Citizen Participation Committee Meeting Notes

January 21, 2004

Present:

Kevin Biglin, Christine Forde, Jane Marvin, Polly McMurtry, Jim Manley, Diane Meyerhoff (facilitator), Lynn Whalen, Marti Woodman

1. Housekeeping items

• Diane and Christine are working on a list of often-used terms for posting.
• Scheduling: The Committee will meet the second Weds. of the month from 1-3PM.

2. Review of Committee Purpose, Procedures, and Governance

Polly reviewed the discussion from our last meeting. Diane reported that the poor attendance of the last meeting was due to a variety of issues - not necessarily the time and date chosen. The group elected a Chair and Vice Chair, Lynn Whalen and Marti Woodman, respectively. They will take over for the February meeting.

 

There was a brief discussion of other committees that are emerging at the CCMPO, namely the Communications Committee, Transit Committee, and Legislative Committee. It was decided that we should make ourselves available to these committees and share our public involvement procedures with them, but not actively participate in them at this time. Diane will keep track of them and report when necessary.

 

The group will review the Public Involvement Principles and summary for our next meeting to insure that the committee members agree with the overall direction.

 

Polly reported about transportation-related stormwater issues and discussed the potential for public involvement using the committee. Committee members felt that we should stick to issues more directly related to CCMPO transportation planning, but that we could share our public involvement procedures with VTrans/CCMPO/CCRPC for improving stormwater outreach efforts in Chittenden County.

 

3. Case Study: Interstate 89 Interchange at Hinesburg Road

Christine explained that this project is currently in the Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) phase. Overall, the project strives to increase access and reduce congestion, especially as it concerns industrial areas, the airport, and Interstate traffic. For our purposes, this project as an example of a large study to help us think about how we would approach such a project. The group discussed project issues, the alternatives analysis, and public involvement tools.

 

Project Issues

•  South Burlington supports a new interchange at Route 116.

•  Hinesburg is concerned about traffic impacts.

•  Residents want better transportation access, but some will be concerned about increased traffic, noise, and growth.

 

Alternatives Analysis - What are all the options?

•  No Build - keep things as they are currently.

•  Make improvements at Interstate Exits - possibly exits 12, 13, 14, 15.

•  Make improvements to Route 2A and Route 2.

•  Park and Ride lots, rideshare, transit improvements, etc.

•  NIMBY (Not In My Backyard) sentiments from those living near improvements.

•  Large geographic impact area.

 

Public Involvement Toolkit - Methods of collecting public input

•  Surveys

•  Focus groups

•  Charettes/design sessions

•  Websites

•  Newsletters

•  Community/neighborhood meetings

•  Public hearings

•  Outreach to groups - like selectboards, interest groups (like environmental orgs.)

•  Placing information in other groups' newsletters

•  Regular media articles, media coverage

•  Regular articles in local newspapers

•  Involving school kids and their parents

•  Citizen/stakeholder/steering committees

•  Door-to-door flyering

•  Contacting businesses to reach their employees

•  Informational pieces - especially around noise, air quality, environmental impacts, growth/sprawl. Everyone must understand the entire planning process and its implementation strategy.

•  Engage proactive stakeholders and partners to spread information broadly.

•  Letters mailed to adjacent property owners.

•  ***Listen and consider people's ideas and input.***

 

Christine explained that in these processes, a "purpose and needs statement" is developed to guide the project. This helps to identify the scope of people to be contacted and targeted for outreach.

 

The group discussed which tools would be most effective at which points in the planning process. Since we only touched on this issue, it will be carried over to our next meeting. Diane will provide a list of outreach tools and when and how they are most often used, as well as the "regular" process for undertaking a study of this kind.

 

The meeting was adjourned at 11AM .

 

The next meeting will be February 11 th from 1-3PM in the "North" Conference Room (same location as the January 21 st meeting).

 

Prepared by Diane Meyerhoff, January 22, 2004

Amended February 19, 2004