Here is a recent email from Michele Thomas of Hermosa Vida. Some good news about the new Walgreens.
Dear C.A.N. Members and Friends,
I
am happy to report that there are a lot of exciting things going on! My
intention for this email is to highlight a recent success, recap our
last meeting,
and discuss our strategy moving forward with regards to Bushmaster
Park. I know this email is long (also exciting!) but stick with me!
First
of all, Marnie did an outstanding job speaking out against Walgreen’s
proposed liquor license at the City Council meeting on Tuesday!!
Walgreens agreed
not to sell 40s or single bottles (they will still sell shooters) and
has acknowledged a need to continue to work with the community on this
issue! We can discuss this and future liquor policy initiatives further
at our next C.A.N. meeting, but for now, Thank
You Marnie!
At
our last C.A.N. meeting we debriefed about the March 27 Bushmaster Park
city meeting; the general consensus was disappointment in the overall
process and
a concern for potential for community participation moving forward.
Specific concerns included not feeling that the moderators were skilled
and/or accurately recording the information that is supposed to inform
the new design, concerns about the facilitator’s
general demeanor and interaction with participants, and accessibility
to families and other major park users.
I think a lot of really great feedback and energy was generated that will help guide us through the next steps of this process!
At this meeting we also worked on a plan moving forward. This plan includes: (strategies in black, updates/where we are at in
purple)
1)
more extensive flyering that advertises services that address
accessibility- including Spanish translation and Free childcare (both
provided by HV)- to increase
overall participation at the next meeting-
flyer is attached. I will send the Spanish version when I can. PLEASE
Reply All email to commit to flyering an area so we can maximize our
impact and avoid redundancy. Susan has committed to Siler Homes, Marty
to lower Greenlaw (specific streets?)… others
please email asap. Thanks!
2)
having C.A.N. members act as back-up moderators and note-takers to
ensure accurate recording of information which will increase
accountability-
we have 5 volunteers (Marguerite, Issac, Marty, Susan, Michelle) lined up for this. Thank you.
3) asking the City to release their plan early so we have a chance to look at it before the meeting-
the
City has been contacted about releasing their plan early and we were
told that since they plan on taking public comment up to the last minute
this would likely not
be possible…
4)
gathering signatures of residents and others that cannot make the
meeting to increase the power of the HV C.A.N. voice at the April 10
community meeting-
I have adjusted the statement I handed out to be more accessible.
The
New parks policy statement (attached) basically thanks the city for
gathering community input, mentions that as long as we are Increasing
Access we
support their efforts, but really emphasizes that community
participation needs to continue after these meetings!
I think this is where we can really have an impact and I am asking all of you to
PLEASE gather as many signatures as possible to this effect!
We
also have a copy of the City’s policy on public participation
requirements and are planning on bringing that, the signed parks policy
statements, a copy of Dr. Hardy’s
recent parks assessment (which demonstrates the need for community
engagement), and I am going to come prepared to speak on this issue.
I want to ask the City to ensure continued participation after these meetings
through further design meetings (ex. for a community garden), or
actual physical improvements in the park such as community construction
days, public art, sign making, etc. To this effect I plan on speaking
on behalf of C.A.N. and hope to have the support
of all of you.
I
think that is it for now. Thanks for sticking with me! If you need
printed copies of either of these documents please let me know. Also,
PLEASE work on flyering (let us
know where) and getting signatures- I think both will really help show
the City that we are speaking for more than just our own interests!
See you all on Wednesday April 10!
No comments:
Post a Comment