As an additional component to citizen participation in the development of Big Green Lake's Management Plan, Big Green, the planning team has asked 12 individuals who represent different stakeholder groups to act as representatives on a public advisory group (PAG). These individuals consist of farmers, fishermen, lake property owners, businesspersons, and off the lake recreational users within Green Lake and Fond du Lac counties.
How do public advisory group members contribute to the planning process?
The planning team's objectives for incorporating a public advisory group into the lake management planning process include:
To obtain the group's feedback on analysis, alternatives, and or decisions
To keep group members informed, listen to, and acknowledge their concerns and aspirations
To request the group's advice and innovation in formulating solutions, and to the extent possible, incorporate their recommendations and advice into decisions
To provide a peer representative to whom individuals can speak with about their lake concerns.
Group Member Attributes and Time
Individuals selected for the PAG will meet roughly once per month for roughly four months beginning in February 2012. Monthly meetings will be facilitated by Chad Cook, UW-Extension Basin Educator, and will include various topics of concern identified by the planning team and may also include issues identified by a specific stakeholder group. Individuals selected for the PAG possess the following attributes:
Longtime resident
Works well with others
Ability to think broadly and consider the big picture
Ability to represent diverse interests and priorities
A genuine interest in the well-being of the entire lake.
Outcomes
The overall results or impacts of incorporating a PAG into the public participation process of Big Green Lake's management plan include:
Wider and more diverse circle of input
Thorough and thoughtful identification of issues and concerns
Generation of new ideas and possible solutions
Stronger relationships between diverse and perhaps competing lake stakeholder groups and planning team members
Increased community support for the final lake management plan.
Deliverables
The tangible goods or products which the planning team will provide as a result of developing a PAG will be the building blocks that help the planning team achieve its objectives and outcomes. These deliverables include:
Monthly meetings from February 2012 to May 2012
A portfolio for each group member which includes basic watershed education, contact lists, LMP background information, PAG objectives, topics of concern, etc.
On behalf of the core team, periodic updates on the Green Lake Association's social media sites, e-blasts, and website.
On behalf of the core team, newsletter updates in the Green Lake Association and Green Lake Sanitary District newsletter.
Periodic updates in local papers about the PAG.
Brochures about the committee for core planning team member distribution
Summary of committee's input included in spring public wrap-up.
Public participation wrap-up meeting in spring 2012, which summarizes the results from all public participation opportunities.
A dedicated email account where people can direct their concerns.
