Shannon Lucas and Cassidee Shinn, CDFWPlanning from Tahoe to the Bay WorkshopNovember 20, 2013
Why?
Plans take too long to prepare Plans are too expensive to prepare Plans benefit from lessons learned
Methods
Many meetings to arrive at survey questions
SurveyMethods.com Sent to more than 1,200 people
• Survey #1: 181 responded (14% response rate)
• Survey #2: 100 responded (8.4% response rate) Thank you to those who responded!
Representation across the state
Survey #1: position or role of respondent
Survey #2: Delving Deeper- Planning Experience of Respondent
# of Plans worked on # of Years in nccp or hcp planning
Survey #1:Challenges in plan preparation
Top reasons for delays Difficulty reaching agreements Politics Unrealistic timelines Wildlife agency staff turnover
When funding was a problem, primary reason was unanticipated tasks
Preliminary Results
survey #2: Delving deeper - politics
In what way was politics involved? Local politics around
Cost of Plan Some stakeholders having more influences
than others Different goals
Politics not an issue (15%)
Preliminary Results
Survey #2: Delving deeper - unanticipated tasks
Unanticipated tasks: Additional information and analyses Additional drafts or revisions
Reasons why: Lack of guidance or evolving requirements
from Wildlife Agencies
Survey #1: Overcoming delays
Delays were (or can be) overcome by More frequent and structured
communication Adequate staffing levels Dedicated staff Effective initial planning framework and
timeline
Preliminary Results
SURVEY #2: DELVING DEEPER – COMMUNICATION
What should change? Increase high-level, decision-maker
involvement Clear process, requirements, expectations Regular summary of activities and results
Communication not an issue (20%)
Critical FactorsRelative
Rank
Regular wildlife agency engagement High
Political will and leadership High
Local government commitment of resources Medium
Effective consultant Medium
Plan "champion" or advocate Medium
Stakeholder leadership Medium
Public involvement Low
Public process transparency Low
Use of a facilitator Low
Survey #1: Most critical for maintaining momentum
Survey #2: Delving Deeper - Use of Facilitator
How did a neutral facilitator help?
Yes NoI Don't Know
Was a facilitator used? 31% 60% 9 %
If yes, critical to maintaining momentum?
45% 25% 30%
If no, would one have been useful? 30% 32% 38%
Preliminary Results
Kept discussions or process on-track and focused
Summary OF Results
There is a critical need for: Political will and leadership Guidance and tools focused on process,
timelines, and problem-solving Wildlife agency engagement and
consistency in staffing Decision-maker/high-level management
involvement Clear and realistic expectations
Survey #2:Approximately how long
did it ACTUALLY
take?
Approximately how long did you EXPECT it
to take?Phases of Plan preparation
(Average #
years) (Average #
years)Decision to develop the NCCP or HCP 4 3Compilation of baseline information 3.5 2Planning agreement 2.5 1Administrative Draft (preparation of draft chapters)
5.5 2.5
Review of Drafts and Negotiations 5.5 2
Next steps
Develop targeted guidance materials (examples): Political will
Promotional videos
Guidance and tools Example timelines
Actual Plan Preparation Timelines
Thank you