Board or commission?
The question that may strike some as fodder for Trivial Pursuit carries considerably more significance when it comes to affiliates of the newly established Colorado Division of Parks and Wildlife. Included among them is the current 14-member decision-making panel established in the July 1 merger of the Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks.
For the record, that group shall heretofore be known as the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission.
The significance lies in the associated sense of identity linked to the nine-member Wildlife Commission and five-member Parks Board that met as a cohesive voting unit for the first time last week. Both sides bring a deep- rooted sense of pride and commitment to the table, and an increasing amount of respect.
That became evident as the tedious process of merging the formerly independent agencies got underway during a two-day meeting at Division of Wildlife offices in Denver on Thursday and Friday. As both sides were briefed in all that the other did, the wide- ranging scope of responsibilities proved inspirational and educational to all.
Clearly there is much work to be done. Among the first orders of business: voting itself into “commission” status.
Since the inception of the merger concept, the prevailing sense of identity or affiliation has been equally evident among the outdoors community at large, particularly on the Wildlife side. Many who opposed the merger, initiated as a cost-saving measure by Gov. John Hickenlooper, did so, it seemed, for fear of adulterating their “sportsmen’s” identity as much as sharing the pool of money procured through license fees.
Those sportsmen in particular will be pleased to learn that they still have a say in shaping the new division. The Department of Natural Resources is currently taking public comments on the development of a unified agency mission, the composition of the permanent Parks and Wildlife Commission, achieving full consolidation of the two divisions and other suggestions for making the new agency more efficient and effective.
“The legislature gave us specific subjects to make recommendation on, but that doesn’t preclude the public giving us their thoughts on other issues as well,” said Tim Glenn, the commission’s newly elected chairman. “If it’s something that will help this agency do its job better, we’d like to hear about it.”
A transition team of employee working groups is evaluating every agency function, from field operations to capital development and real estate to customer service, in order to identify options for consolidation and improvement.
In the coming months, DNR director Mike King, new Parks and Wildlife director Rick Cables and the Parks and Wildlife Commission will explore alternatives to complete the merger. Major decisions will move through a three- step process.
During the next few weeks, issues that need to be resolved will be identified through public and employee input. At the second, or “draft” step, alternatives will be presented for review and refinement. A final recommendation will then be presented to the board for consideration and possible adoption.
The deadline for the initial round of comments is July 29.
Timelines for decisions, as well as the request for public input, are posted online at: PublicInput.aspx
Don’t be shy now.
Scott Willoughby: 303-954-1993 or swilloughby@denverpost.com
