Consideration of Appointments: Regional Plan Citizen Advisory Committee

The City Council, during its September 11, 2012, work session, asked for further discussion of potential appointment(s) to the Regional Plan Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC).  An attached memo provides the background information requested by Council, including:
1. Current Committee Roster with self-selected ‘category’ affiliation
2. Establishment of CAC categories by the Joint Board of Supervisors and City Council 
3. City Ordinance No. 2008-34 – outlining the formation of the Citizen Advisory Committee
4. Steering Committee role and Organizational Chart

None

The Regional Plan is a policy guide for the community and region, with 17 state-mandated elements and four additional elements according to the Arizona Growing Smarter Act.  These elements, or subjects, provide insight into existing conditions, projected trends, and then state goals and policies developed by the community through a dedicated and thorough public process.  This document is currently being edited and approved by the CAC.  The complete policy document draft will be submitted to City and county Planning & Zoning Commissions, which will in turn recommend an amended Regional Plan to the City Council and the County Board of Supervisors for adoption.  The goals and policies consider and implement all of Council's goals.

The City Council and the County Board of Supervisors made the original CAC appointments at their respective January 20, 2009 meetings.  The City Council and the County Board of Supervisors made replacement appointments to fill vacancies at their respective April 2010 (Board of Supervisors) and August 2010 (City Council) meetings after receiving advice from the Steering Committee.  In all situations, appointments were made by respective elected officials after joint County Supervisor / City Council discussions and recommendations from a pool of community applicants. 

Further Discussion

The current Flagstaff Regional Land Use and Transportation Plan was adopted by City Council and the County Board of Supervisors in 2000.  The Plan was ratified by the voters in 2001.  State law mandates that a cities General Plan be updated every 10 years, with House Bill 2145 allowing communities to adopt and ratify an updated plan by July 1, 2015.  This current process establishing a Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) is dedicating to accomplishing said update through a thorough public process.  The CAC is committed to producing a document outlining a community vision and how to accomplish that vision.

The Ordinance establishing the Flagstaff Regional Plan Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) states that the maximum number of committee members is 19. It further defines 10-12 members are to be city residents appointed by City Council, and 7-9 members are to be county residents appointed by the Board of Supervisors.  The current roster of CAC members shows 10 city residents and 5 county residents. 

The Citizen Advisory Committee (CAC) was established and appointed by elected officials to represent the broad diversity of the community at-large.  The CAC has participated in the many open houses, focus groups, community design charrette process, and over 3 years of monthly or bi-monthly CAC meetings, discussing and debating policy language which has evolved from a public process.  The Regional Plan provides policy language and informational and illustrative maps which will guide development patterns and conservation efforts over the next 20 years.  The Regional Plan also provides an opportunity for elected officials to make important fiscal decisions based upon vast community input and vision.

• Inform - www.flagstaff.az.gov/regionalplan    Main and east libraries hand-outs
• Consult - Community Values Survey (600 + respondents); on-line survey (900+ respondents); 25 open houses; 10 focus groups; 42 public presentations; 36 board & commissions discussions; Council, Supervisors, Chamber, NABA, Realtors, F3, NAU, CCC and FUSD updates
• Involve - Community Design Charrette - 4 days to establish three potential development scenarios - 300+ people
• Collaborate - appointed Citizen Advisory Committee; (5) working groups; City and County Planning & Zoning Commission hearings; City Council and Board of Supervisor public hearings
• Empower - voter ratification (March 2014)

 - Steering Committee recommendations
 - Publish call for applicants
 - Joint City/County discussion and recommendation for appointment to elected officials
 - City Council and County Board of Supervisors appoint agreed upon city/county residents to fill CAC vacancies at respective meetings

10/02/2012 - EAB - No appointment made. May be considered in the future.