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17 <br /> 1 suggested for smaller issues they don't anticipate taking as much time, to just keep this in mind <br /> 2 and don't spend a lot of time on it. But for larger issues which will take a lot of time, have a <br /> 3 dedicated work session where we do what we did today and spend time admiring the program. <br /> 4 Might not be able to do it for everything,but we could try it once in the spring and in the fall <br /> 5 with a topic and see how it works for us. <br /> 6 <br /> 7 Chair Rich emphasized the need for flexibility in determining when to apply systems thinking. <br /> 8 She expressed not wanting systems thinking to stop us from having free flowing ideas like what <br /> 9 would be needed in emergency situations or items that come up throughout the year that might <br /> 10 need some money spent on them. <br /> 11 <br /> 12 Commissioner Greene said the day was a good introduction to systems thinking and she <br /> 13 wondered about what the next steps are for the food/hunger issue. The board has started to <br /> 14 explore the topic at the retreat and she wanted to know how the board will bring a solution <br /> 15 forward. <br /> 16 <br /> 17 Commissioner Bedford said this type of thinking does take time and wondered what it might <br /> 18 look like if they applied it—rather than the usual Task Force. For example, she brought up PreK <br /> 19 and reflected the focusing question for PreK could be, "Why aren't children ready for <br /> 20 kindergarten?"This type of thinking process may help with this issue. She mentioned the <br /> 21 understanding to challenge assumptions and make sure the right question will be asked. <br /> 22 <br /> 23 Commissioner Bedford said she appreciated the video at lunch and wanted to remember how to <br /> 24 get the other stories—should be an issue for governments. <br /> 25 <br /> 26 Chair Rich said it is important to have achievable goals at the end of every retreat. What is our <br /> 27 achievable goal? What will we say we have as our goals six months or a year out of this? <br /> 28 <br /> 29 Commissioner Marcoplos gave the example of it being at the end of meetings and it is 1 1pm and <br /> 30 an issue comes up and they take about 10% of the time needed to discuss before making a <br /> 31 decision. He stated he would like to avoid this and make sure there is time for discussion. <br /> 32 <br /> 33 Chair Rich noted you can ask to table an issue to the next meeting. <br /> 34 <br /> 35 Commissioner Marcoplos said sometimes it happens quickly and we're all ready to get home. <br /> 36 <br /> 37 Commissioner Dorosin shared his reflection that there is a need for short-term solutions. As <br /> 38 elected officials, he noted, we need to be wary of thinking of systems thinking as external. When <br /> 39 we talk about systems thinking, we as the policy makers in the County are the system and can <br /> 40 change the system from the inside as opposed to being an activist or a nonprofit group trying to <br /> 41 change the system from the outside. We are the people whose decisions entrench or expand those <br /> 42 institutionalized processes or change them. Universal pre-k or kindergarten readiness is a good <br /> 43 example. When we think about how to fix it, we're not looking at an external system; it's a <br /> 44 system we have a hand in creating and influencing and changing. One of the slides was about <br /> 45 how the system is working the way it's designed for it to work. We might say we want everyone <br /> 46 to have enough food,but the policies we've put into place or are continuing to put in place are <br />