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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1989-08-14 89-345 ORDER,......... �....... 89-345 Date - A L qqq Item No. Item/$ubjM: Council Order Adopting Citizen Participation Plan Responsible Department Department of Coussonity and Econ®ic Development Commentary: Plam ing Staff has proposed that the Council adopt a citizen participation plan as part of the coapreheneive planning process. The proposed plan includes both formal end sensual public discussions and an outreach effort to solicit input frrm the general public along with the business consosnitya neighborhood groups and developsuent interests. The plan is designed to meet the requirements'pf the State's Growth Management Law. nt Hmd M�anager's� Comments: (MT�^+MAl/' I µ h4e 4c✓�.WAhEo%C. uURaf✓t4r^o "jl^a CifYMmugn Associated Information:QxAvI r O, Budget Approval: Pim ee Dire Legal Approval: 0, k, n Cry so uioa tv ad o inFyody��lr `B m9e F O First ReaEin9 Page _of— ❑Referral 89-345 Aemigmdto Couneflor Sosnaud, August 14, 1989 CITY OF BANGOR (TITLE.) (Order, Adopting citizen Participation Program BY the GUY CVURCH of the City OfBmnYnr: ORDERED, THAT WHEREAS, the City is in the process of updating its Comprehensive Plan; and WHEREAS, the City is anxious to solicit input from the general citizenry and those groups that are specifically involved in the development of the community; and WHEREAS, it is important to promote an exchange of ideas and information regarding community needs and values during the planning process; and WHEREAS, it is the intent of the City to meet the citizen participation requirements of the State of Maine's Growth _ Management Law. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDERED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BANGOR, THAT the City of Bangor .shall adopt the attached citizen participation program as an integral part of its comprehensive planning process. In city Council August 14,1989 PaeszL n(I Ci y Clerk 89-345 ORDER Title, Adopting Citizen Participation ...................................... PI rm ...................................... AsdWmA to Cowcflman 99-345 purpose The objectives of a citizen participation program as part Of the Comprehensive Plan Revision include several key ones. 1. To involve citizens in the comprehensive planning pro- cess, which will lead to the update Of their comprehon- siva plan. 2. To promote an exchange of ideas and information reflect- ing community needs and values. 3. Based upon 1 and 2, above, to lay the ground work for understanding and acceptance of the community's plan and provide support for the necessary implementing actions. 4. To meet the intent and requirements of the Growth Man- agement Law and State Guidelines. Approach To be effective a citizen participation program must be multifaceted. In this endeavor a others, the motto Is "don't put your eggs i e basket." Therefore, the Citizen Participation Program proposed includes a wide range of activi- ties including an initial survey of c nity attitudes and issues, media publicity, extensive contact with municipal and area officials and boards, development of a focus group concept to target unofficial groups in the community to review planning a issues, the u v of s clubs and other community oforums for informational purposes and, finally, the provision Of continuity throughout the process by the Comprehensive Plan Committee, the City Council and Planning Board involvement with formal public hearings before plan adoption. Process The way in which this approach will be carried out is as followsf 1. Development of the Plan Revision needs, the marshalling of resources to support the activity, the establishment of the Comprehensive Plan Committee and the Citizen Participation Program through City Council and Planning Board and key City Officials input. 2. The design and distribution of a Community Survey to solicit comments from citizens regarding the City School System, a range Of existing City services, and a number 89-345 of future issues relating to economic development and physical development of the City. 3. Broad involvement of City Staff and City Volunteer Committees in the data -gathering and analysis phase and the review of planning issues includingi Bangor Planning Board Bangor City Council Bangor School Board Bangor Water District Bangor Economic Development Advisory Commission Bangor Historic Preservation Commission Bangor Zoning Board of Appeals Bangor Recreation Advisory Committee Bangor Center Development Corporation Bangor Center Management Corporation Community Development Advisory Committee And others 4. Establishment of a focus group forum to review initial findings and issues riz m sed by the community survey and various other groups. This activity would include a mixture of persons involved in various facets of the community, including rio for example a) The development community b) The real estate community c) The financial community d) Neighborhood groups (including existing groups such as the East Side Neighborhood Association, the Orchard Hills Homeowners Association, and other informal neighborhood groups which can be identified). S. Presentations of plan findings and recommendations to service clubs and other public forums.om 6. The periodic u of newspaper and electronic media to highlight planning is , findings, and endations willbepart of the process from starm tto finish. The process will include basically three phasesi 1) The initial involvement phase including organiza- tion of the City's Staff, Comprehensive Plan Com- mittee and the citizen survey and its attendant publicity. 2) A review and comment phase after the inventory, and data gathering is complete and initial issues have been identified. 89-343 3) Review of the seven maJor planning elements and the various recommendations of the plan prior to v final r of plan elements and the formal adoption process. 4) A formal public hearing process priory to plan adoption.