One Voice Legislative Program - 1990

To advocate for or against state and federal legislative projects, programs, and policies that would affect the residents of Merced County. 

Merced County has many needs in the areas of transportation, economic development, air and water quality, healthcare, and education, to name a few.  In the past, the legislative effort to bring needed funding or policy change at the state and federal levels was sporadic and fragmented.   

Beginning in 2004, MCAG initiated the One Voice program, which brings together private and public sector leadership to identify priority issues, projects, and programs.  One Voice made its first legislative visits in 2005, and was successful in securing funding for Merced County.  In late 2004 and early 2005, legislative consultants, under contract to the County of Merced, provided scheduling and advocacy assistance. In 2005, the MCAG Governing Board agreed to fund 4-6 months of consulting services in both Sacramento and Washington, DC from MCAG member contributions. This expanded MCAG’s ability to learn about and  comment on proposed legislation and bond measure issues. 

In 2006-07, member jurisdictions funded a full year (12 months) of consultant services in both capital cities, and the designation of a MCAG staff coordinator equivalent to one-third time.  The consulting services proved to be of great value in helping MCAG maintain awareness of issues likely to impact areas of interest to member jurisdictions and the One Voice program.  For 2007-08 and 2008-09, full year contracts were renewed. It is assumed contracts will be renewed for 2009-10.

One Voice Purpose and Protocol

One Voice unites private and public sector leadership in a voluntary and collaborative effort to identify priority issues, projects, and programs that should be advocated to legislators in Sacramento and Washington, DC.  One Voice participants are in agreement that the projects chosen will contribute significantly to an improved quality of life throughout the Merced County region.

In addition:

• One Voice participants agree to meet at least three times a year to list, discuss, and select priority projects. Those wishing to be delegates agree to a pre-trip briefing meeting and post-trip debriefing.
• One Voice delegates travel to Washington, D.C. (Mon-Thurs) and Sacramento (Tues-Wed) at least once a year to meet with federal and state legislators.
• One Voice delegates travel at their own expense.
• One Voice delegates agree to present no other issues but those selected for the year by the One Voice participants. Other meetings may be set with legislators and agencies, but delegates should not present themselves as representing One Voice at those meetings.

Other general ground rules are as follows:

• We acknowledge that we all have something to teach and something to learn. Everyone’s opinion matters. Everyone participates and no one person dominates.
• We will be open to rethinking our own assumptions and to hearing other people’s ideas.
• We will act with respect for everyone’s knowledge and experience by:
  
  
• Listening without interrupting or talking over each other
• Listening without judging someone’s ideas or experiences
• Sharing time equally with each other
• Agreeing to disagree respectfully and openly in the meeting rather than leaving discussions until after the meeting
• Focusing on issues, not personalities

We agree to act in the best interest of Merced County and move beyond our own self-interest.

• When stating or responding to issues, we will strive to offer solutions.
• We agree to listen to our community neighbors and members of the groups which we represent, and to reflect their concerns, ideas and needs.
• We will share all relevant information.
• We will strive to make decisions based on consensus. An individual’s silence will be interpreted as agreement.
• We recognize that we have an obligation to the residents of Merced County and will report back to them the results of this meeting via the MCAG website. Minutes and results of voting will become public record. Dissension will be reflected in the minutes.
• Meetings are open to anyone who would like to participate or observe.
• Both participants and observers must agree to follow the purpose and protocol of the One Voice program, as stated above.

One Voice Priority Project Selection Process

One Voice participants spend several months discussing issues from a long list of needs in Merced County. Starting with over 100 needs, One Voice selects 9 -11 priorities which, if they were to be funded, would impact, for the better, the quality of life throughout Merced County.

There are many factors that go into consideration of a priority project. Sometimes projects are chosen, not because they are the most critical, but because there is a better opportunity to get funding, depending on the climate in the state and federal capitals. Sometimes a project is chosen because it is a crucial piece in a larger plan. Projects can come from any category, including, but not limited, to Transportation, Economic Development, Water, Education, Law Enforcement, and Health Care.

The timeline for selecting projects is as follows:

• MCAG staff meets with each member of the MCAG Governing Board to gather input on those project that the cities and the county consider most needed.
• Staff meets with each city manager and the county CEO to collect their recommendations on priority needs for their jurisdictions.
• Anyone may introduce a project for the group’s consideration.
• At the initial One Voice meeting for the new year’s program, a list is made of all projects participants deem important to Merced County.
• At a subsequent meeting, using a list of projects organized by category, participants break into smaller discussion groups to select priorities within each category. All reconvene to hear group reports.
• At a subsequent meeting, provided participants feel that they have enough information on projects to make good choices, clicker technology is used to compare and prioritize issues, then finalize choices.
• The technical advisor for each priority project submits a project Fact Sheet to MCAG staff, complete with a picture or chart.
• Staff takes One Voice recommendations to its standing committees and governing authority:
  

• Citizens Advisory Committee – information only
• Technical Planning Committee – information only
• Technical Review Board – recommendation
• Governing Board – ratification.
• Staff reports back to One Voice.