilviaPaz,DirectorofBuildingHealthyCommunitiesfortheEasternCoachellaValley,willco-chairtheCommitteegoingforward.Theco-chairswillmeetwiththeStateintheupcomingweekstotransitiontheleadershipandplantheCommittee’sworkwiththeStateandotherSSMPAdvisoryCommitteesgoingforward.
• TheCo-ChairswilllookintopotentiallyrotatingthemeetinglocationbetweennorthandsouthendsoftheSaltonSea,withpossiblephone-linesupportfromtheRCWQB.
ProposedEngagementApproach(BHCEJCampaign,CNRAandDWR)BHCisacollaborativebringingtogetherpartnersinsystem-changesolutions.ItsEJcampaignincludesKounkeyDesignInitiative(KDI),CaliforniaInstituteforRuralStudies(CIRS),Audubon,SierraClub,CoachellaUnincorporated(CU),andLomaLindaUniversity(LLU).TheBHCnetworkalsoincludesvariousEJgroupsandnon-profitsaswellaslocalyouth.BHCandtheStatehavediscussedwaysinwhichtobuildoncurrentandpastoutreacheffortsoftheStateandComitéCívicodelValletoincreasetwo-wayengagementwithlocalcommunities,particularlyintheEasternCoachellaValley.TheStatehasinvitedtheBHCteamtoproviderecommendationstosupportthiseffort.BHCandKDIsharedthisapproachwiththeCommittee.Committeemembersagreedthatmeaningfulengagementshouldinclude,amongotherthings:
• Helpingconnectlocalcommunitieswithwhat’shappeningattheSeaandsolicittheirinputonplanninganddesignprioritiesatcriticaljunctions
• Priortocommunityworkshops,communicatethepurposeandwhyitmightbeimportantforlocalresidents,andlaythegroundworksopeopleunderstandthetechnicalconceptsandarepreparedtoparticipatemeaningfully
• UnderstandStateparametersandmilestonesinprojectplanningandworkwiththeStatetoidentifyopportunitiesforlocalcommunitiesinSaltonSeaprojects
• ProvideclearexpectationsofhowlocalinputwillbeconsideredintheState’splanningefforts,withasubsequentexplanationofhowinputwasinfactconsideredand/orused.
BHCwillcirculateitswrittenproposalwiththeCommittee.Itoutlinesa3-4monthprocesstostudyexistingneedsanddeveloprecommendationstotheStateforameaningfulcommunityengagementplanthatiscloselyintegratedintotheoverallSaltonSeaManagementProgram.ManyCommitteememberswillbeinterviewedaspartoftheprocess.Questionswillhelpprobewhatengagementshouldlooklikeandhowpartnerscancontributetotheseeffortsonmultiplescales(e.g.,IIDincludingworkshopinformationoncustomer’smonthlybills).Theengagementeffortwouldbeintegratedinto,andwouldhelpinform,boththe10-YearPlanandtheState’slong-rangeplanningfortheSea.TheBHCproposalissupportedbyindependentfunding.
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Discussionincludedthefollowing:• Committeememberswereenthusiasticabouttheproposedapproachandexpressedinterest
inbeingupdatedabout,andasinvolvedaspossiblein,BHC’sstudyandrecommendations.• MembersnotedthatComitéCívicodelValle’s(CCV)outreachcampaignthispastyear,under
contractwiththeState,hashelpededucatemanylocalcommunities,layingthegroundworkformoremeaningfulengagement.Thishasalsospurredexcitingnewefforts,suchasanewstudentformedgroupatImperialValleyCollegecalled“IVCSavetheSaltonSeaGroup”.
• It’simportantforthecommunitytounderstandrealisticparametersfromtheState,includingwhattypesofprojectsmaybesuitabletoincorporatingrecreationalamenities.
• Committeemembersemphasizedthedistinctneedsofdifferentcommunities,andthatengagementeffortswillneedtobeadjustedaccordingly.TheBHCeffortwillalsoneedtobecoordinatedwiththeoutreachworkofCCV,bothsubstantivelyandgeographically.
• TheStateacknowledgedtheneedtoimplementimmediate10-Year-PlanprojectssuchasSCH,whilebuildinginaprocessforlocalinputonprojectsayearormoredowntheline.TheStatealsodiscussedthepossibilityofrequiringapublicengagementcomponentofdesign-buildcontractsinthefuture.TheStatewillexplorethiswithBHCintheupcomingstudy.
• Inordertofocuslocalinputonconcrete10-YearPlanprojects(wherethat’sthefocus)andnotbecomesidetrackedwithlong-termsolutions,it’susefultodifferentiatebetweentimeframes,e.g.,10-Yearconceptsvs.longer-termsolutions.
StateUpdates• ImperialCountyandRiversideCountyhavesignedanon-bindingMOUforthePerimeter
Lake,whichhaslongbeenapotentiallong-termproject.TheStateisalsomeetingwithTetraTechandtheCountyontheNorthLakePlanandhowtopulltogethertheCountyandStateseparatebutsimilarNorthLakeplans.
• EarlWithycombefromtheCaliforniaAirResourcesBoardsuggestedthatwindblowndustislikelytobeanissueraisedatupcomingcommunityworkshopsandisobviouslyamajorlocalconcern.ItwouldbeusefulforIIDcouldprepareashortpresentationtoanswerquestionsaboutthis,basedonits2016-17studythatwaspublishedtwoweeksago.EmmanuelMartinezsuggestedIIDwouldprovideapresentationtoaddressthis.TheStaterecommendedthatEarlalsoincludenewfindingsinthepresentation.
UpcomingCommunityWorkshopsTheStatehasintendedtoholdworkshopsinthefalltogivethepublicanopportunitytoprovideinputonthe10-YearPlanprojectsandofferpreliminaryinputoninterestsandprioritiesforintheLong-RangePlan.TheStatewantstheCommittee’sinputonhowtobestengagethepublicattheseworkshopsandhowtoaddressboth10-Yearandlong-rangeplanninggoals.UnlikepasttheState’sworkshops,theStateplanstohaveamoredynamic,participatoryopen-housestyleformat,withhands-onexhibitsforeachforeachofthe10-YearPlanprojectsthattheStatehasidentifiedasbeingbestsuitedtoincorporatecommunityorrecreationalfacingamenities.TheintentistogetabetterunderstandingofhowthedifferentcommunitiesvaluetheSeaandwhatkindofopportunitieswouldbebeneficial.Attendeeswouldgetamoredetailedunderstandingoftheprojects,beabletousepost-itsontheexhibitdiagrams/maps,andaskone-on-onequestions.Oneoftheexhibitswouldfocussolelyonlong-rangeplanning,solicitinginputonthecriteriathatwouldinformalong-rangesolution.(Thiswouldnotincludespecificwaterimportproposalsperse.)Briefupdatesonthe10-YearPlan,especiallytheRiverside/ImperialCountyMOU,NorthLakeplans,and
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recentairqualitystudy,wouldbesummarizedinashortpresentationatthebeginningoftheworkshops.TheStatewillincorporateBHC’sanalysisandrecommendations,andCommitteeinput,intotheplanningoftheseworkshops.Basedonthis,theStatewillbringanupdatedworkshopproposaltothecommitteeforinputinlatesummer.Inthemeantime,pleaseprovideinputtoJoshZippermanfromBurkeRixonformat,timingandlogisticsfortheworkshops.(Joshcirculatedadraftagendaandtableoutliningpossiblevenuesanddates/timesfortheworkshop,alongwithlogisticalconsiderationssuchastranslation.)TheStatehopesCommitteememberswillhelpwithpre-workshopoutreachandengagementeffortsincludingcanvassing,socialmedia,communityevents,andtappingintovariouscommunity/religious/youthgroups.Discussionandquestionsincludedthefollowing:
• MembersagreedthattheOpenHouseformatismoreengaging.FIELDrecommendspotentiallyhavingtworoundsofmeetingsatthesamevenuetoestablishfamiliarityandallowthepublictocomebackwithclarifiedideasandquestions.FIELDstaffcanhelpwithoutreach.Allcommitteemembersshouldbeactivelyinvolved.
• BHCagreesthefirstphaseofoutreachshouldbeinformational,andledbygroupswithconnectionsinthecommunities.Thiscouldleadtoacoregroupofinterestedstakeholderswhocandevelopmorein-depthunderstandingbeforetheworkshop.WhilehostingtworoundsofworkshopswouldposearesourcechallengefortheState,it’spossiblethatcommunitygroupscanhelpsupportthiseffort.Weshouldconsiderwhetherourcommunitygroupswillbeabletolaythisgroundworkpriortotheworkshops,orshouldthisroundofworkshopsprovidethatbaselevelofunderstanding?Ifso,it’spossiblethetimeframeforcommunityinputcouldgetdelayed,butitwillbeimportanttoseeifthisisanissuewithDWR’sprojectdeadlines.
• Intermsoflocations,CommitteemembersaskedJoshtoprovideasummaryofattendanceinthelastroundofcommunityworkshops.Joshwillcirculatethis.NotethatMeccaandBrawleyhadlowattendance,thoughbetterlocationscouldhelpwithturnout.
PublicComments• MembersofEco-MediaCompassemphasizedtheneedtostrategicallyusetheSaltonSea
budget,withafocusonincreasedwatertotheSea.TheyadditionallyhighlightedtheneedforcoordinationintheECVandrequestedthattheresponsestotheState’sRFIbevisuallysharedwithlocalresidents.
MeetingAttendeesSeveralcommunity,Tribal,andagencystakeholdersattendedthemeeting,inadditiontothefollowingCommitteemembersandstatestaffliaisons.
StateofCaliforniaBruceWilcox,AssistantSecretaryfortheSaltonSeaVivienMaisonneuve,DWR
MembersAttending(somebyphone)Present ✓ Patricia Cooper RiversideCounty✓ Maria Davydova RWQCB
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✓ ALT Juan DeLara SaltonSeaActionCommittee(SSAC)✓ ALT Lauren Elachi KounkueyDesignInitiative
Debi Elton SeaandDesertInterpretiveCenter Diana Enriquez CabazonBandofMissionIndians Sarah Friedman SierraClubCalifornia
✓ ALT Miguel Hernandez ComitéCívicodelValle(CCV)✓ ALT Sahara Huazano BuildingHealthyCommunitiesEasternCoachellaValley
Genevieve Johnson BureauofReclamationLowerColoradoRegion✓ Philip Johnson SaltonSeaAuthority✓ Emmanuel Martinez ImperialIrrigationDistrict✓ Patricia Meister SeaandDesertInterpretiveCenter Kerry Morrison EcoMediaCompass✓ Joe Mota FIELDInstitute✓ Luis Olmedo ComitéCívicodelValle(CCV) Marco Perez 29PalmsBandofMorongoIndians✓ Phil Rosentrater SaltonSeaAuthority(CommitteeChair–Outgoing)✓ Silvia Paz BuildingHealthyCommunitiesCoachellaValley(incomingCo-Chair) Alex Rodriguez DCGPublicAffairs✓ Frank Ruiz AudubonCalifornia
� ✓ Altrena Santillanes TorresMartinezDesertCahuillaIndians✓ Darren Simon SDCWA Dennis Stephen CaliforniaStateParks
✓ ALT Tom Sephton EcoMediaCompass Drew Story UCRiverside✓
RebeccaTerrazas-Baxter CountyofImperial(incomingCo-Chair)
✓ ALT Thomas Tortez TorresMartinezDesertCahuillaIndians✓ Jennifer Toy KounkueyDesignInitiative(KDI)
StateConsultantJoshZipperman,SeniorAssociate,BurkeRixCommunicationsCynthiaOrozco,Associate,BurkeRixCommunications
FacilitatorCBIFacilitatorRyanGolten,[email protected],303-880-9521