[ad_1]
Taking a turn to forge a vision statement for what Livermore should aspire to be in 2045, the city’s planning commission on November 16 dissected a proposed 100-word paragraph for nearly two hours, suggesting adding more sentences. comprising “jobs”, “honor”, “biological diversity” and “breweries”.
The commission’s editing process followed community outreach, the work of staff and consultants, and discussions between an appointed committee of 19 members to create a proposed vision statement and guiding principles that will inspire the rewrite of the commission. general city plan for community growth and development until 2045. The current general plan drawn up in 2004 expires in 2025 and state law requires a new one.
“’Resilience’ would be a good word to have somewhere here,†Planning Commission Chairman Jacob Anderson said in a discussion that focused on the spiciness of the proposed verbiage and shifted the focus from cliché buzzwords to realism.
The process of writing a new general plan began in March when city council hired consulting firm PlaceWorks and appointed residents to a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC) to initiate discussions and conduct outreach activities. community. The consultants visited parks, libraries, farmers’ markets and other places to survey residents, asking for their opinions on what they liked about Livermore and what they would like to see in its future.
Joanna Jansen, senior manager of the PlaceWorks Bay Area office – which works on general plans for many cities in California – said residents of Livermore pointed out many positives about the city, offering words such as ” small town, â€â€œ friendly â€safe,†“downtown,†“restaurants,†“schools,†“parks,†and “open space.†Residents also identified negative aspects, such as traffic jams, lack of ‘Affordable and diverse housing options, limited public transit, parking and roaming.
Jansen described the vision statement as if “someone dropped you off at Livermore in 2045 and you were looking around. What would be the best vision of Livermore that you would like to see? She described the guiding principles as values ​​for “the way we make decisions – how we work together to manifest this physical embodiment.”
When asked about their vision for the city in 2045, residents cited maintaining a small town atmosphere with a vibrant downtown, a safe and healthy community, a strong economy, a variety of housing options and spaces. open, Jansen said.
The contribution resulted in a proposed vision statement which reads as follows:
“In 2045, Livermore is a safe and welcoming community with a big heart where diverse people share a connection to the city and to each other. Residents and visitors alike enjoy a vibrant, active and clean downtown. Walking, cycling and public transport are pleasant and convenient. Livermore maintains a healthy local economy, and families of all income levels find a variety of housing choices close to well-maintained parks, shopping and exceptional schools. The community values ​​its agricultural heritage and the open natural spaces that surround the city. Residents remember the small town of Livermore roots as they plan for the future, fostering a tight-knit place where civic life and opportunity thrive. “
Thanking the GPAC, Jansen and city staff for their work, the job of the five-member Planning Commission then was to critique the language of the proposed vision statement, come up with suggestions for improvements, ask for staff to redo it and send a new version to the city. advice for another discussion in December.
Anderson went through the paragraphs line by line, saying the statement should reflect a vibrant city, not just the inner city, and focus on sustaining a healthy economy that attracts families of all income levels to housing. and diverse jobs, great stores, clean parks and high schools.
The proposed statement, he said, seemed passive. So Anderson prepared his own 140-word version that he had prepared ahead of time as a suggestion and read it aloud:
“In 2045, Livermore will continue to be a wonderful place like no other with a safe and welcoming community for all, where diverse people share a connection to the city and to each other. Residents and visitors alike enjoy clean and vibrant shopping spaces, a place where walking, biking and public transit are fun and convenient. Livermore will maintain a healthy local economy, resilient to a changing world. Individuals and families of all income levels find a variety of housing choices, close to well-maintained arts, shopping, jobs and exceptional schools. The community values ​​and works to preserve its agricultural heritage and the open natural spaces that surround the city. Livermore also continues its commitment to science, technology and broad artistic genres. Residents honor the big-hearted roots of the small town of Livermore as they plan for the future, fostering a tight-knit community where civic life and opportunity thrive. “
Anderson’s colleagues seemed to appreciate it and offered other suggestions, such as Commissioner John Stein’s emphasis on including phrases on biodiversity and climate change. When asked to sum up what the panel wanted in a revised statement, senior planner Andy Ross and Jansen quickly explained it: more aspiration with phrases like resilience, economic sustainability, cultural amenities and even the word breweries to reflect more than the city’s wine industry.
The panel unanimously approved his review and sent Ross and Jansen to rewrite a new version. This version will go next to the city council.
[ad_2]
