Florida Administrative Code › 29 - REGIONAL PLANNING COUNCILS › 29A - Emerald Coast Regional Council › Chapter 29A-3 - WEST FLORIDA REGIONAL DISPUTE RESOLUTION › Section 29A-3.002 - Definitions

Current through Reg. 50, No. 138; July 16, 2024
(1) "Situation assessment" is a procedure of
				information collection that may involve review of documents, interviews and an
				assessment meeting leading to a written or verbal report identifying: the
				issues in dispute; the stakeholders; information needed before a decision can
				be made; and a recommendation for appropriate dispute resolution
				procedures.
(2) "Pre-initiation
				meetings" are opportunities for a party to discuss the suitability of the RDRP
				with the RPC staff for resolving their dispute before formally initiating the
				RDRP.
(3) "Facilitation" is a
				procedure in which the facilitator helps the parties design and follow a
				meeting agenda and assists parties to communicate more effectively throughout
				the process. The facilitator has no authority to make or recommend a
				decision.
(4) "Mediation" is a
				procedure in which a neutral party assists disputing parties in a negotiation
				process to explore their interests, develop and evaluate options, and reach a
				mutually acceptable agreement without prescribing a resolution. A mediator may
				take more control of the process than a facilitator and usually works in more
				complex cases where a dispute is more clearly defined.
(5) "Advisory decision-making" is a procedure
				aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of negotiations and helping parties more
				realistically evaluate their negotiation positions. This procedure may include
				record-keeping, neutral evaluation, or advisory arbitration in which a neutral
				party or panel listens to the facts and arguments presented by the parties and
				renders a non-binding advisory decision.
(6) "Jurisdiction" is any local government or
				regional agency, including special districts, authorities or school
				boards.
(7) "Named party" shall be
				any jurisdiction, public or private organization, group or individual who is
				named in an initiation letter, including the initiating jurisdiction, or is
				admitted by the named parties to participate in settlement of a dispute
				pursuant to subsections
				 29A-3.003(1), (2) and
				(3), F.A.C. Being a "named party" in the RDRP
				does not convey or limit standing in any judicial or administrative
				proceeding.
(8) "Representative" is
				an individual who is given guidance and authority to act, to the extent
				possible, by a named party in a RDRP case. Subsection
				 29A-3.003(4),
				F.A.C., sets forth the designation process.
(9) "Initiation letter" is a letter from a
				jurisdiction formally identifying a dispute and asking named parties to engage
				in this process to resolve the dispute, and, at a minimum, attend the initial
				settlement meeting. Subsection
				 29A-3.010(2),
				F.A.C., specifies what must be included in an initiation letter.
(10) "Response letter" formally notifies the
				initiator and other named parties that a party is willing to participate in the
				RDRP and, at a minimum, attend at least one settlement meeting. Subsection
				 29A-3.010(3),
				F.A.C., specifies what must be included in a response letter.
(11) "Settlement agreements" may be
				voluntarily approved by the individual or governing body authorized to bind the
				named party. Agreements may take the form of memorandums of understanding,
				contracts, interlocal agreements or other form mutually agreed to by the
				signatory parties or as required by law. A settlement may be agreed to by some
				or all of the named parties.
Specific Authority
					 186.509 FS. Law Implemented
					 186.509
					 FS.
New 11-13-94.