On Fri, 16 Aug 1996, Kenton wrote:
> 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
>