EFFECTIVE, EFFICIENT, SUSTAINABLE SOLUTIONS TO COMMUNITY PROBLEMS THROUGH THE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS AND RESOURCES OF CITIZENS, BUSINESS, GOVERNMENT, AND NONPROFITS Minnesota Solutions

Why Minnesota Solutions? A confluence of forces are obligating elected officials and community leaders to do more with less, think smarter, act quickly, and learn new and better ways of solving problems– to focus limited time, energy, and resources on developing the best possible solutions to state and community problems.

Why Minnesota Solutions? Rapid social, political, technological and environmental change is transforming communities and states, bringing to the forefront conflict among interests chronic budget deficits dramatic demographic change increasingly polarized politics 2011 Minnesota state shutdown diminishing resources from the federal to the local level increasing responsibility for problem solving without adequate resources increasingly frustrated and alienated public

Why Minnesota Solutions? Better decisions Faster implementation Bridges differences Deals productively with shared power for decision- making Creates new resources

Solutions Model A community defines a problem they want to solve The governor designates the project and an impartial convener to bring people together Participants sign a Declaration of Cooperation Implementation begins

Examples Oregon reduced the number of Oregon children in foster care by 20 percent. Sherman County became the last county in Oregon to develop a public library. Delaware formed the Cancer Consortium which led to Delaware having the best rate of improvement for cancer mortality in the country.

Examples Minnesota Legislature passes Longterm Care Reform using collaborative processes. Arizona Department of Transportation saves millions in lawsuits by instituting partnering policy for construction projects. Manitoba, Minnesota, North and South Dakota and the Canadian and US Federal Governments form International Flood Mitigation Initiative to address flooding in the Red River Basin. Maryland Department of Families, Youth, and children negotiated agreements with each county over ways to reform human services delivery.

Pilot Project Minnesota Solutions will begin with a pilot issue. The Cities of Minneapolis and St. Paul and the Metropolitan Airports Commission are interested in standardizing taxi regulations and fares, eliminating duplication of services between local governmental agencies, reducing regulatory hurdles and barriers, and improving service for customers.

Vision Our vision is to establish the Solutions model in Minnesota. Bench marks include: An executive order and/or legislation establishing Minnesota Solutions Establishment of a permanent Steering Committee whose members are appointed by the Governor Secure governmental, foundation, and fee-for- service funding

Advisory Council Objectives Foster the momentum and will to establish the Solutions Model in Minnesota Leverage influence and resources to develop Minnesota Solutions Provide guidance and technical assistance for pilot issues Recommend members of the permanent Steering Committee to the Governor and help to assemble these members Lobby for an Executive order and/or legislation establishing Minnesota Solutions Identify priority issues

Advisory Committee Commitment Work on Advisory Committee objectives Meet monthly for one year  Policy fellows will coordinate meeting logistics and prepare agendas