CO Parks and Wildlife Comn Approve Implementation Plan

On February 9, 2012 the Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission unanimously approved the Merger Implementation Plan.  The Division of Parks and the Division of Wildlife merged effective July 1, 2011.  The press release from the Colorado Parks and Wildlife appears below.

News from Colorado Parks and Wildlife
Contact Name: Theo Stein Contact Phone: (720) 448-5567
PWC ADOPTS MERGER IMPLEMENTATION PLAN DENVER – Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commissioners unanimously approved a final implementation plan for the merger between Colorado State Parks and the Division of Wildlife at their monthly meeting Thursday. Developed by a transition team of employees from the former parks and wildlife divisions, the implementation plan will provide the basis for Director Rick Cables to begin the process of organizing the staff of the 880-employee agency and merging the state’s parks and wildlife programs. The plan will also be used to develop a report on the progress of the merger due to lawmakers at the end of the month. Cables told the commission that the merger implementation will be phased in over the coming months with some elements moving more rapidly than others. “The people we have in place and their experience levels will help us determine how quickly some functions are phased in,” Cables said. “Some things may be done sooner and some may take longer.” Commissioners expressed a strong desire to integrate the agency in all areas where efficiency and mission delivery will be enhanced. The 240-age merger plan recommended alternatives for many agency functions, including biologists and scientists, capitol development, customer service, field operations, financial services, marketing, property evaluation, education, real estate and geographic information services. The Colorado Parks and Wildlife Commission is a 14-member board appointed by the governor. The Parks and Wildlife Commission sets regulations and policies for Colorado’s state parks wildlife programs. To view the complete agenda for the February Parks and Wildlife Commission meeting, including the merger implementation plan, please go to the Commission web page at:http://wildlife.state.co.us/ParksWildlifeCommission/Archives/2012/Pages/ Feb9-10_2012.aspx. The Commission meets monthly and travels to communities around the state to facilitate public participation in its processes. The first three meetings of the year will take place in the Hunter Education Building at 6060 Broadway in Denver. For the remainder of 2012, the commission will hold meetings in Pueblo, Grand Junction, Craig, Sterling, Gunnison, Glenwood Springs, Durango, Yuma and Colorado Springs. For more news about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases<http://wildlife.state.co.us/NewsMedia/PressReleases/Pages/index.aspx> For more information about Division of Wildlife go to: http://wildlife.state.co.us.