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Show ( t x "Tt . THE ZEPHYRjANFEB 00 Many of Moab's long-ter- m residents are now going along with the changes thrust upon them. Some have become entrepreneurs In visitor or retiree serving businesses. Some have even Joined modern-da- y refugees from the crowds In and guiding outfitting, the arts, computer and communication based services, as-.well as traditional population serving businesses. Consequently, even though employment dropped 37 percent, Grand County population declined by less than half as much, once again stabilizing at the 1960-- 74 level. Retirees and alternative lifestyle seekers moved In. Many Job losers found ways to stay. Moabs tradition of adapting to whatever comes along, by hustllng work, and substituting lifestyle and natural amenities for lost Income, kept the community together. Thus, we still have the most diverse population in Utah. And we must have one of the most enterprising populations on the Colorado Plateau because sq many lived well through a time of extremely limited economic opportunity. The diversity and Innovative personality of our culture means that newcomers, no matter what their background, not only achieve their dreams of living with nature at her best, they also find residents with common Interests and cultural stimulation. Retirees find heaven, driving Jeeps along old prospecting trails. Like all evangelicals, they work hard at recruiting members to their community. "Outside" magazine has proclaimed Moab to be the "Aspen of mountain biking." The University of Utah College of Fine Arts has established a graduate center In surplus school buildings. A new golf course matches the beauty of Its setting. Every report from the Parks proclaims new record breaking numbers of visitors. the community proclaimed Its willingness to sacrifice Immediate economic gain to preserve diversity and lifestyle ds vote It rejected by a proposed toxic waste Incinerator. Recent elections, public hearings, town and neighborhood meetings Indicate a predominant sense very different from the rest of Southern Utah: preservation of outstanding environmental amenities Is to sustain the economy. necessary In 1988 two-thir- DIVERSITY PREFERRED OVER SOLIDARITY discourages speculators and enables developers to plan their efforts In a way that helps achieve the community's desire. A community with a vision Is not at the mercy of a dominant developer, a single Industry, or cycles of boom and bust. .. r Such guidance seems simple enough, even achievable.. The human knowledge and energy we need to master our own destiny lie In the Incredible variety of skills, experience, education, and background that described our diversity. . History has dealt us an unprecedented opportunity to determine for ourselves the direction to follow. But, direction requires leaderships The only entitles that can represent the will of the people are the ones we elect, local governments. If we truly want to call our own shots we must help local government find the patience and Initiative to to listen to the public, negotiate, gain consensus, develop a vision, manage make the rules, and carry them ouL ; PHASE II: A VISION FOR THE FUTURE Phase II Is underway, again sponsored by Canyonlands Reid Institute. The aim is to work with the community In preparing a Vision For The Future that provides concrete, positive recommendations for beleaguered local officials who complain that everybody comes to them with problems but no viable solutions. The procedure will be to conduct a series of workshops to find out the kind of community people want and to prepare concrete recommendations for managing the Impacts of growth. Each workshop will be facilitated by persons with extensive experience and expertise on the Issues, some will be from places we are warned not to Imitate. Workshop participants will be Grand County residents who may volunteer or will be recruited for their Interest In the Issues. Recommendations for action programs will be drawn from each workshop, reconciled and compiled Into an overall Vision. The workshops will be conducted during February In a public place. All residents will be encouraged to observe them. Time will be allocated for comments from the floor. Stay tuned for announcements of dates and place. Castle Canyon Nursery THE PERFECT GIFT is the one that grows START YOUR FAMILY HOLIDAY TRADITION THIS YEAR WITH A LIVE TREE (FROM $6). r ri r, PAGE 11 There Is no question, Moabites prefer diversity to solidarity. Upstate media people find this Intriguing. But they Intend to simplify our Issues by assuming that our public discourse centers on the same dichotomy dominating the rest of Southern Utah the notion that one Is either for unbridled economic development environmentalist Is extreme an or one Political leaders In other rural counties maintain solidarity by promulgating this simplistic notion. What the media have yet to discover Is that Grand County has redefined the terms of debate. Last winters Town and Neighborhood Meetings proved we are thoughtful live and let Pve. Underlying our people who believe In mutual consideration differences Is an unspoken agreement: there Is no one way to work, no one way to live, no one Ideal that must prevalL Willingness to participate In the new economy Is not an Ideological statement Speaking out for ones own thing Is not selfish because we are trying to preserve the diversity of the whole by protecting the Integrity of the parts. And the people's voices at those Town and Neighborhood Meetings made It undeniably clear that the public expects Its local elected officials to manage change for the ooiod of all. ? ' ' - . CHANGE THREATENS LIFESTYLE t ' Moabites do their best to take change In stride. We still have solitude, clean air and water, and the glorious canyon country. There Is a new sense of economic opportunity and excitement Past community goals set by the Grand United Future seem to have been or are about to be achieved through the Rne Arts Center, the visitor center, the equestrian center, housing sales golf course, the multi-agen- cy and more. Moab has emerged as a destination for outdoor recreatlonlsts. So, why. worry? Well, along with the ringing cash registers and the polyglot crowd In the supermarket remember the hordes of campers who covered every Inch of the river corridor and other places last spring. They used the land and river to fill their needs from firewood to waste dlsposaL Among the hordes are people from places like Aspen, Santa Fe, and Jackson Hole who can hardly wait to explain how their towns were ruined by success. Ruined, they say, by Increasing wealth and congestion, higher taxes and corruption, all at the expense of the community and environment that attracted the growth. , In spite of these warnings, much public consternation over the crowds, and the creation of the Blue Ribbon Committee, what have we done but place some portable toilets and commit hundreds of thousands of dollars for even more travel promotion? The BLM wants to spend millions and the County Road Board wants to put us In debt for. years building new roads without asking If, under new circumstances, that Is the best kind of development We all are stirring the pot, but we dont know what Is brewing. We only know that change Is coming fast and we are III prepared to deal with It MANAGE CHANGE Through "Grand County Looks At Itself" the people of Grand County have spoken. Managing the Impacts of large numbers of visitors, protecting natural and Improvement of facilities are our highest priorities. amenities, clean-u- p, Instead of a trendy resort we want a mixed economy not dominated by a single Industry. Were not willing to stand by until a dynamic force moves In to take over. What these priorities mean is that we must start managing the changes now, not later. Changes can be, and usually are, accommodated by crisis management, a reactive form of management that Is aimless and formless. Actually managing change to benefit the community cant happen unless the managers know what the community wants to become. local government Thus, It Is time to create a vision to guide our managers and boards, planning commissions, and economic development agents. A Vision For The Future explains the kind of community residents want and present policies to guide public decision making. A Vision For The Future Dan OLanrie Museum 118 East Center Street Moab, UT 84532 You are cordially invited to join a select audience for... quarterly explorations of the Colorado Plateau JqJjj lTJg DAN OLAURIE MUSEUM a $25.00 membership includes a subscription to the Museums quarterly Canyon Legacy . special offer receive all four 1989 issues, specially packaged for $16.00 complete landscaping scivlccs 259:827.4 , call anytime free moah dclivciy .i v,.. . WwrfTOrent nhi in Cmymlmit i ' ' w . Dan OLaurie Museum P.O. Box 624 Moab, Utah 84532 |
