Policies

Before the District begins to draft a new policy for Council consideration, a proper analysis is completed to ensure that we are addressing the underlying problem or issue:

1. Define the Problem – The first step is to outline the problem. This involves not only recognizing that an issue exists, but also studying the problem and its causes in detail. 
2. Collect Evidence / Do Your Research – Review the history of the issue, has it been addressed before, what information already exists. 
3. Develop Options – Be creative and think outside of the box, brainstorm, generate as many options as possible.  
4. Select Criteria – Select criteria that are important and then weight them. Evaluate your chosen criteria and understand the trade-offs you will need to make once you have made your decision. Follow through and measure your results.
5. Project / Predict the Outcomes – Quantify the outcomes where possible (cost estimate or construct a scale with defined meanings). If you can’t quantify the outcomes then qualify them. (poor, good, very good, excellent or never, sometimes, usually, always)  
6. Confront the Trade-Offs – It’s all about the trade-offs. Money vs. equity, Safety vs. cost, and Fairness vs. efficiency. There are no absolute right choices. The preferred option is the one with the best outcomes and the fewest high value trade-offs.
7. Decide – Select one of the policy options.
8. Communicate / Evaluate – Establish a communications strategy to convey the policy to your target audience. Determine which methods of communication to use (ie. Paper, email, website links, training, etc.) and communicate to staff and public.