Citizens Advisory Committee – Helping plan the future

More great coverage on the Municipal Plan today in the TJ, be sure to check it out!

This column previously appeared in the Telegraph-Journal on January 29th, 2010:

A committee of 13 people from diverse backgrounds will help guide common council through the next two years as the city embarks on rewriting its yellowing municipal plan.

“It’s really to bring that community voice and consensus to the work we’re doing,” said Jacqueline Hamilton, deputy commissioner of planning.

Council has appointed all but one of the members based on recommendations from council’s nominating committee. The 13th member is expected to be appointed next week.

Ten members are Saint John citizens, two are city councillors and one comes from the city’s planning advisory committee.

The city had an overwhelming response of applications for the citizen spots – with nearly 80 submitted, Hamilton said, which slowed down the hiring process.

“I think that just goes to the interest in the work we’re doing,” she said, adding it’s four-times the number of applications the city would normally get.

The citizen members come from all corners of the city and represent different social, economic, cultural, and environmental interests. Some are newcomers to the city and others are long-term residents.

Hamilton said some cities rely on their planning advisory committees to assist with a new municipal plan, but city staff wanted a focus group with a more diverse makeup.

“Certainly, this model is more unique,” she said.

The group will meet monthly in the city’s new storefront for PlanSJ in Brunswick Square, which was unveiled Wednesday.

The committee members will review what work has been done by staff and consultants, Urban Strategies and ADI, and will provide feedback, often presenting recommendations to council, Hamilton said.

“We want their feedback on what we’re presenting and whether it reflects on what the community has told us.”

The committee will elect a chair and vice-chair from its non-council members. It will make decisions by consensus, and if necessary, by a majority vote.

Coun. Carl Killen, who sits on the committee along with Coun. Peter McGuire, said the committee does not have the same kind of power as council.

“But as far as input goes, the committee’s impact will be huge,” he said.

The people on the committee will have the chance to set the direction the city goes in terms of green spaces, landscape, industrial zones and many other areas, Killen said.

“This is not a simple, ‘What are we going to build in a certain place?’ This is a plan that’s intended to last and endure for at the very least a quarter of a century.”

It’s why Shawn Peterson, who is also the chairman of FUSION Saint John, thought it was important to get involved.

“A lot of times stuff goes on with the city and the average person doesn’t get to give their input,” said Peterson, 25, who works at a software company.

“I’m a real firm believer this process is going to be a lot different.”

He said he wants to reach out to not just youth, but the whole community, in whatever way he can – including Facebook and Twitter.

It’s important to get young people’s input because this plan will set the city’s growth for their future, he said.

“It’s going to be us kind of running the show at the point,” he said. “As much input we can get in now will ensure we’ll be all happy with it.”

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