Okay.
>> So, first we'd like to find out who we
» So, first we'd like to find out who we
have present. I can see Gary Mertoff.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> I see Dan Grady's office is online. Is
» I see Dan Grady's office is online. Is
that us or is that Dan?
>> His boardroom.
» His boardroom.
>> That's his boardroom. And we need to
» That's his boardroom. And we need to
know who we can see Northwest Regional
Planning is online. Who's with us from
Northwest?
>> This is Autumn. Emily will be joining in
» This is Autumn. Emily will be joining in
just a couple minutes as well.
>> Autumn and who?
» Autumn and who?
>> Emily.
» Emily.
>> Autumn. Okay. Okay. Thank you.
» Autumn. Okay. Okay. Thank you.
>> She just appeared online.
» She just appeared online.
>> And then, hi Emily. And then we need to
» And then, hi Emily. And then we need to
know who is area code 715.
Can I read that?
>> 9696732.
» Meaning that's me, Elizabeth Franic.
>> Hi Liz.
» Hi Liz.
>> Hi Liz.
» Hi Liz.
>> Okay. Glad everybody's here.
» Okay. Glad everybody's here.
>> Hi.
» Hi.
>> So uh we could take a roll call then
» So uh we could take a roll call then
please. Karisha.
>> Okay. George Busousay
» Okay. George Busousay
>> here.
» here.
>> Bradley Ray is excused. Elizabeth Franic
» Bradley Ray is excused. Elizabeth Franic
>> here. Pat Kenny
» here. Pat Kenny
>> here.
» here.
>> Gary Mertig
» Gary Mertig
>> here.
» here.
>> Dan Greedy is excused. Lisa Radkey.
» Is Lisa Radkkey online?
>> No. Okay. And then Charlie Ortman
» No. Okay. And then Charlie Ortman
>> here.
» here.
>> And then Paul Wilharm.
» Okay. So business,
>> first order of business will be uh this
» first order of business will be uh this
is the Ashlin County Planning Committee
working on the Ashlin County
Comprehensive Plan. Uh for anybody here
for public comment or uh or listening in
and we will be uh going over the agenda
as posted online. It's uh Monday, July
21st, 1 p.m. over at Ashlin County
Courthouse and my name is George Buset
and I'm the I chair of the committee. So
we start with the approval of the
agenda. Uh, has everybody had a chance
to look it over and can we have a motion
for an approval or comments or
amendments? Anybody?
>> Move to approve.
» Move to approve.
>> Charlie move.
» Charlie move.
>> Is that a second from you, Liz?
» Is that a second from you, Liz?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay. Seconded by Liz Franek. So, the
» Okay. Seconded by Liz Franek. So, the
agenda is approved.
The first uh item after the approval
agenda is item number three, public
comments order. We had a motion or a
second, but we didn't vote.
>> Oh. Oh, you like to move move to Yes, I
» Oh. Oh, you like to move move to Yes, I
stand corrected that. Uh,
there was a second. So, all in favor of
approving the agenda, say I.
>> I. I.
» I. I.
>> Oppos.
» Oppos.
>> I.
» I.
>> Thank you for that correction. And then
» Thank you for that correction. And then
we move on to public comments. Is there
anybody online or present for public
comment?
Anybody online for public comment?
Present. Hearing. No public comment. We
move on to the next agenda item, which
is approval of the minutes of the prior
meeting.
Move to approve.
>> Uh, Charlie Orman moves to approve the
» Uh, Charlie Orman moves to approve the
minutes. Is there a second?
» This is paddle. Second.
>> Kenny seconds. Uh, is there discussion?
» Kenny seconds. Uh, is there discussion?
Corrections. All in favor of approving
the minutes of the prior meeting of June
17, please say I.
>> I.
» I.
>> I.
» I.
>> Any opposed?
» Any opposed?
>> One abstension. W Paul Wilharm abstains.
» One abstension. W Paul Wilharm abstains.
And the motion carries. So that's done.
So now we're on to discussion and action
items. And item A is little fun facts or
favorite things about Ashlin County.
Does anybody have something to offer?
>> Oh, could I uh if we could back up just
» Oh, could I uh if we could back up just
a minute. I'm not sure if Carver, did
you get here before public minutes or
public comments was offered?
>> Okay. Thank you. That All right. Thank
» Okay. Thank you. That All right. Thank
you. of note, there's a second chance to
public comment at the end of the agenda.
Anything for uh fun facts? Okay, I have
one thing here.
» Maybe you know this, but Ashlin County
was founded in 1854
by Asaf Whittley.
» Oh, there's Lissa. Okay, Lissa uh
right survived. So the panic of 1857
and then the Civil War nearly overcame
the little settlement completely.
But one family remained.
>> One family. And then in 1870 when a
» One family. And then in 1870 when a
railroad line headed in that direction,
it made a new start. In 1877, the first
railroad, the Wisconsin Central, reached
it. The years 1886 and 1887 saw a boom
caused by the realization that Ashlin
would be the port of the newly opened
Gogeic iron range. In the 80s and 90s,
Ashlin was also a great sawmill town. A
little bit of Ashlin history. Any fun
facts, Lissa, to add? Not today. Okay.
>> Uh, no. I could add a quick one. Nothing
» Uh, no. I could add a quick one. Nothing
cool like that.
Um well, while you're talking about
people history, we have lots of um
famous people from Ashlin, famous in the
big picture, maybe not famous that we
can claim, but um a Pulitzer
Prizewinning author, David Marinus. He's
written numerous biographies of other
well-known figures like Vince Lombardi.
Um, Lewis Robert Blake was Blake was an
American ice hockey player who played
with the Boston Bruins
for 17 years. And Milton Leroy Moose
Gardner was a professional American
football guard in the National Football
League playing for Detroit and Buffalo
and finally the Green Bay Packers.
» Thank you for that. Any more fun facts?
If not, we move on to item 5B, which is
subcommittee status reports.
And we usually take this in order
starting with uh intergovernmental. Uh
Mr. Ortman,
>> I have nothing to report at this time.
» I have nothing to report at this time.
>> Okay. Reviewing and moving along.
» Okay. Reviewing and moving along.
>> Subcommittee report from trends and
» Subcommittee report from trends and
issues. Uh Lisa Ratkkey.
Um, yes. I've been contacting some
people who have expressed in the past an
interest to talk about issues and
opportunities. We're going to do just
little half an hour um check-ins to pull
together a team who wants to look at
those ideas in a more formal way. that
they would come to one of these meetings
and express their opinions as well as
help spread the idea to their friends
and neighbors that these discussions
about issues and opportunities and
obstacles are are happening.
» Any questions for the um the transit
issues team? Uh then cultural resources
and community facilities. Uh Liz, do you
have something to add today?
nothing at this time. I'm going to be
inviting certain um folks to our
meetings I think that and putting that
on their agenda in the very near near
future. Thank you.
>> Uh moving on, uh agriculture, forestry,
» Uh moving on, uh agriculture, forestry,
and natural resources. that Kenny,
>> we had another farmland preservation
» we had another farmland preservation
meeting since the last comp plan meeting
and we're going to have another meeting
every month or so for the remainder of
the year. But I got a question for
Alyssa. Back in um December, January, we
had I believe three egg related
meetings. And so my question is why did
we have those meetings? How do they tie
into the comp plan? and the timing of
that before we even made assignments for
who would have who on the comp plan.
Could you explain that to me?
» Go ahead.
>> Yeah. So, um, about a year ago, I
» Yeah. So, um, about a year ago, I
started talking to Dan Grady about, um,
hearing from people that in the county
that they were very interested in making
sure that the new comp plan included
robust conversations about how extreme
weather was affecting county, people,
places, and resources.
And so, I was working with National Park
Services um, team of expert planners who
deal with this. and we came up with this
method of working with
each of the nine elements
um current plan goals and objectives and
making sure that they were infused with
issues of importance related to ex
extreme weather. So those were just
conversations around each chapter. Um we
we went through five chapters and then
the federal government um cut the people
on the National Park Service team. So, I
don't have access to them anymore, but
we met with transportation, natural
resource, agriculture, land use, and um
utilities and community facilities. And
so each of those committees when um they
meet with a larger group looking at all
egg issues in this case, not just
climate related or weather related that
they would get a copy of those
recommendations from that group of
experts and specialists and people like
yourself working in those areas and say,
"Will you please consider our
recommendations
about how the county could deal with um
impacts from extreme weather when you're
looking at your broader chapter
>> and then we'll have to figure out how to
» and then we'll have to figure out how to
tie that into what we're doing on the
comp plan going forward.
>> Yeah. So, the way we had set it up was
» Yeah. So, the way we had set it up was
let's say you're going to um regional
planning is going to have a meeting
scheduled to talk about the egg chapter.
Then everybody involved, the public can
have a copy. We'll post it online. will
certainly give it to the members and say
here's what a group of local and state
specialists had decided were good
recommendations to be included and then
that egg committee will look at those
and say yeah this one really fits really
well or this one we don't feel is viable
>> all right thank you
» all right thank you
>> does that sound like what you were
» does that sound like what you were
hoping okay cool and thanks for being
>> so I have a another question about the
» so I have a another question about the
egg section and the I don't quite
understand fully how the farmland
preservation plan work flows into the
comprehensive plan as is it like a third
section how do you see that Pat and I'd
like to ask the same thing of Emily how
does the farmland preservation plan flow
into the comprehensive plan
>> the farmland preservation plan has to be
» the farmland preservation plan has to be
updated anyway and just with the timing
of it all it ties in with the schedule
we're on and So the farmland
preservation plan like the forestry plan
is a rather lengthy document and what
goes in the comp plan is going to be
much more brief than that. Um but then
another round of input for the public
specifically for the comp plan even
though we have input opportunities for
the farmland preservation plan. So it's
going to provide a lot of background
that the whole document won't be in
there.
So does that mean we'll be utilizing a
lot of the background information from
the farmland preservation plan plan
for data requirements within the comp
plan like land usage, land mapping.
The topics in the farmland preservation
plan should provide
an excellent starting point for the
conversation on the egg component. But
because the comp plan is going to have
its own opportunities for input, we
shouldn't
um decide in advance what should go or
not go into the comp plan and how it
should be framed. So the comp plan is
another opportunity for that discussion.
But the farmland preservation plan and
the outcomes from there, Charlie's on
that also should give us a very strong
framework to work from as we consider
topics and issues to bring forward for
the discussion on egg.
>> So as I understand that then both Lisa's
» So as I understand that then both Lisa's
pre-work and the farmland preservation
pre-work all feeds into being available
information for the um the egg section
of the comp plan.
>> That is the hope. That's what we've been
» That is the hope. That's what we've been
working towards.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> So, I'd like to if Emily, if you're
» So, I'd like to if Emily, if you're
online, do you have an observation with
that regard?
» I'm not.
>> Yeah. Can you hear me everyone?
» Yeah. Can you hear me everyone?
>> I can hear you now.
» I can hear you now.
So they're two distinct but closely
related planning documents
and the farmland preservation
even has follows the same adoption
procedures that the comprehensive plan
does so that they can be fully um
coordinated and integrated with each
other.
So comprehensive plan would be talk
thinking about broadland use guidance
and then the farmland preservation plan
focused on
eggland protection.
» Okay.
>> Thank you. Um Pat,
» Thank you. Um Pat,
>> I have a question.
» I have a question.
>> Go ahead, Liz.
» Go ahead, Liz.
in the plan. Can we have data um like if
there's any existing small dairy farms
in the area and how do they see their uh
future in the farming community and how
are they staying small as opposed to
growing?
Yeah,
>> the farmland preservation plan has in
» the farmland preservation plan has in
the current draft version and the
updated version will have information on
all the different types of farming and
sizes. And they've got information on
the number of headed cattle, dairy and
beef. So that's all in there. And then
those issues and concerns related to,
you know, egg in general, but also dairy
farms. And we've talked about smallcale
farming and smaller ones um at um
extensively also. And Emily, you made a
comment about, you know, the two plans.
Um, forget the exact phrase you
mentioned, but it's important that
there's consistency in there when we're
done so that one plan doesn't say one
thing and the other one's at odds with
it.
Any other discussion on the egg?
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Section. Then we move on to
» Section. Then we move on to
transportation. So that's my element. I
have asked Paul Wilharm to join me in
that effort on uh transportation
utilities particularly in sense that
Mandal Island has uh unique
transportation issues and that there are
issues around the future of
transportation on the water in Bay and
around the Basel Islands. And I think
Paul you also have some background on uh
with regard to airports. Is that
correct?
Maybe you could uh give us a little bit
of your what you might bring as insights
from your background for transportation.
>> Uh well, as far as aviation goes, uh
» Uh well, as far as aviation goes, uh
just like uh the electric cars that are
coming, uh you know, there's going to be
electric aircraft.
Uh there's already
uh one V tall single person aircraft you
can buy for $100,000 that has 20
minutes. So you'd be able to take off
and you know whip over to to Bayfield
from from the island. Uh and there's
more of this coming.
» Uh thank you. I just note that I I I saw
an article this week on small uh
hydrooil electric fairies because
they're hydrooil. They are much more
efficient and carry much smaller battery
and fry around, you know, between 10 and
20 people might be ideal for Schwaming
Bay in the future. So there a lot of
things could change in the next 20 years
technologically with regard to utilities
and transportation and uh that's where
we'll be be looking. So next is housing
and that's Brad's element but he's not
here. So Gary, you have uh land use and
economic development. Where do we stand
with that?
>> Yeah, I just a more of a comment than in
» Yeah, I just a more of a comment than in
depth because there's more background to
find out. But in our last plan on
economic development, it said we would
develop and maintain a strong economy,
supports residents and the community
with services and so on.
down below it talks about the fastest
growing industry 10 years ago or so was
in Ashen County was tourism.
Um
that will have to define where we're
really going now. Is tourism our fastest
growing industry
and then how do we maintain a strong
economy for the residents if that's it.
Um so that's just a a thought that I
had. The other one that I um in land use
projections
back in the last plan it said based on
the growth in the county um more than
85% of the growth will occur in
unincorporated areas of the county. And
I'd like to look at that sometime a
little deeper because what I'm seeing in
the southern part of the county is every
home that's up for sale, there's a 50%
chance that those homes are being bought
up by somebody from outside the county
who does not live here. Um I can take
you down roads here where 10 homes and
nine of them are not lived in year
round. we wonder why we have a housing
shortage or uh employers say, "Hey, we
need employees employees need housing."
So that's a just a short look at it, but
that's something we're going to have to
be concerned about is uh if we want
development and we want people, are we
going for tourism, which I'm not saying
we aren't, but how do we maintain who we
have here and support schools,
industries, and things if most of our
housing is being bought up by somebody
that doesn't live here year round? So,
like I say, there's a lot more to that
down the road to come, but those are
just some of the points I see that we
need to discuss.
Any uh observations or comments on uh
the economic development element?
Um
see, I think we pretty much covered the
bases. We do have a risk and
opportunities element, but we're
probably a little bit too soon to be
getting to that. And then there'll be an
implementation element. We're probably a
little bit early on the um calendar for
that as well. So, if there's no
objection, I think I'll move on to the
next uh agenda item, which is um let's
stand or reconsider or amend a
previously approved public participation
plan. So,
at our last meeting, we approved a
public participation plan uh with the
understanding that anybody who voted in
favor could bring a motion to reconsider
and if there was a second and a vote in
favor of reconsidering could be
reconsidered. Now, this is on the public
on the county board agenda for approval
tomorrow.
So to rewrite it, it'd be tricky. But if
we really wanted to, we could amend it
and then the amendment would be an
add-on to what's being approved by the
county board tomorrow hopefully because
we need it to be approval to be
completed.
My personal preference would be let it
stand and if we need to amend it at a
future date, we could do so. But open
for discussion.
Anybody?
>> Sean,
» Sean,
>> I guess I I'm I'm in the process of
» I guess I I'm I'm in the process of
outlining and then attempting to flesh
out two additional elements. Um,
community health and sustainability.
And I just want to make sure this would
allow to have those entered if we if
after review of these sections, this
body felt them appropriate. And and I
know that it's got some specific
elements listed. Does it would that be
exclusionary to any additional ones or
not?
>> Uh, no. I don't think my interpretation
» Uh, no. I don't think my interpretation
would be no exclusion, but I think that
falls into the discussion about scope of
work.
>> Okay?
» Okay?
>> Because this is this is about how we
» Because this is this is about how we
engage the public to be able to comment
and participate,
>> right?
» right?
>> And if we add work to the process, they
» And if we add work to the process, they
can easily participate and comment on
that as well. But this is what we know
as our baseline because we haven't added
any elements as of this point in time.
Mary Erica,
>> just one thing that I wanted to um point
» just one thing that I wanted to um point
out here and is in the email that I sent
all of you with notes is that there's a
lot that is in here that is sort of
extra that I assume we will never use
and I feel like it would be a clearer
document if we cut some of it. Um
there are also like there's there are no
activities assigned to any single person
or to any group. And so this is
something I would really like to have
some kind of open conversation with. I
would think in a meeting with at least
Lisa and probably all of us because
these are big things. Um
so like as just a general document sure
it's fine but there's like there's also
still inconsistent language across
documents. So one the scope of work
calls something a digital public survey
whereas we just call it a survey and it
doesn't tell the mechanism. It doesn't
sort of say anything. So there's just
there's a lot of like different terms
used across the two documents and yet
there's they're referring to each other
sort of constantly. So that that was the
those were the things I was trying to
point out. I'm not trying to halt this.
In fact, you know, we we need to get it
done. Um but
just wanted to offer that up.
Other comments I'd like to ask uh Emily
you're there or Autumn about the digital
public survey. Is that a capacity that's
offered by Northwest Regional Planning?
Yeah, within the
uh current cost the 75,000
would be the opportunity to do a digital
survey with Northwest Regional Planning
assisting the committee with developing
questions
um creating usually we create a QR code
and then it would be the county or
committee's responsibility to
um distribute the survey information
whether that's social media, newspapers
on county website to get that
information about the survey opportunity
out to the public. And then once those
um surveys are completed, Northwest
Regional Planning would do a summary
report of all of the um answers within
the survey and that would be within the
current constructs of the cost.
>> Uh thank you. Other comment on a
» Uh thank you. Other comment on a
question, Pat? Well, what Erica said, I
I've got some of the same questions,
thoughts, concerns. One is it seems
ambitious, which is fine, but then the
question of who's going to do what and
when, and that isn't in there. So, for
example, I've got the egg section, but
I've had three meetings with Alyssa.
We're going to have a good nine or more
with farmland preservation, and that's
all outside of whatever the comp plan
says we're going to do. Then I have the
forestry. So, I'm thinking about all
these meetings just for the comp plan
update in those sections, let alone
everything else. Um, it's not clear to
me what I have to do, when I'm going to
have to do it, where I'm going to have
to do it. And that's partly penciling
in, you know, this update around
everything else in life. And then I, you
know, I've mentioned this before, next
April, there's an election and the comp
plan doesn't need to be done until the
end of 2026.
All things being equal, it' be a nice if
the group of us that are active now, you
know, largely have it what we need to do
done by April. But if we don't, it
should be really clear to whoever picks
it up, if anybody's not here after
April, that they know what they would be
getting into if they take it on. So
there's there's no clarity on that yet.
I'd like to get to it when we get a
chance. Other other discussion, Erica,
>> just to make things really clear. So in
» just to make things really clear. So in
the public participation plan, there's
something called summaries.
Whereas in the public participation
plan, there's the word summaries being
used, summaries of meetings that are
transcribed. I believe in in Ashlin
County we call those minutes. So I mean
some of these things are really easy to
change just to make them consistent so
that we're referring to actual documents
that are recorded um that we don't so we
don't need to do additional summaries,
right? Um, also listed under its own um,
bolded subheading is community display
and exhibit. That is separate from our
open house, our all of our other
meetings, sort of everything else. At
least to my knowledge, we haven't talked
about a community display and exhibit. I
don't know if Lisa is thinking about an
extra community display and exhibit. And
if we're not, why don't we just delete
that part? like if we're not going to do
it, if nobody's going to pick that up,
wouldn't that just be a super easy fix?
Um
there's also, let's see, an email
mailing list that someone should be
overseeing, collecting emails, and then
sending out updates to things. Do we
have anyone in mind for who's going to
do that? Uh if not, I think we could
take that out too. Um I think if it's
more the subcommittees are creating
their own sort of groups of people, then
maybe that doesn't need to be in here.
And then there's also a newsletter.
Someone is going to create a newsletter
uh periodically and pass that out. Um,
there's also quite a few things listed
here that need to be on the website that
are not on the website yet. So, like a
lot of it is not I I don't feel like
it's sort of debatable. Like I don't I
don't know like if we're not intending
to do it, it would be it would be a more
concise document. It would be easier to
read and things would actually reference
across multiple documents.
Lisa,
>> thank you. Um, yeah, I know when we were
» thank you. Um, yeah, I know when we were
when Erica and I met and we talked about
this, it was almost like we should not
um quote pass this yet until we met in
August with regional planning to find
out like what exactly they're doing and
what we were doing. So, thanks for
mentioning my name a hundred times, but
I don't have the capacity to do that in
the next year. you know, I can do a few
things. Um, but I can't be the keeper of
the outreach for the county's plan. Um,
I'm not sure what is in the um contract.
You know, um, Emily mentioned maybe
$20,000 for a survey. I don't know if
that's already in the scope of work as a
contract item or if that's an additional
thing. So it seemed like before we
passed this and you could pass this and
say this is our first attempt but it's
an organic process and we know things
will change and then go back to the
board and say we want to do some changes
or I think we're meeting with regional
planning in August for the first time
you know get more information then about
what is theirs and then what is our real
goal our real are we going the Cadillac
template outreach That's this or are we
doing the Chevy or the bicycle
and then figure out who could do what
>> or the electric airplane ready to go?
» or the electric airplane ready to go?
>> I would just are do
» I would just are do
are you both kind of suggesting that
this might be a little premature
approving this till until we meet in
August and if so is there any rush
George that we couldn't take this off
the agenda for this month? It's my
understanding we're required to have it
now when the contract goes into place.
The contract has not yet been put in
place. The next thing on the agenda is
to talk about the scope of work. Uh
point out to of the things that I find
in this the state law says, you know,
shall adopt written procedures designed
to foster public participation. That's
the requirement. She'll adopt written
procedures designed to foster written
participation.
There'll be open discussion,
communication programs, information
services, public meetings, and with
advanced notice and opportunity for
written comments. That's all that's
required.
So, I see this as documentation
of a smorgus board of options for the
committee and future committee if it's
different than us next year to be
working with. And if we leave things
out, they won't be there on this
mortgage board table for people to
choose from. I'll point out that most of
these are open house and openhouse.
Okay, one open house is actually
required by law. But when you come to
some of these other items, it's
uh see where
it's a may. So, community play may be
used. Doesn't say it will be used. It
says it may be used. Is there as an
option?
um a newsletter may be prepared. So, I
see no point in deleting these items
because they're reminders of something
that we could do and we might decide to
do later in the process. Um the last
thing I'll say is that um personally I
support leaving this alone and letting
the county board approve it tomorrow,
but it's up to the committee. Um, this
has already been approved. So, would
take a a motion and a vote to reconsider
and to open reopen discussion and then
revise it at this meeting or at a future
meeting. But, if we delay to the future
meeting, then it won't be in place for
the satisfaction of the contract and the
grant requirements. So, it's um it's up
to the committee. But, uh, Charlie, you
have the floor.
>> That Thank you. That clarifies things
» That Thank you. That clarifies things
for me. Um, and I support approving this
now. Um, and then I suspect when we meet
in August, then we'll be able to decide
which of these options are our best ones
to use should we choose. I'm glad
they're not mandatory. You said there
was three mandatory things, I think. So,
thank you.
>> Just want to point out there's there's
» Just want to point out there's there's
nothing to be done now if nobody brings
a motion to reconsider. was just
discussion and we move on because it's
already been an approved document and
it's already on the agenda for the
county board for tomorrow. But we do
have the option of bringing it up for
reconsideration if someone wants to do
so.
>> Right. Pat.
» Right. Pat.
>> So at the board meeting tomorrow, if the
» So at the board meeting tomorrow, if the
board as a whole wants to modify this
document and approve the modified
version, I would assume that that is
then the document that this committee
would be working with.
>> Yes. Totally within their empowerment.
» Yes. Totally within their empowerment.
Yeah. So if Erica and Lisa
had one or more things that they say,
you know, this really really should be
changed and they sent it to the board
prior to the meeting tomorrow, the board
consider could consider making the
changes in. Some of it's just language
for consistency of language so it's
clear that it's the same thing and not
different things.
Um, you know, but it's a long list of
stuff to do and then, you know,
ultimately you got to rouse it with
who's going to do it. And I've heard
multiple people say, "I'm busy enough.
Don't put that on my plate." And I know
how busy my plate is just with the comp
plan stuff, let alone everything else.
So,
and then we talk about how often does
anybody look at the comp plan. You know,
we hear those comments all the time. And
for those of us on the board, we know
how often the comp plan is referred to,
like not often, you know, it's rarely
referred to. So, in many ways, if we had
a shorter, more focused list, I I think
being realistic,
that would be helpful. But I think it
would be good to get input. I mean, just
in terms of process, because you don't
want to modify this today and then amend
the agenda with here's a new one. Not
that we couldn't. We certainly could,
but we could also agree on a list of
changes today and then if someone on
this committee that's on the board then
wants to make that motion tomorrow and
and bring it forward, the board could
consider that as a whole.
>> Further discussion,
» Further discussion,
>> Lissa? I mean, one of the amendments
» Lissa? I mean, one of the amendments
could be that um a sentence or so near
the beginning that says these are proven
successful outreach strategies that can
help reach more people, blah blah blah.
Um
we will work on them or accomplish them
as staff and resources are available.
I mean, I don't I just don't want
somebody in the public to get a hold of
the public participation plan and say,
"You didn't do an email list and you
didn't do a display or I didn't hear
anything about it. What's your plan?"
And then you say, "Well, here's our
plan." And they say, "Well, who's doing
your website?" And we said, "Well, we
don't know. That was just our idea.
We'll figure that out." I just don't
want to have create that vulnerability
of setting up because this is a this is
a Cadillac plan. I mean, it doesn't have
social media on it, but I was going to
do that anyway just because I do social
media, but I'd hate for it to be like
here's how we intend to engage people,
but then we come back, somebody says,
well, you didn't talk to seniors. and we
come back and say, "Well, these were
maze or maybe if we had a person." So,
if we added a disclaimer,
maybe it's a little bit of a bumper
as an amendment because you did ask us
if we had things that we wanted to be
reconsidered or amended. Does that make
sense? What do you think? What if
somebody came to you and said, "I saw
your public participation plan. Where's
this newsletter?" And you know,
>> I'd ask them if they didn't know what
» I'd ask them if they didn't know what
the word may meant. I mean, we still
have to decide of of what those we're
going to use. And I think that's so we
leave those options there and then in
August we we rewrite it and say these
are the ones we're going to use. And
then if they don't find those, they have
a beef with us. But if they don't find
us using something that we said we might
use but didn't, then they don't have
really a grounds for a complaint. But I
see where that could possibly happen,
but I think that going to jam us up more
than it would help us at this phase.
>> Can is there um would you have a issue
» Can is there um would you have a issue
with adding some language that says
this is our first great plan depending
on resources and staffing. I
>> I look at this now that we're looking at
» I look at this now that we're looking at
this Cadillac option plan to determine
what part of it we want to use. Can we
decide that today?
>> Uh, not my daily wick, but if George
» Uh, not my daily wick, but if George
says we can, is it adopted?
>> Yeah, let me let me chime in here. Um, I
» Yeah, let me let me chime in here. Um, I
think it' be more expeditious for us to
amend this at a future meeting if we
wish to. There's nothing says that we
have to do all these things. I view this
more as a checklist and a a keeping us
on plan. sort of a checklist of things
we can and will be doing during the
course of the year. We might do some and
we might not do others. So just because
it's a plan doesn't mean that
everything's going to be done as long as
we meet the legal requirement
which is pretty open. The legal
requirement is just to have some public
participation and open discussion and
communication programs. It doesn't it
doesn't say that we have to do all these
things. So if we don't do them, we're
not in any kind of detriment. We just
But we m we've got our ideas down on
paper of things that we should can be
doing and we have a timeline which is
maybe tells us whether we're behind or
ahead of schedule. So I see personally I
see no problem with this.
>> Yeah. So, we get to August, which isn't
» Yeah. So, we get to August, which isn't
very far away, and we we need to pencil
in who's doing what and when, you know,
for each of the components of the comp
plan, but also all of these other issues
that we're talking about, when we get to
August,
could we at least have an understanding
that some of these items, the email
list, the website, etc., if we don't
have a volunteer or someone penciled in
that we reduce that list and update this
document because if we hit August, which
is when we're supposed to hit the ground
running on updating the comp plan, if we
don't have people penciled in, then we
should shorten that list in this
documents. I agree with what Lisa said.
I've read things like that and you know,
it creates the impression that there's
going to be a bunch of stuff going on.
And yes, the word may is in there, but
you know, you can only not do so many
things that you say we may do this, we
may do that without leaving a sour taste
with the public. I would rather have a
shorter list that we're committed to and
have the people and the resources to do
and then do that, you know, pencil it in
and be committed to that. But we had
August. We need to pencil names and
dates and commitments in. So, I'm okay
with leaving it to August, but if we
don't have names in August, then I think
We have no choice but to shorten the
list.
>> I guess I see we got to we can't really
» I guess I see we got to we can't really
make those are good things to keep in
the back of their head till we actually
have the meeting with NWRPC.
That's what we're waiting on, right? See
what exactly the the disposition of
duties is going to be. So to try to
pencil stuff in now,
it might not be just go out the window
when we actually have the the meetings.
So Well, is Emily on the call right now?
>> Emily, you want to chime in?
» Emily will be coming back in just a
second here. She'll be able to hop on
and give some answers. But um I guess
our situation that we're in right now is
we're not technically under contract um
yet to be coming to like attending
meetings in person and things like that.
We don't have a contract set in stone
right now. Um so that would be something
that we could talk about once that scope
of work gets approved and um the
contract is approved. Um public
participation plans are important to
have that prior to doing any work on a
comp plan. Um it is statutoily required
before um any work to a comp plan is
done that that public participation plan
is approved. So that would kind of be
your first step on anything would be to
get the public participation plan nailed
down and approved by the county board.
>> Thank you.
» And I am back now. This is Emily.
>> Go ahead, Emily.
» Go ahead, Emily.
>> So we would have um just a ma like a
» So we would have um just a ma like a
general outline. Northwest Regional
Planning's responsibilities
would be to make sure that all of the
statutory requirements are met for the
comp plan update. So that would include
the adoption of the public participation
plan by the county board before we start
any sort of planning committee meetings
that are facilitated.
We'd also make sure that the draft plan
is properly distributed
to all of the required entities. So that
would be neighboring jurisdictions
and then we help prepare the materials,
the draft plan for county board
adoption. We'll be the ones responsible
for updating the tables, charts, maps,
any narrative content that's affected by
any new data. We would draft updated
narrative content and revise the plan
chapters for review by this committee.
And then for actual facilitated
meetings, the current scope of work
includes eight meetings of this
committee as well as one facilitated
public open house. So that's different
than the required public hearing that's
a part of statute. The open house would
be on the preliminary draft
comprehensive plan before it moves into
the formal um adoption process to get
some input from the public on a
preliminary draft.
And then we would also provide digital
copies of the draft and final plan in
both Microsoft Word and PDF formats. We
do the the mapping and develop the
updated existing land use and the future
land use maps.
We would support the county in the
preparation of the public hearing.
That's the statutory requirement that is
the with the 30-day notice of the final
draft plan. And we would also assist
with the uh information you need for
plan final plan adoption by the county
board.
And then the current scope of work also
includes the assistance with a digital
public opinion survey. And then we would
have the summary analysis for that as
well as um any hardcolor copy printing
of the final plan that the county might
want to have that would be at an
additional cost. So for Russ County, for
this planning committee, the main things
would be to review and provide timely
feedback on all the draft materials that
we provide
that the county board adopts the public
participation plan according to
comprehensive planning law requirements.
You would be the responsible for
conducting and coordinating any of the
additional public outreach engagement
activities. So that sounds like what
you're talking about right now within
this public participation plan that's
above and beyond the statutory
requirements. And this public
participation plan is um based on one
that another county that we worked with
um did. So these are things like that
another county um had as their
priorities and maybe those priorities
are different in Ashlin County. So, I
heard you talking about the community
display, and what that county did was
had a display with some of the
survey results as well as some of the
background information, population, and
housing data, and they had that
displayed at the entrance to their
government center.
And then we'd also assist with uh
organizing the public hearing for plan
adoption as well as approval of the
final plan and related ordinance with
the county board. And I see one hand up.
>> Yeah, this Emily and Autumn, this is
» Yeah, this Emily and Autumn, this is
Gary Merdict. I have a question. You uh
Autumn, I think you said you didn't have
the contract. I got an email over 10
days ago saying that that contract had
been approved. Is it something that
>> you haven't uh
» you haven't uh
>> the contract with for the grant has been
» the contract with for the grant has been
approved? So the state and the county.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> So now that that has been approved, we
» So now that that has been approved, we
can and I today you also have
>> um the scope of work on your agenda at
» um the scope of work on your agenda at
the this committee level. Then we can
look at the contract between Northwest
Regional Planning and the county for
this plan update.
>> Okay. Thank you.
» Okay. Thank you.
>> Contract was specific to the grant.
» Contract was specific to the grant.
>> Okay. Thank you very much.
» Okay. Thank you very much.
>> Yes.
» Yes.
>> Any further discussion? Uh see Eric, did
» Any further discussion? Uh see Eric, did
you have Okay, Charlie, go ahead.
>> Okay. Sorry. I I don't want staff to
» Okay. Sorry. I I don't want staff to
think that I don't support them 100%.
Perhaps a a uh
an amendment stating
uh that the uh points in this plan are
subject to change uh may may change
based on the August meeting.
Would would something like that give you
comfort?
>> Other discussion, Lisa?
» Other discussion, Lisa?
>> Something like that gives me more
» Something like that gives me more
comfort because it reduces expectation
levels. Um maybe there should be a
statement in the beginning that says
this is what's required by the statute.
What follows is a checklist of ideas
that we may pursue. Make sure everyone
in the county gets the news as staff and
resources allow
because there's a difference to me
between like a wish list and an action
plan. you know, an action plan. I am
saying I'm doing this and then um
whether that's a Chevy or a Cadillac
plan, maybe it's two things, maybe it's
20 things, but it's a plan of action
that I'm going to do a a guideline or a
checklist to me is is a little bit
different. Whereas the idea that we're
calling this participation plan to me
sets up expectations and I'm not sure
that a lot of people will read it at
all. Um but the word and and whether
they zone in on the word may
um you know that's a separate question
but if if we're clear about what the
expectation is to do this work or just
say these are our great suggestions.
We're going to try and get to it. You
know nice statement like that. This is
what's required that will get done.
We've hired a contractor to help us. If
I may, uh, if you look at the second
page of the public participation plan,
uh, paragraph two, it says, um, we'll
use due diligence to ensure the spirit
and intent of this public participation
plan is upheld. The spirit and intent.
However, it should be expected that
deviations from this plan may be
warranted. It's right in there.
>> Okay. I didn't read that part. Did you
» Okay. I didn't read that part. Did you
do you agree with that then, Charlie?
I'm
>> because that's what you're getting at as
» because that's what you're getting at as
well, right?
>> Yeah. I I think we're all getting a
» Yeah. I I think we're all getting a
little wrapped up with what may or may
not be a final and that's not going to
happen till we meet with NWRPC. Then
then then
we got to make sure that we're dotting
and crossing
te's and eyes that we can do before we
say yes. So these are all just may now
in preparation for that meeting. And so
I'm comfortable with it the way it is.
So if I go to page two of the document,
it's there's a section called public
participation plan by method and then
there's a paragraph or two, then there's
a bunch of bullets, but then when you
get to page three of the document, now
it starts with community
display/exhibit. It doesn't really
there's this other language in front of
that. And what I'm wondering is before
the community display/exhibit
if we could add a sentence that says
Ashlin County is considering some or all
of the following for public
participation.
Then that very clearly in one standalone
sentence is says considering some or all
of the following. It's by no way
promising and it doesn't say may which
can be interpreted various ways.
So, for simplicity sake, if this
committee agreed on inserting that
sentence above the community
display/exhibit as a standalone
sentence, then tomorrow at the board
meeting, a board member could make a
motion to change the public
participation plan by adding that
sentence there and it would save you all
of this. You know,
>> Ashlin County is considering some or all
» Ashlin County is considering some or all
of the following for public
participation.
Yeah. So, thanks that I think I would go
along with that. That's what I've been
trying to say is like let's cert some
clarifying language so that we don't set
unrealistic expectations.
>> And then in August, we have to be
» And then in August, we have to be
prepared. If somebody wants a certain
thing in there like email or website, we
need to pencil somebody in
or take it off the list.
>> Y
» Y
>> yeah, we're we're likely to be resource
» yeah, we're we're likely to be resource
thin. So, um I think we could take that
as amendment today and then it would be
in the the presentation tomorrow to the
county board if we amended it today.
>> I'll make move to make that amendment.
» I'll make move to make that amendment.
>> Well, hang on.
» Well, hang on.
I Well, I'll second it for purpose of
discussion. Now, we're going to have to
vote, but I'll second it, but then I'd
like to speak
>> now. So, there's an amendment on there's
» now. So, there's an amendment on there's
a a motion on the floor to amend the
public participation public
participation plan as previously
approved at the past meeting to say at
the beginning of the listing of
options for public participation on page
three that we should have a header that
says Ashlin County is considering some
or all of the following for public
participation. That would be the
amendment as I understand it. Is that
correct?
>> Well, it it is. Um but logistically
» Well, it it is. Um but logistically
speaking, the board meeting is tomorrow.
If we pass this today, we're changing
the plan the board has asked to
consider, which would mean you would
need to send the administrator an
updated copy of this plan today. They
would then need to modify what's on the
county website for the packet tomorrow.
And for those board members who get the
packet in print, they would need to
print copies to give to them. If we
agreed as a committee on this change
today, a board member tomorrow could
make a motion to modify the plan with
the sentence that you just said and then
say that the committee supported making
this change yesterday, but we're not
going to go through the logistics of you
and Dan and others having to update the
packet.
>> So, would you like to propose? Would you
» So, would you like to propose? Would you
be prepared to make that amendment
tomorrow?
>> I I would as long as this committee is
» I I would as long as this committee is
in support of making that. Um,
» I support.
>> So, you want to withdraw?
» So, you want to withdraw?
>> I'll withdraw my amend withdraw my
» I'll withdraw my amend withdraw my
amendment proposal and support the
course of action that Pat submits it
tomorrow at the board meeting.
>> Are there any objections to the proposal
» Are there any objections to the proposal
by Mr. Kenny?
Then so be it.
>> And we move on to the next agenda item.
the
uh
work
this this would be used this is what's
going to be used in discussion with land
as to what the job is to be done
so this must becomes the foundation of
the contract
I believe will be set up
Um, I don't know exactly who sets it up.
I know that, you know, Dan and Gary will
need to sign it as it is a contract, but
I would guess that you, George, are also
involved.
>> Uh, so I mean, probably it's going to
» Uh, so I mean, probably it's going to
take legal review. It' be my
understanding, but I'm not sure how it
was done last time around, so we have to
look into that. But anyway, as I
understand it, the scope of work
document becomes the basis for the
agreement with Northwest Regional
Planning as to who's going to do what
and how much they're going to contribute
within the amount of funding that we
have available to them. And I have a
concern. Okay, I'm I'm pretty good with
all of this that's in this document.
um you know the plan elements will
include at least these nine elements
which means there could be more which
was Charlie's problem and like in
transportation these are we looking at
proposed things for the future they're
not definite commitments that you can do
that I don't think I highlighted there's
some other things I highlighted that
we're looking at you know future risk
and opportunities and we want to promote
diverse sustainable economic case and
that land use is proposed land uses and
that implementation is policies,
programs and actions to achieve plan
goals.
Uh so we will need in the end reasonable
parties and strategies but my concern is
this.
I look at at what we have in terms of
resources among ourselves to do work. I
mean, some of us are professionally
committed and have an overload of work
probably already and the rest of us are
essentially volunteers who receive a
predeem for going to a meeting, but
essentially so there's a lot to be done
here and we're going to need a lot of
help from Northwest Regional Planning.
But I what I'm seeing is probably the
need from each
subcommittee team leader to be able to
draw upon the advisory skills of the
consultant.
So, it seems to me that if Charlie's
working intergovernmental or Pat's
working agriculture or Gary's working on
economic development,
they may need the advice and guidance of
experts at Northwest Regional Planning.
And I strikes me that it would be
constructive for us to establish that
you would have all subcommittee
chairpersons would have access to
drawing upon that expertise. And I don't
know what other people think about this.
Charlie, go ahead. I
>> I think if if my
» I think if if my
perception of what they're doing is
correct that they're going to be looking
at each they're going to be eyeballing
my element and then coming back and I
get to review that. So I think I feel
like I have the access to that expert
already and that they're going to be
applying an expert eye to my element. If
that's wrong, they'll tell me in August,
I suppose.
>> I guess what I'm thinking of is if you
» I guess what I'm thinking of is if you
have questions, if you need help.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> You have authority. Do you have
» You have authority. Do you have
authority to call Emily or Autumn and
ask them some questions and get some
advice that right now with the farmland
preservation plan?
>> So, that's what I'd like to make more
» So, that's what I'd like to make more
clear in the scope of work. And so just
what I wrote here is that the scope of
work should include a section on
advisory services. It doesn't spec
explicitly say that. And I would write
it this way. Advisory services to the
planning committee as a whole.
Individual committee members as leaders
of sub subject element subcommittees.
county administration and county board
in addition to the work and processes as
prescribed herein and otherwise agreed.
I'd like to make it very clear that
there's access to advisory services for
the people that are doing the work. I
don't know if you think that's I don't
know if you think that's necessary and
I'll be interested in Emily and Autumn's
observations. Pat, do you have a
comment?
>> Well, when we get to August and we start
» Well, when we get to August and we start
penciling things in that ties into the
question of how do we work with each of
these sections? So if I have the egg
section, I need to somehow coordinate
with Northwest Regional Planning on how
we do that. So implicitly we have to
have some access to them um to
coordinate this without question. But
given there's a limit to the budget,
there's a limit to their time and
access. So somewhere in there if we add
a sentence or a paragraph um as time and
budgets allow so that we don't have say
a member just asking for endless hours
that then push the budget outside of the
scope of what we have. So there's got to
be as time and budget allows and
Northwest Regional Planning would have
to talk to individual committee members
and say, "Look, you know, I can give you
a certain amount of time, but if
someone's start sucking up 40, 50, 60,
80 hours, that's probably not going to
work so well."
So my I thought about that problem and I
thought that the way to deal with that
is that when we do our subcommittee
reports at each of our committee
meetings, one of the things that the
committee members would be asked to
report is time
time on calls to Northwest Regional
Planning if if at all. And that would,
you know, if some if you if we had a
committee meeting and you someone said,
"Well, I spent 10 minutes on the phone
with Emily and I asked a question, but
somebody else says,"Well, I was on the
phone with Autumn for 3 hours." You
know, then we can see that we're bumping
up against limitations if we have a a
monthly reporting process. Pat,
>> I think for the August meeting, it would
» I think for the August meeting, it would
be helpful if Northwest Regional
Planning would tell us what they
typically um have as guidelines when
working with counties to update comp
plants, how this process works to set up
meetings, sharing files, back and forth,
updates, and how much time outside of
meetings is reasonable for the scope of
work that they envision for what they're
contracted for.
I don't see how we can do this without
having access to them. So, I think
that's implicit that they could tell us.
>> Gary, if you're there, do you have any
» Gary, if you're there, do you have any
observations on this?
» No, not in addition to what's already
been said. I think uh we need Northwest
Regional Planning to basically give us
the lead and and then we'll follow
» if it goes anything like the farm plan.
They're going to come back to us with
their ideas on each element and then
we'll all get to ask their expert. We'll
we'll input. We've had three meetings
now with farm planning and that's what
you've just described is what's been
happening at those meetings. We we input
to them. They take notes. They tell us
what they think and then we oh what
about this? What about that? What about
this? So and it and it's so it also
triggers those they they present it in
such a way that gets you thinking
uh it isn't it isn't like calling them
afterwards but it's definitely a long
process. I say long but it's like an
hour meeting where you go over that
element and you might do that element
three times. Who knows? But I like I
also agree that we should be able to
call them if something strikes us. So I
I I agree in theory with what you're
saying is provided it doesn't add $10
million to the bill.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
>> Yeah. So I I think there needs to be in
» Yeah. So I I think there needs to be in
order to get things done and to be not
get tangled up with a lot of
communication that there needs to be
empowerment of the sub subcommittee
chairpersons,
you know, not to have to call Dan or
come to come to me or, you know, just
within reason be able to go directly
with your questions to to Emily or
Autumn. So Emily, do you have an
observation on this uh chain of thought?
I would say that based on
experience from other counties that
we've worked with that have had
subcommittees for individual chapters,
we have
Northwest Regional Planning staff would
first
update the chapter
with information that we have available
to us. And once that draft is updated,
we would share that maybe on SharePoint
or whatever platform that the county
prefers. Sometimes we'll even include it
on our uh web page and those can be
downloaded by the committee members and
that's available to review by the
committee. So typically we've had you
start with uh reviewing the background
information
and making those revisions and then
moving to the visioning and the action
plan and implementation and doing it in
that sort of sequence and sharing those
documents as we go through the plan
update process. So, it works, I think,
best if Northwest Regional Planning does
the first round of updates
and um provides that first updated draft
to the subcommittee for their um
expertise and additional revisions and
any additional information that they
want to include in that updated chapter
as a sort of a basic general
update process.
My question back then
my question back then Emily is um are
you talking about the background data
>> or are you talking about the goals and
» or are you talking about the goals and
visions because I'm talking about the
goals and visions
>> all of the above but it wouldn't occur
» all of the above but it wouldn't occur
all at once. First, we would share the
background information that we have
updated and then you can use that
updated background information to help
inform the update of the visioning and
the actions.
>> Yeah. Okay. So, we we're in a parallel
» Yeah. Okay. So, we we're in a parallel
process already of trying to draw from
the public and from our departments and
committees
their ideas about how what they would
like this the future to look like.
And so it occurs to me that a committee
subcommittee may be working on a set of
data. Is it out of bounds for them to
send you an email with a question?
>> Definitely not. that would be
» Definitely not. that would be
appreciated because I know that there
are certain things that this
um committee has expertise on that
Northwest Regional Planning might not
have access to certain information or
data or plans or ideas that you might
have that should be incorporated in the
update.
So from my position here as chair,
I would want all of the subcommittee
chairpersons to be empowered, feel
empowered that they could submit
questions, you know, I send an email or
a short conversation
uh if necessary to go after the contract
is signed because we don't have that yet
and that we would monitor that
utilization by in our
reports at our monthly meetings. So when
we go around the table and say each
subcommittee's reporting, that's where
we we collect a little understanding of
how much utilization or underutilization
we would be uh drawing upon. And if if
if Emily or thought that we were uh
using up too much time on you know long
conversations that she could also let us
know. Does that sound amendable to the
group?
>> Because if not maybe we just move on.
» Because if not maybe we just move on.
Maybe we any other discussion on the uh
scope of work.
» Um I actually want to go back to the um
proposed comp plan public participation
and then because I might end up coming
back to the scope of work and and on
page five of the participation plan if
someone can explain to me it's the
bottom of page five the focus groups.
There's two lists there both one through
seven and the first list
the second item is trends and issues and
then the second list you know is largely
a reorganization of the first seven but
what is missing
is in the second grouping
um
issues is missing
the trends and issues what happened to
that and then if we go back to the nine
required items. There's issues and
opportunities. So we went from in the
comp plan nine elements we went from
issues and opportunities on the focus
groups. Number two is trends and issues
and then it is not seen in the second
group of seven which left me with
question.
>> This is Emily. Issues and opportunities
» This is Emily. Issues and opportunities
is the name of the element
uh as written in the comprehensive
planning law.
>> Right. But a lot of you Ashlin County
» Right. But a lot of you Ashlin County
must refer to that as trends and issues
and it was not a part of the element
focus groups for this public
participation plan because that county's
trends and issues or issues and
opportunities was only a list of the
issues and opportunities.
So it was a full committee exercise of
updating the list of issues and
opportunities in the county and it was
not at the subcommittee level. It was a
full committee level meeting that that
occurred.
>> So for the sake of clarity, would it be
» So for the sake of clarity, would it be
helpful if we train change trends and
issues to issues and opportunities
for consistency?
>> I'll leave that up to the committee, but
» I'll leave that up to the committee, but
it's for consistency with the
comprehensive planning law. It might be
reasonable.
>> Okay. So, I'm going to
» Okay. So, I'm going to
make a motion that at the board meeting
tomorrow, the following change is
supported. In focus groups number two,
we change trends and issues to issues
and opportunities so it's consistent
with the element from the requirements
for the comp plan.
>> Well, okay. So, I need you to write that
» Well, okay. So, I need you to write that
down on paper so Karisha would have it
specifically.
So, at the board meeting tomorrow, I
would make a motion that in the
um public participation plan on page
five
under focus groups number two, trends
and issues
is changed to
issues. and opportunities
so that it is consistent with the
language used in one of the nine
required elements of the comp plan.
So it I interpret that as needing no
action at this time because that's going
to be brought as a motion tomorrow.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> Okay.
» Are there further comments or discussion
on scope of work?
Um,
I'm just going to make a note that on
lower part of page three in one of the
bullets, second to the last of volume
two, it says issues and opportunities.
So, we we see it there. Now, the
language is consistent.
Excuse me.
» Could you repeat that, please, Pat?
Um
under volume two second to the last
bullet is issues and opportunities. So
now the proposed change for tomorrow
changing trends and issues to issues and
opportunities will occur
um in the comp plan required elements in
the previous document and it's
consistent with issues and opportunities
shown here. And so it's consistent then
which makes it simpler for those of us
who are easily confused.
» Erica,
>> I have uh a few suggestions just for
» I have uh a few suggestions just for
consistency and clarity of word choice
across documents. But since this does
not need to be finalized today, I think
we should probably just do that as we
talk with Northwest Regional.
>> Uh okay. So I I agree with Erica's
» Uh okay. So I I agree with Erica's
comment. This is
this is input document for
preparation of a a contractual document
and if there'll be rewarding and better
wording of things I imagine in the
contract and it'll be subject to a back
and forth and discussion between
our representative and Northwest
Regional Planning. So this basically
sort of represents intent.
And so the only thing that I thought I
needed to add for intent was that idea
of that I I need my committee these
committee members to have access to the
consultant with if they have if you have
questions or need advice. That's the
only thing I really wanted to add.
Anybody else?
Yeah. I really just want to express
support for Erica's desire to have
consistency of language. When I see
language that's different, I can spend a
lot of time trying to figure out why is
this language different? Is it the same
thing or not? And if it's stated
differently or different words chosen,
why is it different? Um, so I really
appreciate the consistency of language
and any extent that Erica, Alyssa, and
others can make that language
consistent, I really really appreciate
that. So I don't go down rabbit holes.
» Are we going to do that?
>> Are we going to do that? Suggest that or
» Are we going to do that? Suggest that or
should we give um are we going to talk
about that language changes? Because in
the public participation plan on page
five, it says focus groups, trends, and
issues, which is what you want to change
to issues and opportunities to be part
of the um scope of work. Is that what
you're saying?
>> Yeah. In fact, that's a good point. If
» Yeah. In fact, that's a good point. If
it occurs in more than one place, we
should make changes to the entire
document
>> and the public participation.
» and the public participation.
>> Yeah. because it it says trends and
» Yeah. because it it says trends and
issues in
>> so I should I mean if the committee is
» so I should I mean if the committee is
okay with it replace trends and issues
with issues and opportunities in the
public participation plan and then
someone could do a search and catch them
all that would be good. Yeah.
And does that mean that because and
Erica you you've done a lot of planning
to me trends, issues, and opportunities
are all different perspectives,
but it sounds like what we're suggesting
is we don't talk about trends
necessarily.
We talk about issues and then
opportunities arising, but not
necessarily trends. Like we said,
housing,
you know, is becoming perhaps more and
more um owned by seasonal residents. So
that's a trend is do we want to just
give instruct since I'm doing the issues
and now opportunities group
>> in sorry in the scope of work or in the
» in sorry in the scope of work or in the
public participation plan
>> in in the whole participation plan. If
» in in the whole participation plan. If
we're taking out trends, are we we we
are we're still going to want to talk
about trends, right? We're we're
changing language
that changes the discussion.
>> Uh if I may, if is there any reason we
» Uh if I may, if is there any reason we
can't just say trends, issues, and
opportunities?
>> That's what I'm asking. I mean,
» That's what I'm asking. I mean,
>> I don't see they all seem to go
» I don't see they all seem to go
together. Trends in give uh insight to
issues which open up discussion of
opportunities. It's kind of a sequential
thing.
>> That's what I'm asking. So I would
» That's what I'm asking. So I would
prefer the language trends, trends,
issues and opportunities.
>> And the definition
» And the definition
of the issues and opportunities element
is that it includes background
information on the county and a
statement of overall objectives,
policies, goals, and programs of the
county to guide future development and
redevelopment of the county over a
20-year planning period. Background
information includes population,
household, and employment for CRA Cass.
that the county uses in developing its
comprehensive plan and demographic
trends, age distribution, education
levels, income levels, and employment
characteristics that exist within the
county.
So within the definition, it does
incorporate the housing and population
trends and projections.
So when I have those public
conversations or however we do those,
we'll make sure that we're going to
bring up those three things and then
they'll be fact checked by trends that
have been identified in volume one.
Does that sound right?
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> So if we may, we could move on to item
» So if we may, we could move on to item
5e, which is our working relationship
and scheduling with Northwest Regional
Planning.
Uh Emily, are you sort of able to give
us the outline of how we proceed with
you folks from, you know, development of
contract and our first steps forward?
>> The next step would be to
» The next step would be to
develop a contract based on the scope of
work and the county board to approve
that contract with Northwest Regional
Planning.
And typically, I think what we've done
with other counties is have a more
condensed version of this scope of work,
like sort of a one page for the
contract,
and then we internally have this longer,
more comprehensive document to work with
um between the committee and the staff
members at Northwest Regional Planning.
If that sounds reasonable,
» that means to me that we'll need this
contract approved at the county board
meeting next month.
>> Otherwise, we'll have be delayed.
» Otherwise, we'll have be delayed.
>> So,
» So,
I think we have an expedited process. Uh
there'll be an amendment to the already
approved public participation plan at
the county board meeting tomorrow. And
either an amendment will pass or not
pass. and then either the public
participation plan will pass or not
pass. Hopefully the county board will
approve it and then we'll be able to
move forward with the contract based on
the scope of work and hopefully in
August the county board will approve
that contract. Erica,
>> quick question just as to timeline. Will
» quick question just as to timeline. Will
we meet with Northwest Regional to talk
about the scope of work at least as a
subgroup of us to actually delineate
verbiage and requirements
and then bring it back to this committee
as a whole to vote yes or no and then
take it to the county board.
>> I think that's I would prefer not to go
» I think that's I would prefer not to go
that route because I think it takes too
much time.
I think I would be looking to the county
administrator to determine how it would
be most expeditious to put the contract
in place so that the work of the
committee with boardwise regional
planning can go forward. If we become
too legalistic and bureaucratic, we're
just not going to move forward.
participation.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> Would it be reasonable for me to send
» Would it be reasonable for me to send
the scope of services in a contract form
for that smaller group to review?
So, it talks about what Northwest
Regional Planning will be responsible
for, what Ashlin County will be
responsible for, and is that certain
that the county is interested in doing
the public opinion digital survey
with a um summary report of key
findings? Should that be included?
Why don't you send that to
>> You could send that to
» You could send that to
um Dan Grady,
Gary Merte,
George Buset
and we will take a look at it and I will
disseminate it to the rest of the
committee for comment and we will
integrate our comments. uh and
I think the focal point subject to his
agreement will have to be the county
administrator for the preparation and uh
legal review to get legal review of the
contract. So yes, that'll be fine.
Please do so.
>> All right, we'll plan to do that.
» Okay.
>> The other the scope of work you're
» The other the scope of work you're
talking about today at this meeting can
be a working document as well.
>> Thank you.
» Thank you.
So moving on, uh the next agenda item is
to discuss um 5F which is township
inputs to planning.
So the question is how we're going to
how would we do that? The idea was to go
out to the towns
and ask them to include this in their
town meeting agendas.
And I don't know.
I think we're not doing that quite yet.
Listen, have you had any progress on
that?
>> Um, no, not yet.
» Um, no, not yet.
>> So, that we'll have to figure out who's
» So, that we'll have to figure out who's
going to do that at our I think our
August meeting is going to have to be
nuts and bolts. Figure out who's going
to do what meeting
and that would be part of it.
So if there's nothing on township
inputs, then we move to um discussion of
communication vehicles,
anybody?
Paul, how about your computer, Charlie?
I I guess I kind of thought that would
be
that Northwest Regional will tell us
what they're where they're going to have
these documents and how we can feed back
on them or just look at them cuz we're
not going to have them somewhere. Right,
>> Erica?
» Erica?
>> So, we have a SharePoint site set up and
» So, we have a SharePoint site set up and
Emily referred to it. I assume that
Emily's referring to our SharePoint
site. Um, are people able to access that
yet? I have talked with Dan about this
many times and I don't know how many
times he's contacted it about it, but I
mean there is already a lot of documents
on there, surveys that Lisa has done,
surveys of staff that I have done, um,
old documents, other input, it's all
there and it should be accessible to
everyone. Um, I think last time George
you said you couldn't access it. There
was at least once that Dan himself
couldn't access it on his iPad or on,
you know, whatever other technology
other than his desktop. So I I just need
to know and if I need to go straight to
it and like somehow figure this out
because we have that set and I'd really
like for people to be able to get to it
cuz I have put many many hours into it
already. Um yeah I mean I think the
other things here we should definitely
talk about but I think as like as a
clearing house of information for us we
have that.
» Okay. And this is Emily from Northwest
Regional Planning. I don't believe we've
seen or have access to that SharePoint
either.
>> Okay.
» What's the address to it?
>> Uh, it was sent to everyone on the
» Uh, it was sent to everyone on the
committee at least twice.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
>> I can send it again. I do need to double
» I can send it again. I do need to double
check though, Emily,
if the county will add Northwest
Regional to it. um because it it is
within the administration drive and so
then you would have access to kind of
>> a bunch of other documents that you
» a bunch of other documents that you
probably shouldn't have access to.
>> Um so I'll
» Um so I'll
>> if that's the case we could utilize
» if that's the case we could utilize
Northwest Regional Planning SharePoint
for any sort of draft materials.
>> Okay. I'll talk to Dan about that
» Okay. I'll talk to Dan about that
tomorrow and see what the best course of
action is.
>> Okay.
uh comment on that is that um Erica did
send me that I wasn't I've haven't been
able to get into SharePoint yet, but
Erica sent me copies of all the county
departments inputs and it's terrific
material. We all have feedback from all
of the county departments
on their views of input to the the
comprehensive plan and it's it's great
stuff. See, we just really all need to
be able to get into SharePoint and look
at this stuff because when we start
getting the feedback from the towns,
that'll be in the same location and a
lot of our committee work will be in the
same location. So, Charlie, you had to
come in.
>> Yeah, but I have a different one now.
» Yeah, but I have a different one now.
Uh, so the when we say feedback from the
townships, are we looking for that in
their updates to their plans or their
direct input to this plan
or both? Well, I think we're looking for
their input to the county's perspective,
but obviously that's going to have a lot
to do with what they think about their
own townships.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> But they they may have comments about
» But they they may have comments about
county roads, things that they aren't
responsible for that, but that that
affect them.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
And then the SharePoints, I I assume
that
our SharePoint is for inputs to their to
NWRPCs. will then add them to that do
their document or not or somehow and
then that that'll be on the the rewrites
going to be on on the NWRPC share points
right the actual
>> we have not figured that out yet that's
» we have not figured that out yet that's
what I'm going to try to figure out okay
tomorrow for the fourth
>> all right thank you
okay anything further on communications
Pat
>> this is Liz I got to leave. I'm going to
» this is Liz I got to leave. I'm going to
work. All right. Thank you everybody.
Byebye.
>> Take care, Liz.
» Take care, Liz.
>> Bye.
» Bye.
>> Bye. You too.
» Bye. You too.
>> Yeah.
» Yeah.
>> You know, it occurs to me from um from
» You know, it occurs to me from um from
when I was teaching and we started
putting lots of stuff online. I taught
lots of online and ITV courses is I
always tried to keep things really
organized and not be redundant. Um and
so there was a logical place to find
stuff. I would keep those documentes
those documents updated and current and
I wouldn't have a bunch of what I call
clutter that people had to wade through.
I wouldn't have the same thing in
multiple places. Some instructors say,
"Oh, they can always find it here. You
can find it there." And what I think
about is when we get to this time of
year and we started preparing for
semester,
um some people would say, "Oh, I got to
update this and that." It was like, "Why
do you have in so many places?" And of
course, they don't remember to update
everything. the more stuff you have out
there, the more vehicles of
communication, the more things that have
to be updated, the more things that you
have to take data information from one
place and then stick it somewhere else.
If you're saying, "I'm going to make all
this available." So, the more places you
have stuff and the more it has to be
coordinated and transferred to and the
more it has to be updated, not only is
it a lot of work and it's what I call
self-inflicted wounds because people
have too much in too many places
because, oh, I'm going to do it on
social media. I'm going to do it all
these other places. It sounds great
until someone has to coordinate and do
the work and keep it current, but it
also means it's harder for, you know, in
this case, the public to find stuff
because now they're waiting through in
different places looking for stuff and
it all can't be current and updated at
the same time because, well, somebody's
got to do that. So, I actually think
there's a lot of merit to to
being concise both with the
types of communications and how it's
stored, how it's organized, how it's
presented, you know, as we go through
this process because too much in too
many places. And then somebody might
say, "Oh, I've seen three places I could
give input, so I'm going to give input
in all three places." Well, that isn't
really statistically valid either
because it's the same person doing it
multiple times just because they can.
So, you know, all these ways that we're
going to engage the public have bearing
on how many ways we're going to
communicate and who's going to do the
work of organizing synthesizes and
keeping it up to date. They tie
together. And it's nice to be ambitious,
but that doesn't always translate to
clarity and ease of use.
>> Other comment, Erica?
» Other comment, Erica?
>> Sorry, this doesn't refer to Pat's
» Sorry, this doesn't refer to Pat's
comment. Just going back to the township
inputs. Oh, just just wanted to ask I
mean at what point are you imagining
this George? Is it is it that we should
take the first draft of the full comp
plan to each of the townships
or
make efforts at the subcommittee level
to include township feedback within
their sections? Or is that what we're
figuring out today? I'm just trying to
>> Yeah. I know I'm against
» Yeah. I know I'm against
We're going to attempt to do with the
townships the same thing we did with the
county departments. That was as simple
as that.
Moving on.
Is there anything more on communications
to discuss
» which is review of progress versus
calendarized work plan which is
basically laid out in
I kind of check whether
we're behind schedule or not behind
schedule. This is at the end of the
scope of work in a grid format.
Going there you go.
So in this layout which is just a
typical kind of 18month scenario that
was provided in the Bernett County
example basically. So, Northwest
Regional Planning provided us a c uh
Paul a copy of another county's planning
and the scope of work basically comes
out of that. So, in our scope of work,
there is this timetable. It's kind of a
checklist of whether we're keeping up or
not, and it's an 18-month cycle. So,
if we're going to be done by the end of
2026, this would be the first month of
the cycle.
It'd be July. And uh so month one would
be established steering committee
um and internal plan review to identify
content and revisions. I don't know that
we've all really done that, but
hopefully each uh subcommittee element
is looking at their individual elements
and reviewing it and taking that as
input.
And as far as I can see, that's where we
are right now. And then in pre-planning
month two here is revise and adopt
public participation plan. So I think
I'd say we're on schedule. And then in
month three which would be August.
No should be actually September would be
you know set up plan update web page.
Maybe we'll be able to do that maybe
not. Engage local units of government
and to issue press releases. So if we're
get the public participation plan in
place uh as of August, I think we're on
target and then if on month three we
have some some objectives to work for.
Is there discussion?
I mean to me looks to me like we're all
doing okay.
Being no discussion, we move on to the
question of publicity
because right now I don't think the
public has any sense that we're doing
this at all. I don't know what people's
ideas might be.
» Any thoughts, comments, conversation on
on publicity?
If not,
>> I do.
» I do.
>> Oh, Charlie. Okay, good.
» Oh, Charlie. Okay, good.
>> Didn't we just talk about that earlier?
» Didn't we just talk about that earlier?
And we were worried about the
throwing out too many ways to get that
publicity for it. Is that what you meant
by this or not? Uh what I mean is
raising public awareness that there's a
comprehensive plan review going on and
they're invited to provide input and I
don't think the public has has a clue
that we're doing this and we have to
talk about ways of informing them that
we're doing it.
>> That's what I thought we're going to
» That's what I thought we're going to
address that we the Cadillac plan that
isn't aren't those all ways we were
going to try to generate publicity and
we're just not there yet.
>> Those are ways that we can engage but
» Those are ways that we can engage but
there could be other ways and other
ideas. Okay, Erica.
>> All right, I got you. I don't have any
» All right, I got you. I don't have any
additional, but thank you for that
clarification.
>> So, one thing I' uh we talked about this
» So, one thing I' uh we talked about this
really briefly last time, but I would
like to say I I would be very happy to
write a press release for us. I think
maybe the best timing for that. So, it's
in the pre-planning. It's in the month
three, the next month thing. It's is
listed. Um, but I think it would
probably be good to have a signed
uh agreement with Northwest Regional so
that we announce that that we have the
website fully operational with actual
information on it and an email so that
we can refer people. If you're
interested in a subcommittee, if you're
interested, then let us know through
email, right? so that there's like one
one portal to the county for um that uh
but then I would also suggest that we
use some sort of photo right we it it's
people don't sort of focus in on a story
if you don't include at least one image
I think so if there are suggestions for
photos if or if we want to do the tree
planting before that you know I just
think the the timing maybe needs to come
just slightly later because we need to
have things to declare there and places
for people to go within that press
release.
Other thoughts and comments?
Well, if you're going to plant a tree,
you know, you can plant them spring or
fall, but in the fall when things have
gone dormant. So, don't, you know, in
the middle of August, plant your tree
because that would raise eyebrows, at
least among some.
>> So, the best time to plant a tree is in
» So, the best time to plant a tree is in
the spring.
>> Most trees get planted in the spring,
» Most trees get planted in the spring,
but you can plant in the fall, too.
Depends on the species to some extent
and the size, but but certainly not in
August.
>> Okay.
» Okay.
Uh it strikes me that a pressure release
at the time of the signing of the
contract with Northwest Regional
Planning would be a good announcement
that county is as is launching his
comprehensive plan effort and is uh
contracted with Northwest Regional
Planning to to assist with this work
that worthy of a press release and and
then other things could follow. I don't
think we have to do it all at once.
Other ideas, comments?
Item six on the agenda is the scheduled
next meeting, which I have tenatively
put down here for uh Monday, August 18.
That's agreeable to folks. I think we
just stick with that date
and then we get to our second public
comment period. I don't see anybody
online for public comment. I don't see
anybody present for public comment. So
then
we're down to item eight.
>> George, I might have something August
» George, I might have something August
18th, but I don't have my calendar here,
so don't be surprised if I email you.
>> Okay. Um,
» Okay. Um,
>> this is autumn at Northwest Regional
» this is autumn at Northwest Regional
Planning.
>> Go ahead.
» Go ahead.
>> U, we have a standing meeting every
» U, we have a standing meeting every
third Monday at one. We actually me and
Emily had to step out of that meeting
today to attend this one. Um so that
normally would provide a conflict um at
1:00.
» Uh how about 2:00?
» No. Hello. Uh potentially um our
standing um meeting is actually out of
the office. We normally would return
on those at about 3:30.
>> Okay. Maybe you could look at um at how
» Okay. Maybe you could look at um at how
flexible your your your operations are.
It's very difficult to schedule this
committee meeting
>> and a lot of conflicts here. So, um, I
» and a lot of conflicts here. So, um, I
will look at alternatives, but for right
now, I'm going to have to hold this date
because it's very, very difficult to get
this committee together.
>> Okay. No.
» Okay. No.
>> Mhm.
» Mhm.
>> And so then, no public comment. Uh, and
» And so then, no public comment. Uh, and
there's committee review of public
comments because we're required to do
that. And then there's other business
and future agenda recommendations.
Anybody have an agenda item they want to
put down for next time?
And final round robin of comments.
Anybody want to do a summary comment?
Pat,
>> you know, Bayfield County kind of kept
» you know, Bayfield County kind of kept
theirs shorter and they had some kind of
nice display in materials and whatever
that seemed to have caught people's
attention more than the usual comp plan
updates. There's something to be said
for brevity. Um, I think Bayfield County
benefited from that.
You know, I grew up in Bayfield County,
still have land there, so I actually saw
more of what they did than what Ashlin
County did. Um, people don't read long
documents.
Revity is
>> Yeah, I concur with that observation.
» Yeah, I concur with that observation.
I'd really like to the city of Ashlin's
comprehensive plan. It's much uh
shorter, easier to read. So when we get
to boiling things down, we might might
consider that.
Other summary comments. If not, a motion
to adjurnn, please.
Charlie moves to adjurnn. Second.
Is that Gary?
Oh, Paul. Paul seconds. Okay. Second.
Okay.
>> And all in favor of adjournment I post.
» And all in favor of adjournment I post.
I
>> thank you everybody.