OVERVIEW - BACKGROUND - WHAT’S NEXT - PROCESS - PROJECT BUDGET - MEMBERS - TIMELINE

OVERVIEW

Vision 2030 is a collaborative citizen’s effort to define the future of the Yampa River Valley, gathering the wisdom of valley residents, updating the 1994 Vision 2020 Report, and creating collective stewardship of a community vision that retains and sustains our “heart and soul” assets for generations to come.

In the midst of rapid growth, it is easy to feel overwhelmed by the many changes occurring throughout the valley. Vision 2030 provides an opportunity for Routt County residents to join together with a common vision and determine ways to bring it to reality.

BACKGROUND

In 1994, Vision 2020 hosted community discussions about topics including education, transportation, economy, city planning and government. The discussions generated recommendations that, through seemingly intangible ideas, yielded very tangible results, the majority of which were citizen-led efforts including:

· First Impressions of Routt County, which supports early childhood education;

· Purchase of Development Rights program, which helps landowners use conservation easements to protect their land from future development;

· Routt County Open Lands Plan, which furthers open space needs addressed in Vision 2020 discussions;

· Yampa Valley Recycles, a County-wide recycling effort.

In addition, the Community Agriculture Alliance, Yampa Valley Partners and Yampa Valley Land Trust all at least in part originated in the Vision 2020 process. Vision 2030 will update these 1994 recommendations and discover and describe the core values that define a town or region’s “heart and soul” attributes, those unique features, resources, special places, and characteristics that, if lost, would fundamentally diminish the quality of community and sense of wellbeing that brought citizens here in the first place.

WHAT’S NEXT

The Vision 2030 Citizen’s Committee is urging residents throughout Routt County to be a part of shaping their future. Five Vision 2030 community gatherings were held this past November to gather residents perspectives and the Committee continues to seek resident’s ideas for what we hope to see feel or experience in our future through both online or hardcopy surveys.

Surveys will be completed and consolidated in April 2008, after which the group will compile, share and validate the findings from the Vision 2030 Fall Gatherings, Surveys and Review of Vision 2020 efforts late this Spring. In Fall of 2008, Vision 2030 intends to have another series of gathering with initial recommendations outlined, and exploring ‘desired future’ scenarios. The outcomes from these gatherings will be refined and compiled into the Vision 2030 Report of Recommendations in early 2009.

PROCESS
The two year update will be based upon a collaborative process emphasizing inclusive and diverse participation; relationship building and listening and learning. Prior to commencement, the Citizens Committee will develop a clear understanding of the objectives and strategies to achieve them.

• PHASE ONE—“INVITE”—COMMUNITY OUTREACH AND NETWORKING: Small group networking and outreach to community organizations, social and service networks, religious organizations, governmental entities and others for developing interest, inviting participation and begin to identify the “heart and soul” elements and assets of our area.
• PHASE TWO—“LISTEN AND LEARN”—DISCOVERY OF THE HEART AND SOUL: Large gatherings to continue to identify and refine community assets—the “heart and soul” of our region—along with the challenges we foresee through highly inclusive and engaging community meetings utilizing innovative technology to capture collective wisdom and prioritize the assets.
• PHASE THREE—“WHAT IF”, SCENARIO PLANNING: Defining the future through alternative scenario planning—discovering the “what if’s” of the future utilizing information discovered.
• PHASE FOUR—“DEFINING THE PATH”, DEVELOP RECOMMENDATION ACTIONS Develop recommendations and strategies for the vision and reflect and validate with communities
• PHASE FIVE—“IDEAS INTO ACTION” VISION STEWARDSHIP FOR THE FUTURE Community and regional celebrations to continue vision stewardship onward and defining future paths for decision-makers.

PROJECT BUDGET
The preliminary budget is based upon a two year project that will alleviate the administrative burden from our local planning department and administrative staff.

The maximum cost to the City and County each for two years is $38,500
Budget Items, and Assumptions – (Draft July 17, 2006)
Item Estimate

• Project Manager–two year implementation $ 90,000
• (mileage, phone, etc) 12,000
• Advertising 4,000
• Writing of final report 2,000
• Expenses for Meetings (refreshments, materials) 8,000
• Misc. program expenses (technology, digital media, etc.) 4,000
• Meeting Facilitation & Technology 10,000
• Design, production and printing of final report 10,000
• Distribution of final report 14,000
• Totals $154,000 for two year completion

Vision 2030 Update Documents

Citizens Committee update to Joint City/County Hearing (3/17/08)

Citizens Committee Update to Joint City/County Hearing (7/9/07)