State Water Plan-Regional Water Plan Advisory Council
Purpose Procedures
Since New Mexico’s water planning regions are quite diverse - decision by consensus is the best approach.
What is consensus? Consensus is a collective agreement or accord on a single alternative. Consensus is arrived at by open discussion where all points of view are heard and understood and a recommendation based on logic and feasibility can be made by the group as a whole. This does not mean every point of view is accepted or that the recommendation is arrived at via voting, averaging or bargaining.1
Appendix C of the SWP provides additional detail and background to initiate discussion.
Proposed process:
- Use of a round table approach – everyone will be encouraged to state their view of the discussion topics
- Use of ground rules for discussion so we can keep the process moving efficiently
- Staff will facilitate the discussion and take notes
- The council may – if it will help to manage the discussions – appoint a member to keep order
- Notes will be analyzed for themes for the purpose of determining objectives and proposed statements and recommendations for the council’s report to the ISC. The first report is due in mid November 2005. Subsequent reports will be submitted quarterly in 2006.
- On points where there is no agreement – the topic will be submitted to a sub-committee who will develop ideas/solutions to present to the group as a whole.
1Summarized from New Mexico First Decisions by Consensus