Playing Smart changelabsolutions.org | kaboom.org 70 Institutionalizing the Work Group In addition to deciding who will be part of the work group, the parties also must decide how to legally formalize it. This serves to institutionalize the work group, stabilizing its structure and making it more likely to endure regardless of local political changes. Again, Charlotte-Mecklenburg provides a useful model. There, the relevant governmental bodies used a local policy tool – a resolution – to institutionalize the joint use task force so that even if there were staff turnover, the group would continue to exist and function. Local governments often use resolutions to set official policy, direct internal operations, or establish a task force to study an issue. Resolutions can be a good first step in encouraging collaborative relationships among public agencies, nonprofits, and other organizations to expand access to recreation facilities and related programs. Charlotte-Mecklenburg’s resolution was adopted in 1995, and it was amended by a second resolution in 2000.111 The amended resolution endorsed the concepts of joint facility planning and joint use, recognized that cost savings can be achieved through joint use, and noted that decisions related to these types of community resources must be coordinated. Effective joint use agreements are grounded in strong working relationships. Overlooking or avoiding this aspect of the process could derail the agreement.
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