IBCC Ground Rules Revised March 3

• Title: Ground Rules for Charter and By-Laws Adoption
• Date: 3/6/2006
• Interbasin CC - Doc Type: Correspondence/Memos

R E V I S E D D R A F T – March 6, 2006
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Address one another in respectful ways

Decision Making – on hold

For the purpose of approving the bylaws and charter, IBCC members will use a
consensus decision making process. Consensus is a process for reaching agreement that
does not rely on voting. A consensus is the strongest form a group decision can take,
because it is a settlement or solution with which all participants can agree. A consensus
d ecision is built by identifying and exploring all parties' interests, and by assembling a
package agreement that satisfies these interests to the greatest extent possible.
[CONCERN: What does “to the greatest extent possible” mean? What are the
parameters ?]
A consensus is reached when all parties agree that their major interests
have been taken into consideration and addressed in a satisfactory manner.

A consensus does not necessarily mean unanimity. Some parties may strongly endorse a
particular soluti on while others may accept it as a workable agreement. This situation
may still constitute a consensus. Each party participates in the consensus without
embracing each element of the agreement with the same fervor as other parties, or
necessarily having each of his or her interests satisfied to the fullest extent. However,
given the combination of gains and trade - offs in the decision package, a consensus is the
strongest agreement that the involved parties can make given current circumstances and
alterna tive options.

[ALTERNATIVE 1: Remove these two paragraphs and insert paragraph stating
that decisions during the process of approving the bylaws and charter will be made
by voting, with a 75% majority necessary for approval.]

[ALTERNATIVE 2: Remove these two paragraphs and replace with the following:
For the purpose of approving the bylaws and charter, the IBCC shall use a
consensus decision making process. Consensus is defined as a process in which each
member is given fair opportunity to be heard, in w hich each member fairly listens to
the others, in which complete discussion of the issue is held, and in which decisions
are made by general agreement of the Membership, but not necessarily by
unanimity. Consensus is reached only if both of the following conditions exist:

1. At least 22 members agree; and

2. All Basin Roundtables participate in the vote. ]

Section II
Responsibilities and Roles of Individual IBCC Members and Facilitators

Individual IBCC Members

Each member of the IBCC is expected to:

(a) Regul arly attend and prepare for work sessions;
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