In response to a legislative mandate to merge the Colorado Division of Wildlife and Colorado State Parks into a new division referred to as "Colorado Parks and Wildlife," leaders of the Colorado Department of Natural Resources (CDNR) have adopted an open and inclusive process to develop a transition plan, according to the Wildlife Management Institute.The approach is designed to engage employees and the public to help a department transition team develop a plan for combining the two agencies by the end of February 2012. A model of the planning process is available for viewing. Giving everyone a voice in charting the future not only can maximize creative thinking applied to this challenge, it also may reduce concerns about the merger by allowing those affected to have some influence on their future.

A transition team with six employees from each former division and led by Kim Burgess, Chief of Operations for the CDNR, is spearheading the process. The team is using some innovative ways to gather and analyze input. Rather than relying on public meetings, which can be costly, time-consuming and often are dominated by a few, vocal individuals, the team is using the internet to enable a broad array of people to share their thoughts.

The CDNR website provides background on the merger to help people understand the issues, and it poses specific questions to help focus input on the topics of greatest concern. The first public input phase focuses on defining the new division's mission, the best structure for the new Parks and Wildlife Commission, and ways to streamline programs or increase efficiency through the merger. The deadline for comments on these issues is July 29 and additional information is available.

The CDNR is actively soliciting input from its employees and the public, but plans to analyze the input from these two sources separately. This will allow the team to take advantage of the different perspectives inside and outside of government. Importantly, the team is committed to respond to every substantive comment submitted.

In addition to resolving administrative issues related to the new division's organization and programs, the transition plan will lay out the structure of the new Parks and Wildlife Commission. The legislation that merged the divisions combined the former nine-member Wildlife Commission and five-member Parks Board, but directed the CDNR to revise the structure as necessary to be more efficient and responsive to the public. At the commission's first meeting on July 7, the members demonstrated their commitment to working together and listening carefully to the input from employees and the public before making any final decisions.

Merging two well-established agencies is a challenging task. By adopting the approach it has, Colorado is well-positioned to emerge with a new division and commission that reflect the best thinking of the experienced staff within the agency and the people they serve. (cs)