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From: Kimberley White [email protected]
Date: August 9, 2022 09:22:58
Subject: Re: support for the proposed Gateway Plan Advisory Committee
To: Brad Finney [email protected]
Brad,
Thank you for your input on the advisory committee and thank you for your work on the wastewater treatment plant advisory committee in the past. I agree with you, a task-force/committee is essential as we move forward with the Gateway Area Plan. It will actually speed up the process in the long run preventing both log jams and public mistrust. Transparency and community “buy in” is key. More than community “buy in”, it should be community driven with recommendations given to staff, City Council and the Planning Commission.
When I attended Cal Poly Humboldt, where I received my MA in Sociology, my thesis project was directed by “participatory” action research where the client or project was driven by community stakeholders. I am really hoping our City Council will consider the importance of bringing in the voices of the community as well as the diverse expertise our incredible community has to offer.
As you pointed out, the water treatment plant citizens advisory committee is a perfect example and it is has served us well now for over 35 years. I am looking forward to hearing what such a committee can do with our next big project, the Gateway Area Plan.
In solidarity,
Kimberley White
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From: Brad Finney <[email protected]>
Sent: Monday, August 8, 2022 10:45:19 PM
To: Julie Vaissade-Elcock <[email protected]>; Scott Davie <[email protected]>; John
Barstow <[email protected]>; Christian Figueroa <[email protected]>; Judith Mayer
<[email protected]>; Dan Tangney <[email protected]>; Kimberley White
<[email protected]>; Jennifer Dart <[email protected]>
Subject: support for the proposed Gateway Plan Advisory Committee
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Arcata Planning Commission Members
Hi. First off, thanks to all of you for your service to the City of
Arcata. As a resident of Arcata for the past 43 years, I value the
slow(er) paced lifestyle of our community, and the thoughtful planning
that has resulted in moderate development that “fits in” over the past
four decades. Arcata has often used citizen advisory committees to help
guide the planning of major projects within the City. Along with a a
number of other citizens that had a remarkably diverse background, I
served on such an advisory committee in the 1980s when the City was
planning on upgrading the waste treatment facility, . Our committee was
instrumental in developing a facility planning document that
incorporated input from a wide array of stakeholders (customers) that
ultimately diffused a number of contentious issues and resulted in the
waste treatment facility that has served the community for the past 35
years. I would encourage you to adapt the same sort of strategy for the
Gateway Development Plan, using a citizen based advisory committee
working with City staff to a plan that identifies and then addresses the
range of opinions and concerns the community has concerning this issue.
While it might seem like a detour to slow the process down while the
advisory committee works, I believe that ultimately the resulting plan
will be better supported by the community and implementation of the new
development will be smoother and quicker.
Thanks for considering this request.
Brad Finney
—
Brad Finney
Professor, Environmental Resources Engineering
Cal Poly Humboldt, Arcata, CA 95521