Presentation: Vision Flagstaff.

Simply put, Vision Flagstaff (VF) facilitates place making by our constituents. VF is an online forum where Flagstaff residents and businesses help shape and thereby take ownership of our city. It is an outreach tool developed and managed by the City of Flagstaff’s Community Design & Redevelopment Program toward the goal of making an already great city even better. Through VF, any resident, group of residents, neighborhood, friends, HOAs, districts, and businesses—any group having investment in the favorable outcome of a project, can suggest an idea and then lobby for it by getting other stakeholders to 'like' it and 'comment' on it via the website.

VF debuted about six weeks ago and so far community response has been strong—VF already has 192 members. To put this in perspective, Hilo, Hawaii’s version of VF has been in place for over 18 months and has 431 members. VF’s members have voiced 55 comments, and offered 193 ‘likes’ across 18 entries.

Entries for projects are limited to the five areas that CD & R manages: beautification and landscaping, historic preservation and interpretation, public art, community design, and redevelopment. After an entry (idea) receives 50 'likes' on the site, it’s assessed for feasibility and implementation. The quantity of 'likes' is a little bit arbitrary at this point and as we gauge member responses it may be increased or decreased for future entries (other cities have their benchmark for feasibility study status at 60 'likes'). The time allotted to receive 50 'likes' is currently not limited. However, this too may change as the community becomes familiar with the site and separate entries compete with each other for support and funding. In the six weeks that VF has been online, three projects are approaching 30 ‘likes’ so we believe the ‘50’ threshold is about right for determining whether an idea has community support and should merit further study by staff and possible implementation. 

After an idea receives 50 ‘likes’ we anticipate the following process: First, a feasibility study is conducted. This will include analysis by staff including budget team, legal, traffic, utilities and water, parking, business development, fire and police, and other agencies with abutting or shared rights-of-way. Next, meetings will be held with supporters of the entry to conduct a more comprehensive review of the idea. Also at this juncture, city commissions whose purview the project falls under may be involved, as may City Council. Third, and depending on the size and complexity of the project, potential partners may be identified. Partners may include individual stakeholders, organizations, agencies, or developers willing to take on the day-to-day administration of the project. Last, construction plans (where required), and mobilization of the project will begin.

VF will also document the actual construction or implementation of the project. We believe this is important to show constituents that we really do listen to them, and when feasible, give form to their ideas. Online photographic and narrative coverage of the project will include project kick-off/media events, documentation of noteworthy project milestones, and dedication ceremony when applicable.

Finally, VF provides CD & R with additional outreach and project administration tools. CD & R has already used VF as a virtual charrette. Following the 4th Street Gateway public meeting, one stakeholder group actually submitted their idea for the Gateway on VF for consideration by the larger 4th Street community. We envision continued use of VF for this secondary function at future public meetings whose purposes include projects within the five areas that CD & R manages. Entries generated by city staff will also occasionally populate the site so anyone wanting to know what projects CD & R is planning can see the project ideas, and ‘comment on’ and ‘like’ them.