Class A Political Team Process Summary
By Elly Jarvis
By Elly Jarvis
The goal of this sector of the political team was to incite change in the Escondido Creek water sampling ban in the City of Escondido. Identifying means to achieve this was the focus of our research for the first week. Some ideas that we had included looking for private properties in Escondido for TECC to sample on, or getting in touch with city council and begin understanding the process of requesting to sample water within their city boundaries.
We then began on our research and found out quickly how difficult it is to research private property owners on the web. Instead, we decided to go with our second idea, which was compelling Escondido City Council to give permission Escondido Creek Conservancy to sample inside city boundaries. Our first step on the path of success was finding out more about city leadership, by attending a city council meeting to find out more.
While at the city council meeting, one of us found out more about city leadership, the atmosphere, and how to speak at Oral Communications. With this knowledge we began contacting different city officials, such as the city clerk and city manager, through phone calls. Around this time, along with making phone calls we identified some of our potential collaborators and contacts. From them we found out a little more about proposing our item, and what they suggested to us was either going to Utilities or proposing our idea as an agenda item in Oral Communications. Ultimately we decided to present our idea in front of Escondido City Council during Oral Communications.
From there we wrote our speech and prepped for the meeting by arranging an interview with Simon Breen from TECC. When interviewing him we found out mostly more information on the benefits of sampling within the city boundaries of Escondido, but the main justification, we found out in the interview, why Escondido Creek should be allowed to sample within city limits is so that they can reintroduce Steelhead Trout into the creek. Finally, after all of our preparation, the two of us high-school students went in to face the Escondido City Council.
Our trip to the City Council meeting was very interesting. I believe we were successful making known the issue of why Escondido Creek Conservancy should be allowed the permission to sample within the boundaries of the City. Some information that we lacked, was backing up the process of how TECC was rejected when requesting to sample. This information we were not able yet to find out from the organization. A Council member also expressed to us after our speech, that they would like to help us proceed and perhaps offer us some of the city’s own water quality data.
After the meeting, we figured we had two steps we had to take, find out more about the process Escondido Creek Conservancy went through to request sampling in Escondido (who denied?) and find out how to receive water quality data from the City of Escondido. Our first step was coming into contact with a city official and find out how to obtain water quality records from the city concerning Escondido Creek. We were notified that we could file a records request, requesting the specific water quality data. After the request we were emailed that they would put the numerical water quality data, concerning Escondido Creek, on a disc and we would be able to pick it up at City Hall. We were ecstatic to receive the disc and began going through the data immediately, which a lot of we didn’t understand. We proceeded by emailing the Executive Director of TECC and asking if we could meet with her to go over the water quality data we had received and also to familiarize ourselves more with the process that they went through when requesting the City to sample. Unfortunately, where we are at now we will not be able to meet with the Executive Director because of the difficulty of scheduling. But after emailing Simon Breen, to discuss the data, it looks like we’ll be able to meet with a water quality team to go over the data we have from the city.
We then began on our research and found out quickly how difficult it is to research private property owners on the web. Instead, we decided to go with our second idea, which was compelling Escondido City Council to give permission Escondido Creek Conservancy to sample inside city boundaries. Our first step on the path of success was finding out more about city leadership, by attending a city council meeting to find out more.
While at the city council meeting, one of us found out more about city leadership, the atmosphere, and how to speak at Oral Communications. With this knowledge we began contacting different city officials, such as the city clerk and city manager, through phone calls. Around this time, along with making phone calls we identified some of our potential collaborators and contacts. From them we found out a little more about proposing our item, and what they suggested to us was either going to Utilities or proposing our idea as an agenda item in Oral Communications. Ultimately we decided to present our idea in front of Escondido City Council during Oral Communications.
From there we wrote our speech and prepped for the meeting by arranging an interview with Simon Breen from TECC. When interviewing him we found out mostly more information on the benefits of sampling within the city boundaries of Escondido, but the main justification, we found out in the interview, why Escondido Creek should be allowed to sample within city limits is so that they can reintroduce Steelhead Trout into the creek. Finally, after all of our preparation, the two of us high-school students went in to face the Escondido City Council.
Our trip to the City Council meeting was very interesting. I believe we were successful making known the issue of why Escondido Creek Conservancy should be allowed the permission to sample within the boundaries of the City. Some information that we lacked, was backing up the process of how TECC was rejected when requesting to sample. This information we were not able yet to find out from the organization. A Council member also expressed to us after our speech, that they would like to help us proceed and perhaps offer us some of the city’s own water quality data.
After the meeting, we figured we had two steps we had to take, find out more about the process Escondido Creek Conservancy went through to request sampling in Escondido (who denied?) and find out how to receive water quality data from the City of Escondido. Our first step was coming into contact with a city official and find out how to obtain water quality records from the city concerning Escondido Creek. We were notified that we could file a records request, requesting the specific water quality data. After the request we were emailed that they would put the numerical water quality data, concerning Escondido Creek, on a disc and we would be able to pick it up at City Hall. We were ecstatic to receive the disc and began going through the data immediately, which a lot of we didn’t understand. We proceeded by emailing the Executive Director of TECC and asking if we could meet with her to go over the water quality data we had received and also to familiarize ourselves more with the process that they went through when requesting the City to sample. Unfortunately, where we are at now we will not be able to meet with the Executive Director because of the difficulty of scheduling. But after emailing Simon Breen, to discuss the data, it looks like we’ll be able to meet with a water quality team to go over the data we have from the city.
Project Reflection
This project for me, was not like any other I had ever done. My partner and I were actually able to make a political change and make a speech for city council. The sampling data that we obtained was actually the first bit of organized data that Escondido Creek Conservancy has on the Escondido Creek area in Escondido. Going into this project I wasn't exactly sure what to expect, I definitely didn't think we would actually be able to speak to local authorities on a present issue in order to make a political change. The project at first was a little hard to get into, because we had a clear issue but we weren't sure how to go about solving the problem or atleast how to start our project. After much thought approaching the problem a number a ways, we decided to attack the source of the problem head on, which involved mkaing the issue known to city counil. While we were speaking of the sampling issue at Escondido City Hall, it was pretty nerve-racking standing in front political officials. Despite the nerves, we made our objective clear to the city council members and some say we even surprised them. From being on that team I am now more aware of the political change I can make even though I am only a student. It was very empowering to see that we have a voice in theses
types of issues if we only allow ourselves to. I’m definitely going to bring this knowledge into the world with me when I am older. I hope that next semester the next political team will take this job even further and find a solution to this political issue. The main lesson you can learn from being on this team is that political change isn’t as far from your fingertips as you think it is.
types of issues if we only allow ourselves to. I’m definitely going to bring this knowledge into the world with me when I am older. I hope that next semester the next political team will take this job even further and find a solution to this political issue. The main lesson you can learn from being on this team is that political change isn’t as far from your fingertips as you think it is.