[Press Release] : FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Columbia Vision Commission Invites Public to Final RE-Vision Session

[Press Releases]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Toni Messina
Civic Relations Officer
(573) 874-7660


Columbia Vision Commission Invites Public to Final “RE-Vision” Session

COLUMBIA, MO (June 17, 2015) - The final public opportunity for citizens to advise the Columbia Vision Commission is set for Wednesday, June 24, 2015, from 6 – 8 p.m. in the cafeteria at Rock Bridge High School, 4303 S. Providence Road.

This is the last in a series of four monthly sessions to look at progress made with “Imagine Columbia’s Future,” the community vision prepared by citizens and accepted by the City Council. 

Commission Chair Maurice Harris said, “This is an opportunity to look at progress made and see where we need to go from here.  We’re inviting citizens to talk about the local environment, development and governance and decision-making.”

On May 20, Commissioners heard public comments relating to the future of health, social services and housing; community pride; and arts and culture. 

Health, social services and housing – Columbia needs to consider the effects of increasing poverty; look at more options for affordable housing, including “tiny homes” and financial supports; advocate for Medicaid expansion; practice zoning that mixes housing types; create communities around schools; and recognize that health is affected by community engagement, strong neighborhoods and living wage jobs.

Community pride – Nurture strong neighborhood support networks; invest in youth involvement activities, with schools as activity centers; encourage more businesses owned by women and minorities; get more racial diversity on the police force.

Arts and culture – Make bus shelters more attractive with art; make arts events more affordable; consider a public space for graffiti artists; make it easier to afford youth involvement in the arts.

The Vision Commission also is collecting comments online at http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/visioning/ . 

“Ultimately,” Harris said, “The goal of the RE-Visioning process is to present the City Council an updated Vision created from the input from public hearings and comments.  All voices should be heard, and we hope for wide interest and participation.”

In 2006, Columbia and Boone County citizens started working on a shared community vision for the future.  Two years later, and with the participation of more than 1,000 people, the citizen-led Visioning Committee presented “Imagine Columbia’s Future” to the City Council, with the intent that the whole community work on making Columbia “a connected, informed and engaged community.”

The City Council created the Columbia Vision Commission in 2008.  Its purpose is to track, monitor and otherwise assist with implementing the Vision.

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See full record of March 18, April 22, 2015 and May 20 meetings at this link.  Look at meeting schedule, in the meeting date column, under the meeting date.

http://www.gocolumbiamo.com/visioning/



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