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Platte River Endangered Species Recovery Program <br />Questionnaire Regarding Transition from Study to Program Operations <br />At the Finance Committee meeting on January 19, 2005, Dale Strickland and Larry Schulz were charged <br />with preparing a plan for transitioning from the Cooperative Agreement to the Program (transition plan) <br />and identifying any additional costs to be incurred leading up to October 1, 2006 (Program initiation). <br />The plan and an estimated budget for the remainder of the CA is to be presented to the Finance <br />Committee on February 24, 2005. We would like your responses to the questions below as a starting <br />point to identify issues related to the transition process. We also may want to interview you following the <br />responses. Please provide a written response to these questions within a week. If you have questions, <br />please contact Dale Strickland at 307-634-1756 or Larry Schulz at 303-475-3532. <br />1. The proposed budget for the remainder of the Cooperative Agreement contains estimated costs for <br />whooping crane, tern, and plover surveys, aerial photography, and an Executive Director. The <br />Governance Committee has also committed to a study of the North Platte choke point. Are there other <br />items you believe should be budgeted for during the remainder of the CA period? <br />2. When do you believe the Financial Management Entity for the Program should be selected, during <br />the CA, or immediately after the Program begins? Do you anticipate the financial management entity to <br />parallel the existing agreement with NCF? <br />3. When do you believe the Land Ownership Entity should be selected, during the CA or <br />immediately after the Program begins? Will we use an existing entity or attempt to create a new entity? <br />4. When do you believe the Program should begin, at the time of the signing of the Program <br />Agreement or when the federal appropriations are available? <br />5. When do you believe the Governance Committee far the Program should be formed? <br />6. Which decisions from your response to questions 2-5 are necessary prior to a search for the <br />Program Executive Director (ED)? <br />7. Who will employ the ED? Will it be necessary that the ED be located in Nebraska or any other <br />particular location? What "on-site" presence would you anticipate? <br />The Structures Document and Program budget anticipates approximately 10 staff in addition to the ED. <br />Do you have thoughts on when staff in addition to the ED should be in place? <br />8. When would you anticipate beginning searches for and acquisition of land and water? When <br />should lands already offered to the Program be considered? <br />9. Which Technical Committee and Water Committee efforts need to continue seamlessly into the <br />operations phase and what should they cost up to 10/1/2006? <br />10. What other GC decisions are necessary to enable steps toward the Program start?