MD Task Force Members . . .

Since there isn't yet a published agenda, here are some suggestions for your first agenda and for your work in general:

• Review 1105 and agree to an outline of exactly what it is you're going to address in the time frame.
• Establish governance agreements . . . what will be done by consensus, what will trigger a vote, etc. Get clear from the outset vs. "figuring it out as you go," and don't be directed by someone else.
• Get your "advisory committee" on the FIRST agenda. Rep Titone put that language in the bill as the voice (and IMHO a VOTE) of and by homeowners and residents. Don't drag your feet on this one or you're not going to GET an advisory committee, or worse, "industry" will grab it as theirs.
• Establish norms for how long each of you will GET to speak. Don't let industry drone on and grab YOUR time.
• Establish a protocol so that everyone gets input on EACH of your agendas. Don't let the facilitator shut anyone out because of "time constraints."
• REQUIRE the facilitator to create the opportunity for everyone at the table to speak before moving on to any next agenda item.
• Don't allow industry to create the agendas. Keep in mind the 106 lobbyists, what they did to secure their seats and shape the language in 1105 and their intere$t$. https://www.sos.state.co.us/lobby/SubjectSearchResults.do?&cmd=passgo&pi1=1 They are at the table in force because they lobbied to be there. Remember homeowners and residents have no lobbyists to represent their interests.
• Do hold each other accountable to the ethics code. The bill didn't establish this task force as a platform for industry to push THEIR issues.
• However well-intended the facilitator, do NOT allow them to shape decisions that diminish homeowners/residents in favor of loud industry voices. Remember, this is YOUR task force. It's fine for them to be at the table, but, if you allow them to take over instead of engaging in healthy debate, there will be no point in HAVING the task force.
• Put these "stories" on your agenda every time, meaning provide a time slot at every meeting for each of you to pick a "story or two" that needs to be heard by the entire committee and explore how best to address the stories. In other words, make sure the DORA Engage input here really does get considered and doesn't end up as mere fine print, unaddressed, at the back of your final report.
• Decide how to handle public testimony and set at least one entire meeting for it.
• Don't let the industry ADD seats ("gosh, let's hear from the experts") to the table for even one single meeting. Public testimony for them should be the same 3 minutes each as for MD residents.
• If anyone tries to limit public testimony to fit a schedule, push back. On April 6, 2023, SB23-213 began testimony at 11:13 AM that concluded at 11:16 PM and had an addendum of written testimony. Your work, and public input into it, is no less important than that Land Use bill. Colorado has a housing crises. You can make legislative (and other) recommendations that can alleviate some of the related challenges.
• Proactively create the opportunity to review and provide input into any written MD TF reports before they're finalized. This is your task force and the report should carry each of your signatures.
• There will be disagreements. Disagreements are OK. Respect each other, LISTEN to each other, sincerely endeavor to find middle ground that serves Colorado best. And if you can't, then document the opposing positions for what they are.

Thank you for your service. Please work in good faith, for the greater good, and for the protection of homeowners and residents.