vision2020
City Planning and the Citizen
Title: City Planning and the Citizen
Dear Visionaries: Did you see Ted McDonough's piece in the Aug 5
DN (lower front p.) on all the plans underway (some apparently well
along in fact) to remake the face of "downtown Moscow:? Sounds
like an exciting venture with Councilwoman JoAnn Mack in the saddle.
Because so very few details were reported on the dimensions, data
bases, goals, impacts, etc. on our fair city, I wrote Ms. Mack to
inquire some info. so that those of us who also pay taxes and want to
live here into the future (and our children?) might have a better
grasp of what is going on, and how we the citizens could be better
involved. It would seem that many millions of $$ are involved here,
and someone will be paying for it as well as enjoying the results of
what is in the hopper.In fact, we ought to hold another community
caucus on community development like the Feb. one, in order to become
better participants in public affairs affecting us. Your comments are
most welcome! Thanks. W. Ken Medlin
Councilwoman JoAnn Mack
824 Park Drive
Moscow, ID 83843
Dear Ms. Mack:
The Daily News report
(Aug. 5) concerning the planning initiatives now underway to
"revitalize" downtown Moscow (identified as a kind of perimeter
to existing urban configurations) included attractive concepts and
goals for the future of our city. Based on the skeletal information
given in Ted McDonough's article, one can gather that, in fact,
planning work is well along, especially from the University's side,
and that city and entrepreneurial resources are more or less
committed to engage in planning activities.
If this be the case, I and others would much
appreciate having more detailed information about what has been and
is going on. While we realize that certain segments of institutional
commitments are private and have no official obligation to share
information, the fact that you are a city official wearing several
"hats", it seems very legitimate to ask for fuller disclosure of
the ongoing processes.
Some of our
questions begging more information are --
1)
what systematic representative means are intended both to keep the
citizenry well informed and to involve citizens in the development
projects? (Studies show that trust is the most salient factor
relating to people satisfaction with urban-rural community
development)
2)
what demographic data bases are intended to secure reasonably sound
estimates of growth over the period for planned development?
3)
what estimates are there of the amount of financial and other
encumberments that will devolve on local government as a result of
the plan implementation?
4)
what federal (block grant) and state funds are being considered to
supplement private and public funds (bonds, taxes) to finance
development?
5)
what impacts, changes or revisions in regard to urban traffic
patterns, congestion, pedestrian access, etc. are being
considered?
6)
what indicators of the quality of community life are being
considered to ensure that present amenities and life quality will be
main-
tained or enhanced?
There are other
considerations, to be sure, but these loom as the most urgent. Could
you kindly respond as soon as feasible? Thank
you.
Sincerely,
William K. Medlin (PhD)
CC: Ted McDonough
Steve Busch
Linda Pall
Shirley Ringo
Tom Trail
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