To: Metro Charter Board Members
We as a community often times gloss over the real obstacles and roadblocks when setting out a course of action to solve tough challenges. It is confusing to citizens how the myriad of laws, ordinances, budgets, and regulations shape our civic decisions. Starting today, a sitting commission can change the past practice, and open up a discussion for the future rooted in facts and laws.
With or without consolidation, the status quo is unacceptable, and much needed change is required to alter the direction in which we are headed. It will not be easy. With that said, the metro consolidation charter commission and its task force groups should develop and publish “white papers” on their most far reaching choices. Most white papers contain an executive summary, statements of purpose, scope and approach, discussion of assumptions, pros/cons, resources, costs, scheduling requirements, a summary that includes conclusions and recommendations, and appendices, if applicable. These reports should explore and explain an issue in detail and set forth recommendations for action.
This is what we need as a community, a citizenry better served with more information on “the table.”
The following are the components of a typical “White Paper”:
Date
Title Page with Abstract
Executive Summary
Introduction
Purpose
Scope
Approach
Discussion
What
Assumption
Where
How/Why
How Much
Pros/Cons
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation
Appendix
We as a community often times gloss over the real obstacles and roadblocks when setting out a course of action to solve tough challenges. It is confusing to citizens how the myriad of laws, ordinances, budgets, and regulations shape our civic decisions. Starting today, a sitting commission can change the past practice, and open up a discussion for the future rooted in facts and laws.
With or without consolidation, the status quo is unacceptable, and much needed change is required to alter the direction in which we are headed. It will not be easy. With that said, the metro consolidation charter commission and its task force groups should develop and publish “white papers” on their most far reaching choices. Most white papers contain an executive summary, statements of purpose, scope and approach, discussion of assumptions, pros/cons, resources, costs, scheduling requirements, a summary that includes conclusions and recommendations, and appendices, if applicable. These reports should explore and explain an issue in detail and set forth recommendations for action.
This is what we need as a community, a citizenry better served with more information on “the table.”
The following are the components of a typical “White Paper”:
Date
Title Page with Abstract
Executive Summary
Introduction
Purpose
Scope
Approach
Discussion
What
Assumption
Where
How/Why
How Much
Pros/Cons
Summary
Conclusion
Recommendation
Appendix
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