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Show PAGE THE ZEPHYR APRIL 1995 Anyone Interested in this meeting or future meetings of the Colorado Plateau Forum please give me a calL I will be glad add you to the CPF mailing list. Undoubtedly a dues structure will be set up to help defray costs, but will not exdude anyone from membership. Rinding sources should not be scarce since a number of large corporations have a stake on land management decisions. The steering committee recognizes the possibility of perceived conflict of interests and will avoid them. FROM DIALOGUE TO ACTION-MARC- H COMMUNITY CENTER 11, A non detailed report of the meeting. Yet another meeting. Not only that but another meeting about developing a Grand County Master Plan. The meeting was well attended by around one hundred optimistic; enthusiastic souls at the Grand County Community Center. The Sonoran Institute, which was contracted by Grand County to facilitate and develop a Master Plan document, performed a professional, and difficult task, maintaining the interest level for many skeptical participants during the entire day. There are always excuses for not attending another damn meeting, especially when asked to donate an entire day to a seemingly impossible task of developing a consensus on how to implement clearly identified community ideals and incorporate them into a Master Plan. Luther Probst, The Sonoran Institute point man and with a competent staff, gathered community input at tables set up in front of City Market and Best Value Foods on the "how to" develop an action plan. It is based on already accumulated facts from hearings held by Dr. David Bell of the University of Utah, a previously drafted, though rejected Master Plan, and the 1988 version of a Master Plan along with additional community surveys conducted during the past couple of years. 1995-MO- AB Former Grand County Councilman and the author of this story, Paul Menard. The recommendations from community members who visited the walk up centers though not in attendance at the Community Center meeting, were posted in the Civic Center for review. The gathering was divided into eight randomly selected groups, with instructions to develop a list of items deemed important enough to indude in a Master Plan. The list was narrowed, by combining similar topic areas, to three; four or five major areas of concern. Then each group posted their findings for every other group to review. The items identified had to be unanimously endorsed by everyone in the group. From this exercise eight categories were listed. Individuals then chose a category they were most concerned with and gathered at tables set aside for each specific group. They were then instructed to develop an action plan to indude strategies for addressing the problems; a time line to prepare possible solutions to the problems and a plan to identify who would accomplish each of these miracles. The Sonoran Institute will generate a report of this exercise induding a complete list of conoems that were not addressed by the groups in (he final exercise but Identified in the initial exerdse. This report will be provided to each partidpant and several hundred copies will be available to the public for review. 11 Line land development concerns. Then there is the Mother of all issues; ZONING. These three areas of concern faced the toughest assignments. Ideas about swapping sensitive lands for equally valuable developable lands were discussed. The concept of establishing a Sensitive Lands Trust Fund was put fourth which might be funded through public and private sources. Zoning is central to any planning process. Zoning is THE issue that will draw blood and bring the ire of a heretofore unheard from constituency. There are no simple solutions. Among those things that must be addressed is recognizing die differences between Qty and County values or integrity of character. Private property rights always headed lists of concerns when land use was discussed. Infrastructure plan ningfun ding is a very important concern for everyone living here today and tomorrow. They suggested preparing a community capital improvements plan, CC1P. They identified a need to determine present capadties and demands, and the need to prioritize those infrastructure components requiring attention. There is a need to identify revenue sources. And there is a need to enumerate current expenditures, new capital, construction needs, and funding opportunities. We must examine present revenue sources and how they are distributed, such as the Mineral Lease Monies, and ascertain the best use of those monies. Community sociological issues were represented by a another group of activists. They identified concerns with education, family ties and development of a sense of community spirit through cultivation of arts, music, community centered programs, concerts. Some suggestions centered around a vie organizations that could sponsor different events throughout the year. Inter Government Relations. This group suggested creation of two action groups. One group would be modeled after the Canyon Country Partnership, but more localized in area of concern. This group requires the participation of Federal, State and Local Governments, as well as school districts, and special service districts, law enforcement agencies, hospital and other entities that need to be in contact with each other to acknowledge problems. It needs to develop solution schemes and cooperative efforts to enhance a feeling of a community in harmony rather than a community fractionalized by numerous spedal interest groups that are constantly at odds with each other. Another proposed action group was a "Grand Citizens Council to examine efficiency in local review possible consolidation of services, dty county special service government, districtsvaxious boards etc., and quantify pcssible savings for taxpayers. They would then make recommendations to the entities involved and, if ignored, take the issues to the citizenry via the referendum process. I like this one! Each entity tends to covet its territory to the extreme (believe me I know) and the only way the citizens can make them pay attention is via active involvement through the referendum process. In summary, it is my opinion that we need to actively accomplish the tasks outlined by the above groups and then some. It is also important to mention that the group collectively endorsed the action plans for all of the groups. Keep in mind that a MASTER PLAN can be a document two paragraphs in length or several thousand pages long, but neither extreme is set in stone. A Master Plan must be a living document, reexamined on a regular basis and adjusted to meet current needs if applicable. It should act as a well thought out guideline for land use decisions for decades to come. Adopting a Master Plan is absolutely mandatory before a community can avail itself of legal authority to implement things such as impact fees. Community participation is required for an effective document to be drawn up. All groups stressed development of strategies to present to the people for approval before implementation of a Master Plan. Though I commend all those willing to take the time to participate in this process and attend the meetings I still must point out that a great number of citizens don't seem to are until their toes are stepped cm. Now is the time to protect your toes! Several well known advocates for various spedal interests made brief appearances as if to show their disdain for yet another meeting but departed post haste. Elected officials present were Paul Seibert Moab Qty Council. John Maynard, Bill Hedden, Peter Haney and Ken Ballantyne from the County Council. County Planning & Zoning Commission members were present Copies of the Sonoran Institute repot will be available within six weeks. In the meantime encourage you to volunteer on one or more of the committees. This is a painful, time consuming process for which you will receive only grief, but hey, what the hell? It's your community, take responsibility for its future. Call the County Council for more detailed information and get involved. 1 O.K. so what did this participant think of the proceedings? My final judgement will depend on the report generated by the Sonoran Institute. There is much work to be done. A news release will be published in the that will identify working groups and provide the names and phone numbers of contact people for those interested in participation. Here is what concerned us the most.. There was a great deal of emphasis on agriculture, how to maintain and encourage development of it in Spanish Valley by green belt tax breaks etc. The affordable housing table was well attended. They want to assess needs; examine options such as tax incentives and zoning to encourage development of affordable housing. A definition of "affordable" housing is needed. Two groups, possibly three, overlapped their concerns and discussion. One group was concerned with County Wide Sensitive Lands; another group looked at Spanish Valley it Ridge Timcs-Independe- nt SPRING COMMUNITY ART SHOW GUIDELINES . We tried to come up with a theme for our Spring show, but nothing would stick. Finally, we've decided maybe its appropriate in a town without a theme to have.. i AN ART SHOW WITHOUT A THEME-ELIGIBILITY: Any community member with an art project may display. If the walls and tables fill up, we've rezoned the ceiling and sidewalk to cram in your controversial project SIZE: We have a very limited space this year, so small is good. Smaller is better. But do you are if you crowd out your neighbors? c MEDIA: We like art, but hell.. if you're comfortable with fumes and hazardous waste... well, any tiling goes. IMPACT: If we have to bolster the infrastructure at the gallery to hang your piece, we may ask you to a bond to pay for its eventual removal. APPROPRIATENESS: Just because your work would look better hanging elsewhere, don't let that stop you. After aO, did anyone care that the new project in your neighborhood didnt fit in? RESTRICTIONS: All work must be ready for display. If we have to prop it up, paste it up, or figure out how to hang it, we won't. Somewhere cm your piece you must have your phone number. WHEN: The show begins APRIL 19. Work an be dropped off April 16 or 17, and must be picked up on May 11 We are not responsible for work left after May 19. HELPFUL PHRASES: Individual property rights; diversity, recycle, pave the valley, fast food chains, "If you're for it. I'm for it," and "What master plan?" non-toxi- jxt I THE WESTERN PLAZA, NEXT TO McSTIFFS. .259-726- 5 "environ-mcntalists- ," RECimOS 7TfURSD.tr APRIL BBSS 20 M 1 I |