AGENDA ITEM 13 Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources MEMO: Agenda Item #13 DATE: November 8, 2018 SUBJECT: Discuss Strategic Planning for 2019 Strategic Plan Requirements LCCMR’s governing language establishes the requirement for a six-year strategic plan, includes several required components of the plan, and provides some guidance on minimum considerations for developing and reviewing the plan. The governing language also provides guidance on tools and methods the commission has at its disposal for collecting information that could be used in a strategic planning effort. 116P.08 TRUST FUND EXPENDITURES. Subd. 3. Strategic plan required. (a) The commission shall adopt a strategic plan for making expenditures from the trust fund, including identifying the priority areas for funding for the next six years. The strategic plan must be reviewed every two years. The strategic plan must have clearly stated short- and long-term goals and strategies for trust fund expenditures, must provide measurable outcomes for expenditures, and must determine areas of emphasis for funding. (b) The commission shall consider the long-term strategic plans of agencies with environment and natural resource programs and responsibilities and plans of conservation and environmental organizations during the development and review of the strategic plan. 116P.07 INFORMATION GATHERING. (a) The commission may convene public forums or employ other methods to gather information for establishing priorities for funding. 116P.09 ADMINISTRATION. Subd. 3. Appraisal and Evaluation (a) The commission shall obtain and appraise information available through private organizations and groups, utilizing to the fullest extent possible studies, data, and reports previously prepared or currently in progress by public agencies, private organizations, groups, and others, concerning future trends in the protection, conservation, preservation, and enhancement of the state's air, water, land, forests, fish, wildlife, native vegetation, and other natural resources. Any data compiled by the commission shall be made available to any standing or interim committee of the legislature upon the request of the chair of the respective committee. Current Strategic Plan The current plan is for 2013-2019 and was adopted in November 2013. It is based primarily on the Minnesota Statewide Conservation Plan (SCPP), which was a comprehensive 18 month-long ENRTF – funded assessment of current natural resource issues and recommendations for addressing them. The commission has reviewed the plan biennially since it was adopted with minor adjustments being made. Summary of Past Strategic Planning Historically, the Six Year Strategic plan was developed or revised through distinct planning efforts that included significant public input and extensive review and evaluation of natural resource issues and management. The first Six-Year Strategic Plan was drafted by the Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) and adopted by the LCMR in 1989. The commission and CAC participated in summer fact finding activities and the CAC largely drafted the strategic plan, which the commission reviewed, revised and adopted accordingly. Fact finding included public and technical input to inform plan revisions and the biennial request for proposal cycle. It appears that the general process for developing the first strategic plan was then also used for biennial review and revisions to the plan. The specific fact finding and public participation methods used, and the professional assistance provided, varied and included activities such as regional forums, calls for abstracts, topic and issue seminars, agency presentations, focus groups, surveys, member retreats, and even polling. On at least three occasions, strategic planning included a statewide convening of natural resource experts called the Natural Resources Congress that was organized with help from Minnesota Planning. Facilitation assistance was at times provided by outside professionals. At other times additional planning and organizational assistance from outside professionals was also sought. Planning and review efforts continued like this until the development of the 2009 Six Year Strategic Plan. In 2007, at the direction of the legislature, LCCMR awarded a bid to the University of Minnesota and two private planning firms to develop what came to be known as the SCPP. The commission then used the SCPP as the basis for developing the 2009 Six Year Strategic Plan. The current strategic plan and RFP are still largely based on this plan originally adopted in 2009. Since then it has been reviewed and adopted per statute. Since development of the SCPP, strategic planning efforts and revisions by the commission have diminished considerably; this may be due to the comprehensiveness and/or continued relevance of the SCPP, member interest, or perhaps due to timing constraints resulting from the transition from a biennial to an annual RFP cycle. While biennial review has consistently been conducted, the commission has not had a distinct strategic planning process since the development of the SCPP. While exact budgets were hard to find, in review of planning efforts over the years, it appeared that the cost of these activities ranged from approximately $40,000 to $350,000. This range reflects the costs for member participation at regional forums and site visits at the low-end and development of the Minnesota Statewide Conservation Plan at the high end. Potential low range, medium range, and high range options for a 2019 planning process are presented on the attached spreadsheet. These ranges reflect the differing options for level of input collected, level of public participation, and level of assistance provided through outside professionals. Attachments * Options for 2019 Strategic Planning Action If acceptable to the commission, the following motion could be considered: Move to proceed with a preliminary strategic planning process for developing or revising the 2019 Six Year Strategic Plan based primarily on the option, including working with consultant to develop the plan as well as to help facilitate the process. Legislative-Citizen Commission on Minnesota Resources Source: LCCMR0011/8/2018