1
00:00:11,155 --> 00:00:11,882
You're on.

2
00:00:11,882 --> 00:00:15,560
ELIZABETH COOPER: OK,
good morning and welcome.

3
00:00:15,560 --> 00:00:19,000
Thank you for agreeing
to meet with me to serve

4
00:00:19,000 --> 00:00:21,300
on this advisory group to
develop a regional water

5
00:00:21,300 --> 00:00:23,331
strategy for our
metropolitan area.

6
00:00:23,331 --> 00:00:25,580
I've called this meeting to
give you my advice for how

7
00:00:25,580 --> 00:00:27,470
to proceed in this process.

8
00:00:27,470 --> 00:00:29,720
During this meeting, I will
first clarify our goals

9
00:00:29,720 --> 00:00:30,930
in this process.

10
00:00:30,930 --> 00:00:33,279
Then I did devise some
challenges that I see

11
00:00:33,279 --> 00:00:34,820
and what we stand
to lose if we don't

12
00:00:34,820 --> 00:00:36,659
conduct this process wisely.

13
00:00:36,659 --> 00:00:38,450
Next, I'll give my
thoughts on the strategy

14
00:00:38,450 --> 00:00:40,970
to follow to make a sound
and politically viable

15
00:00:40,970 --> 00:00:41,900
regional plan.

16
00:00:41,900 --> 00:00:44,330
And I'll talk about what I
think success in this process

17
00:00:44,330 --> 00:00:46,830
would look like for you to keep
in mind prospectively as you

18
00:00:46,830 --> 00:00:49,410
carry out the planning process.

19
00:00:49,410 --> 00:00:51,350
So our goal is to
develop a strategy

20
00:00:51,350 --> 00:00:53,240
for administering
water that balances,

21
00:00:53,240 --> 00:00:55,310
and to whatever extent
possible, actually

22
00:00:55,310 --> 00:00:57,470
meets the needs of the
diverse stakeholders

23
00:00:57,470 --> 00:01:00,080
from the industrial,
residential, agricultural, and

24
00:01:00,080 --> 00:01:03,499
conservation sectors, as well
as our partners in government.

25
00:01:03,499 --> 00:01:05,540
I also believe that a
second, but still important

26
00:01:05,540 --> 00:01:07,940
goal is to get through
this process in a way

27
00:01:07,940 --> 00:01:10,150
that this diverse
group of stakeholders

28
00:01:10,150 --> 00:01:12,662
feels good about the causes
they took part in, has learned

29
00:01:12,662 --> 00:01:14,120
from it, and thus
is encouraged too

30
00:01:14,120 --> 00:01:15,786
and has a skill set
to collaborate again

31
00:01:15,786 --> 00:01:17,241
in the future.

32
00:01:17,241 --> 00:01:18,740
As you know, we
face some challenges

33
00:01:18,740 --> 00:01:20,119
to developing this plan.

34
00:01:20,119 --> 00:01:22,160
With current distribution
and used water supplies

35
00:01:22,160 --> 00:01:23,743
are tight and are
insufficient to meet

36
00:01:23,743 --> 00:01:26,660
the needs of development that we
hope will return to our region

37
00:01:26,660 --> 00:01:28,970
with economic rebound.

38
00:01:28,970 --> 00:01:31,251
If we don't develop a
strategy to as far as possible

39
00:01:31,251 --> 00:01:33,500
meet the needs of all the
stakeholder groups involved,

40
00:01:33,500 --> 00:01:35,600
we will see rising
conflict that could really

41
00:01:35,600 --> 00:01:37,460
strain the relationships
in this community

42
00:01:37,460 --> 00:01:39,590
and ultimately tear it apart.

43
00:01:39,590 --> 00:01:42,050
I'm also concerned that if we
don't act wisely and proceed

44
00:01:42,050 --> 00:01:43,970
in a way that everyone
is on board with,

45
00:01:43,970 --> 00:01:46,180
our process could be
undermined by parties

46
00:01:46,180 --> 00:01:47,930
who feel disenfranchised
or who don't want

47
00:01:47,930 --> 00:01:49,950
to collaborate on a solution.

48
00:01:49,950 --> 00:01:52,730
So how do we navigate this
delicate task with our eyes

49
00:01:52,730 --> 00:01:56,064
open to arrive at
a sound solution?

50
00:01:56,064 --> 00:01:57,980
I'm very confident in
your abilities and those

51
00:01:57,980 --> 00:02:00,410
of the experts that you talk
to make sound difference

52
00:02:00,410 --> 00:02:02,390
about a plan to share
and distribute the water,

53
00:02:02,390 --> 00:02:05,270
but I don't want to just rely on
expertise to engineer the best

54
00:02:05,270 --> 00:02:07,010
solution to this problem.

55
00:02:07,010 --> 00:02:09,650
I want a plan that is developed
to be the result of an informed

56
00:02:09,650 --> 00:02:11,510
consensus that has the
backing of everybody

57
00:02:11,510 --> 00:02:13,220
needed to implement it.

58
00:02:13,220 --> 00:02:15,220
Political viability is
one key factor we need,

59
00:02:15,220 --> 00:02:19,600
and an expert solution won't
necessarily get us there.

60
00:02:19,600 --> 00:02:21,030
You have been
selected to be part

61
00:02:21,030 --> 00:02:23,030
of this advisory group
because of your expertise

62
00:02:23,030 --> 00:02:26,330
and credibility to
deal with this policy

63
00:02:26,330 --> 00:02:27,680
and decision-making effort.

64
00:02:27,680 --> 00:02:29,967
You have the authority to
convene a credible process.

65
00:02:29,967 --> 00:02:32,300
However, I think we will end
up with a stronger and more

66
00:02:32,300 --> 00:02:34,790
politically viable
solution if we directly

67
00:02:34,790 --> 00:02:36,290
involve stakeholders
who we see as

68
00:02:36,290 --> 00:02:39,106
likely to be in conflict over
the decision-making effort.

69
00:02:39,106 --> 00:02:40,980
I suggest you bring in
a professional neutral

70
00:02:40,980 --> 00:02:43,190
facilitator who can aid
in involving stakeholders

71
00:02:43,190 --> 00:02:44,974
in the proposal
generating process

72
00:02:44,974 --> 00:02:46,640
and who could help
solidify participants

73
00:02:46,640 --> 00:02:48,770
confidence and the
neutrality of the process

74
00:02:48,770 --> 00:02:52,620
since disagreements are likely
to be politically charged.

75
00:02:52,620 --> 00:02:54,610
Here's how I
suggest you proceed.

76
00:02:54,610 --> 00:02:56,550
Hire an experienced
neutral as I said.

77
00:02:56,550 --> 00:02:58,320
Begin by conducting
situation assessment.

78
00:02:58,320 --> 00:03:00,450
This means meeting with
representatives of each

79
00:03:00,450 --> 00:03:01,596
of the stakeholder groups.

80
00:03:01,596 --> 00:03:02,970
I previously
mentioned and anyone

81
00:03:02,970 --> 00:03:05,040
else who thinks they should
be included in the process

82
00:03:05,040 --> 00:03:07,456
and discuss with them what
their needs are for water, what

83
00:03:07,456 --> 00:03:09,420
their interests are,
and how they'd like

84
00:03:09,420 --> 00:03:11,995
to see a regional plan develop.

85
00:03:11,995 --> 00:03:13,620
After you've conducted
that assessment,

86
00:03:13,620 --> 00:03:16,140
distill down the
results of your research

87
00:03:16,140 --> 00:03:18,990
and communicate to the public
the parameters of the problem

88
00:03:18,990 --> 00:03:21,281
and what are some of the
preliminary avenues that could

89
00:03:21,281 --> 00:03:24,080
be pursued to reach a plan.

90
00:03:24,080 --> 00:03:26,770
Ask stakeholders groups
to select representatives

91
00:03:26,770 --> 00:03:30,420
to participate in a formal
consensus building process.

92
00:03:30,420 --> 00:03:32,430
Conduct joint fact
finding about uses of

93
00:03:32,430 --> 00:03:35,550
and needs for water in the
region and help participants

94
00:03:35,550 --> 00:03:37,627
explore strategies that
conceptualize water

95
00:03:37,627 --> 00:03:39,960
as a flexible resource where
it can meet multiple groups

96
00:03:39,960 --> 00:03:42,392
needs simultaneously.

97
00:03:42,392 --> 00:03:44,100
Here you can bring in
your own expertise.

98
00:03:44,100 --> 00:03:46,260
And by all means,
we want everyone

99
00:03:46,260 --> 00:03:48,840
to agree together on
the facts that we're

100
00:03:48,840 --> 00:03:52,140
going to use to make the
recommendations together.

101
00:03:52,140 --> 00:03:54,450
Invent options based on the
results of the information

102
00:03:54,450 --> 00:03:54,950
gathering.

103
00:03:54,950 --> 00:03:56,582
Help participants
in the process.

104
00:03:56,582 --> 00:03:59,040
Find ways to add value to the
resources you're dealing with

105
00:03:59,040 --> 00:04:01,260
and invent mutually
acceptable solutions.

106
00:04:01,260 --> 00:04:04,140
If necessary, bring other issues
besides water to the table.

107
00:04:04,140 --> 00:04:06,110
These groups
intersect and overlap

108
00:04:06,110 --> 00:04:08,634
in a number of areas that
affect our planning strategy.

109
00:04:08,634 --> 00:04:10,800
And it might be that if we
add in other ingredients,

110
00:04:10,800 --> 00:04:12,466
we're able to package
solutions that are

111
00:04:12,466 --> 00:04:15,170
more acceptable to everyone.

112
00:04:15,170 --> 00:04:17,512
Excuse me.

113
00:04:17,512 --> 00:04:19,470
Help representatives
caucus the various options

114
00:04:19,470 --> 00:04:22,380
with their constituencies
and clarify their interests

115
00:04:22,380 --> 00:04:25,870
and needs and help them package
options together in a way

116
00:04:25,870 --> 00:04:28,060
that everyone can agree to
and have them all endorse

117
00:04:28,060 --> 00:04:30,970
an agreement for a strategy.

118
00:04:30,970 --> 00:04:34,090
And then they will turn that
recommendation over to you

119
00:04:34,090 --> 00:04:37,290
to formalize and then that's
what we would implement.

120
00:04:37,290 --> 00:04:39,130
After we engage in this
process, how will we

121
00:04:39,130 --> 00:04:41,034
know that we've succeeded?

122
00:04:41,034 --> 00:04:42,700
All groups can sign
on to the agreement,

123
00:04:42,700 --> 00:04:45,220
and all agree that it is a
better arrangement than having

124
00:04:45,220 --> 00:04:46,234
no agreement at all.

125
00:04:46,234 --> 00:04:47,650
And participating
groups will have

126
00:04:47,650 --> 00:04:50,350
learned about each other's
needs and each other in a way

127
00:04:50,350 --> 00:04:53,500
that they can see that
coming to consensus

128
00:04:53,500 --> 00:04:56,582
is not necessarily
a zero-sum game.

129
00:04:56,582 --> 00:04:58,540
I think that this is the
best strategy not only

130
00:04:58,540 --> 00:05:00,998
because collaboration improves
the quality of the decision,

131
00:05:00,998 --> 00:05:03,650
but it also makes it
more implementable.

132
00:05:03,650 --> 00:05:06,010
It should help neutralize
the process politically

133
00:05:06,010 --> 00:05:07,780
if it has extremely
widespread support.

134
00:05:07,780 --> 00:05:09,760
Both the media and
the state government,

135
00:05:09,760 --> 00:05:13,070
who have been less than
favorable about developing

136
00:05:13,070 --> 00:05:15,790
a regional water plan would
have a hard time criticizing it

137
00:05:15,790 --> 00:05:17,825
if everyone really backs it up.

138
00:05:17,825 --> 00:05:19,450
This has been a brief
overview, and I'm

139
00:05:19,450 --> 00:05:21,400
happy to address questions
and discuss in more detail.

140
00:05:21,400 --> 00:05:22,000
Thank you.

141
00:05:25,300 --> 00:05:27,150
LAWRENCE SUSSKIND: Thank you.