vision2020@moscow.com: Farewell remarks

Farewell remarks

Kenton (90142419@WSUVM1.CSC.WSU.EDU)
Fri, 16 Aug 96 15:23:36 PDT

Dear Visionaries,
At last week's pool party, Steve Cooke asked me if I had any advice for
Vision 2020 before I left Moscow for Colorado. After giving it some
thought, here are some ideas (in no particular order) on how to keep
people interested and involved in local issues:
1. Use and promote the listserver. At last count, we had about 50
subscribers to this list -- down from our peak of 70-plus at the time
the server crashed last March. The latest Co-Op newsletter has a blurb
encouraging people to sign up... a press release to local media after
school resumes would be good as well. There must be at least 100 people
in Moscow and pullman who would enjoy and benefit from participating.
Although the initial novelty has worn off, the list still serves a valuable
function in notifying people of meetings, hearings, etc., as well as
providing a forum for discussion and debate. Encourage local agencies --
planning departments in particular -- to post agendas for meetings several
days in advance.
2. Follow the city of Moscow comprehensive plan process. The concepts
laid out in the plan will guide growth the next 10 years. Pay special
attention to the sections on population, economy and natural resources
(which includes water supply). Maybe it's time to designate someone to
attend P&Z meetings and report on what happens to the list-server...
maybe on a rotating basis?
3. Get involved in the city's advisory boards and commissions. There are
vacancies on the Bicycle Advisory Commission, the Tree Committee (I think)
and there may be one opening on the P&Z. These are great ways to influence
policy without a lot of time commitment... and they provide good training
for potential city council candidates. (Remember, the mayor and half the
council will be up for election in the fall of 1997.)
Don't forget the Economic Development Council, a quasi-public body, which
recruits new members every year and will have a large voice in the type of
tenants that go into the new Business/Technology Park.
4. Don't overlook the County Commissioner races on the ballot in November.
Cathy Rouyer is running against Tom Spangler in Zone 1 and Lorecca Stauber
is running against the person who defeated Shirley Greene in the Republican
primary. I know both Cathy and Lorecca and think they'd both be fine
commissioners. They can have a lot of influence and how and where growth
takes place in rural areas of Latah County.
5. Vision 2020 should continue to explore innovative, creative, non-traditional
planning methods -- contests, noon discussion series, photo exhibits,
dramatic readings, guest speakers, etc. Give the public an alternative
to traditional public hearings and they'll participate. Maybe two or
three events a year are all that we busy people can be expected to organize.
6. Cultivate a productive working relationship with the new editor of the
Daily News, Mark Trahant, who begins work MOnday. Mark has written
thoughtfully in the past about the effects of growth on Utah. He might be
receptive to the idea of a monthly Vision 2020 column on growth and its
ramifications (perhaps alternating between Moscow and Pullman issues?)
He also might be willing to increase the amount of staff time and newspaper
space devoted to covering planning issues.

Now for the real farewell address:
Kbird@vines.colostate.edu
That will be effective Aug. 22, and I'll resubscribe to the list from there.

I'll be back in Moscow in mid-May to resume work on my dissertation.
(Plus probably two weeks at Christmas.) Keep me informed via e-mail.

live long and prosper,
Kenton

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