Natural System Subcommittee Charge

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Purpose
The purpose of the Subcommittee is to develop initial draft recommendations on policy issues. tools and indicators to help decision making in the future related to natural systems in the Treasure Coast for consideration by the full Committee. The Subcommittee will seek to educate itself on and address the key issues and areas identified by the Committee in its April, 2004 survey and the initial goal and objective statements developed at its July, 2004 meetings. The Subcommittee will establish a meeting schedule by conference call and in-person between July and November 2004. The face-to-face meetings may coincide with the Committee’s scheduled meetings. The draft recommendations developed by the Subcommittee should address policy and funding issues related to the recommendations.

In its discussions and deliberations of these topics the Subcommittee will be guided by and work to develop recommendations in the context of the following:

• The Committee’s adopted mission statement, assumptions and principles;
• The Committee's adopted consensus procedures;
• The list of key issues from the April, 2004 member survey, the goal statements and objectives developed at the May, June and July, 2004 Committee meetings.

As the process develops, the Subcommittee will be guided by feed-back and direction from the Committee as a whole upon review of their initial drafts in the Fall of 2004. The product of the Subcommittee will be integrated into a single text of Committee recommendations that will serve as the basis for the Committee’s final report to the Governor in September, 2005. 

Process
It is anticipated that the Subcommittee will meet face to face or by conference call for several meetings at and between the Committee’s regularly scheduled meetings. The Subcommittee chair will establish the schedule in consultation with the members and CUES staff and consistent with the Committee’s schedule and notice requirements under the applicable Sunshine Law. The Subcommittee should expect to present a progress draft report to the Committee in September, 2004 and draft recommendations in October, November and December, 2004.

The Chair will review with the Committee whether the Subcommittee will continue to serve following the interim Progress Report in January, 2005.

The Subcommittee will be guided by the consensus guidelines adopted by the Committee and should strive for agreement of all members on possible draft recommendations to bring to the Committee. The Subcommittee will receive some feedback and guidance from the Committee on progress reports and early drafts and on different options it may be discussing in terms of its recommendations.

Report Format
The Subcommittee should use the following format for developing their recommendations:

• Key Questions regarding the issue area
• Brief discussion/background
• Linkages with other vision goal/objectives
• Recommendation (s) with separate commentary, as needed, to clarify intent of recommendation and policy issues related to the recommendation.

Roles
The Subcommittee chair is responsible for guiding the group and bringing draft recommendations to the Committee. The vice chair will assist the chair in this task.

Group Members are responsible for engaging in the process of debating, negotiating and developing consensus on draft recommendations and in drafting as assigned by the chair. The facilitator is responsible for assisting the chair, the vice chair and the Subcommittee on agenda design, meeting facilitation and consensus building. The facilitator will also be responsible for producing Subcommittee meeting summaries.

The technical staff and consultants are responsible for assisting the chair and members in their drafting task. The Subcommittee should work with the Technical Advisory Committee staff to bring information to the group needed to develop further the recommendations.