(1) “”Situation Assessment”” is a procedure of information collection or “”fact finding”” that may involve review of documents, interviews or 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 Meeting”” is an informal conference with the RPC staff in order to ascertain whether the likely dispute is appropriate for 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 person 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 fact-finding, neutral evaluation, or advisory arbitration, or any combination of these 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 or regional public agency, including a special district, authority or school board.
    (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 Fl. Admin. Code R. 29F-3.103 Being a “”named party”” in the RDRP does not convey or limit standing of any judicial or administrative proceeding.
    (8) “”Representative”” is an authorized agent who is given guidance by a named party to represent the named party in an RDRP case. subsection 29F-3.103(5), 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. Fl. Admin. Code R. 29F-3.110, 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.
    (11) “”Settlement Agreements”” are voluntarily approved by the individual or governing body authorized to bind the named party. Agreements shall take the form of memorandums of understanding, contracts, interlocal agreements or other forms 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.
Rulemaking Authority 186.505 FS. Law Implemented Florida Statutes § 186.509. History-New12-8-99.