Cayuga Lake Watershed Restoration And Protection Plan

Introduction

The IO will be overseeing the implementation of the Cayuga Lake Watershed Restoration and Protection Plan (RPP). To ensure that implementation of the RPP is maximized a Consultant/Organization Facilitator has been hired. The Organizational Facilitator/Consultant (Consultant) will work closely with the IO and other key stakeholder groups in the watershed to identify the structural characteristics of a self-sustaining organization capable of advancing the following goals and objectives:

1. Studies and Investigations

• Meet with a subcommittee of the Cayuga Lake Intermunicipal Organization (IO) to understand its current structure and associated benefits and problems
• Based on input from the IO, the Cayuga Lake Watershed Network and other stakeholder groups and agencies, determine what functions an implementing organization will be required to perform and identify any potential watershed partner organizations and groups currently suited to fulfill those requirements
• Facilitate the IO as they determine the financial and legal relationships among stakeholder groups; the willingness of watershed municipalities to participate in an intermunicipal organization; and, future funding needs
• Conduct a comparative analysis of other multi-jurisdictional organizations in New York State and evaluate against the structure of the IO
• Develop a list of private and public funding sources

2. Maintain active communication with IO subcommittee
3. Attend monthly IO meetings and provide progress report updates
4. Provide a list of structural recommendations to the IO for comment and feedback
5. Assist the IO as they develop a model for determining IO membership dues
6. Incorporate IO comments and feedback and prepare draft report for IO approval that includes suggestions for changes to the existing bylaws as indicated
7. Prepare final report containing organizational recommendations

Consultant activities, determined in consultation with DEC-Region 7, the IO and the Consultant, may consist of the following priorities during the funding period (June-October, 2001). It should be noted, that because a main objective of this program is to allow flexibility and responsiveness to issues that may arise from the organizational structural analysis, it is possible and acceptable that tasks may change as the program progresses. Tasks identified in this section are reflective of the anticipated direction of the Consultant’s program. Any modifications will be made in consultation with the project administrator (Central New York Regional Planning & Development Board) and NYSDEC-Region 7.

The following sections list the anticipated tasks under the program, which can be grouped generally into three categories (Communications and Administration; Studies and Investigations; and Recommendations and Reporting):

Communications And Administration

DEC Region 7 and the IO have identified activities that they would like to have conducted by the Consultant. The activities envisioned are noted below. These could change and are ultimately based on needs defined between DEC Region 7, CNY RPDB, and resources available to supplement them.

1. Establish regular communication mechanisms with the IO and its sub-committees including attendance at monthly meetings, phone and e-mail access and mailings as needed.
2. Set agendas and time frames and structure task groups as determined useful or desirable by the IO. Anticipated activities include:

• Administrative Assistance – This will entail organizing, planning and facilitating three half-day strategic planning sessions and structured discussions, e.g., conference phone calls, workshops, provision of reading material as deemed appropriate, and preparation and distribution of written preparatory and summary documentation materials for each strategy session. Half-day strategic planning sessions will focus on the following: 1) Objective setting, resource assessment, decision criteria setting; 2) Consideration of options, consultations with experts, e.g., funding formulas; 3) Review of draft recommendations, determination of action steps. One half-day strategic planning session will be held in each area (1, 2, 3). Smaller forums and other communications as needed will supplement strategic planning sessions.

• Facilitation Assistance – This will entail facilitating communication efforts between the IO, its members and other watershed partners that may be necessary for decision-making. This will also entail working directly with the IO to guide them in determining existing relationships among stakeholder groups, the willingness of watershed municipalities to participate in an intermunicipal organization and the development of a model for determining municipal membership dues.

3. Contract funds will also cover reporting and administration needs of the contract. The consultant is required to submit monthly progress reports and claims. Monthly reports will include documentation of: work accomplished during the reporting period; status of each task; financial status of project; problems encountered and how resolved; description of task modifications and corresponding CNY RPDB approvals; and work anticipated in the upcoming month. The final monthly progress report will be the final report for the project.

Studies and investigations can be grouped into three categories (IO Related; Other Watershed Management Agency/Stakeholder Related; and Funding Related). Activities are envisioned to include:

IO Related:

1. Assess the IO’s organizational landscape (past, current and preferred future) including structural strengths and weaknesses; tasks; authority and accountability; current relationships with other organizations; and, areas for improvement. It is anticipated that this will involve review of IO publications, meeting minutes, the draft and final RPP, conducting individual interviews with IO members and other watershed partner groups, attending monthly meetings and developing, distributing and analyzing a mail questionnaire in preparation for the first strategic planning meeting in July.
2. Determine the functions an implementing organization will be required to perform and assess against the IO’s perception of its own future mission, objectives, tasks, authority and accountability.
3. Assess the regulatory and legal parameters that might constrain an intermunicipal implementation organization.
4. Assess the need to modify the existing IO bylaws.

Other Watershed Management Agency/Stakeholder Related:

1. Collect, analyze and prepare a synthesis of a sampling of representative watershed cooperative arrangements (i.e., guiding elements that characterize successful and troubled arrangements of other watershed management groups/organizations).
2. Identify watershed stakeholder groups key to successfully implementing the RPP.

Funding Related:

1. Identify and assess private and public funding resources available for administrative and implementation activities.
2. Assess funding structures of other watershed management organizations in order to facilitate IO discussions leading to the development of a formula for assessing municipal membership dues.

The Consultant will produce and present to the IO for comment, a printed draft recommendations report containing organizational structure options, funding options and other elements. The Consultant will incorporate the IO’s comments into a final printed report containing the recommended organizational structure for implementing the Cayuga Lake watershed RPP and present the final report to the IO.

CLW IO 2004