Kimberly White — August 8, 2022

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    White-Kimberly-reply-to-Finney-Brad-2022-08-08-pro-Advisory-Committee.pdf

     

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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
    CAUTION: This email originated from outside of the organization. Do not click links or open attachments unless you recognize the sender and know the content is safe.

    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