[Press Release] : Community visioning gets focused: Sponsors Council picks consultant, invites public involvement

[pr-l at news.gocolumbiamo.com]

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
Contact: Paula Hertwig Hopkins, Assistant City Manager
(573) 874-7218

Community visioning gets focused: Sponsors Council picks consultant,
invites public involvement

COLUMBIA, MO (September 7, 2006) -- In an open, public review process,
sponsors of Columbia’s community visioning initiative last night
recommended contracting with ACP Visioning and Planning, a consultant
with a strong record of success in other cities. This marks the official
start of a broad-based, citizen-driven effort to shape Columbia’s
future.

ACP and National Civic League of Colorado both made formal
presentations to the Community Visioning Sponsors Council, also
responding to their questions and to those posed by members of the
audience. Rod Gelatt, professor emeritus at the University of Missouri
School of Journalism, moderated the presentation. 

Sponsors agreed that ACP brings the appropriate experience, attitude
and passion to the table. They recommended starting contract
negotiations and submitting a final proposal for City Council action on
Sept. 18.

Columbia Mayor Darwin Hindman, Sponsors Council chair, also announced
three new opportunities for public involvement:
* A survey of citizen interests in Columbia’s future, available now
on the city of Columbia’s Web site and at various public locations and
which will be distributed in the Columbia Daily Tribune and the Columbia
Missourian on Sept. 13;
* An application process for citizens interested in co-chairing a
Citizens Vision Committee or facilitating Citizen Topic Groups on
specific subjects; and
* Fall Festivals with food, fun and opportunities to sign up to join
the vision process. Those events will be held in October at five local
schools.

Hindman said that sponsors were united in their choice of ACP and in
their beliefs about “Columbia’s great future.”

“We believe that all citizens should have an opportunity to join the
visioning process; that a shared vision for Columbia will help us
anticipate our destiny; and that the vision plan developed by citizens
will be our guide and not a dust collector.”

The seven-member Sponsors Council is responsible for assuring that the
community visioning process stays consistent with the goals of
broad-based, citizen involvement. Besides Hindman, members include Dr.
Gerald Brouder, president of Columbia College; Dr. Phyllis Chase,
superintendent of Columbia Public Schools, Dr. Brady Deaton, chancellor
of the University of Missouri flagship campus; Dr. Wendy Libby,
president of Stephens College; Boone County Presiding Commissioner Keith
Schnarre; and Columbia City Manager Bill Watkins.

NOTE: ALL COMMUNITY VISIONING MATERIALS, INCLUDING CONSULTANT
PROPOSALS, SURVEY, CO-CHAIR/FACILITATOR APPLICATION AND FESTIVAL
PROMOTION ARE ONLINE AT www.GoColumbiaMo.com. Click on “Imagine
Columbia’s Future.”

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