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Meeting Minutes:
Howard Hallman welcomed everyone to the meeting, introduced the web site that was just launched the previous day (www.ourfuturesummit.org), then asked everyone to introduce themselves briefly and mention the reason for their interest in attending.
Those who attended the previous February kick-off meeting mostly noted their names and how long they had lived in the County. However, the following new attendees brought up these additional thoughts and key issues that concerned them:
Doug M., who previously led the charge on a Smoke-Free Summit, expressed his concern about I-70 expansion and the urgency of this issue.
Constance J., Director of the Summit Chamber of Commerce, mentioned that we should not make any decisions without thinking of their implications for seven generations.
Bill W. noted that zoning has driven a lot of the development in Summit County and expressed his particular concern about the I-70 corridor expansion plans and the speed with which they are happening.
Catherine G. explained that she suffers from a respiratory illness and moved here primarily for the clean air.
Don H. mentioned the wonderful people in Summit County are often overlooked as a key factor that make this a great place to live.
Sandy B. and Bill P. also voiced their concerns about the I-70 issue.
After this, Howard distributed hand-outs of the web site pages and mentioned that future additions might include a “Links” page and interactivity or blog allowing people to post comments. He noted that we do not want to compete but rather complement other community organizations.
Howard then went around the room asking everyone to comment on whether they agreed with the five areas on the “Common Ground” page of the web site. The comments were as follows:
Wes W: We should focus on a few important issues.
Vanessa W: Without good environment, we can’t have good community. Used to smell pine here but can’t any more. The tourists won’t come if the reasons for coming no longer exist.
Susan H: Environment is most important of all. There is too much pavement and too much exhaust. Mass transit would benefit business.
Corina A: Environment and transit are essential.
Doug M: Some common ground areas such as the environment might involve compromise.
Carla R: The topics look good. Competition among different entities is a major issue. We need to work together, not compete.
Don H: Sees a need for more balance to prevent overlapping facilities in the different communities of Summit County. However, we can never have enough parks.
Shirley W: We need hospital and assisted living facilities. Protection of the environment – particularly air and water – is key.
Rick W: Light pollution affects our quality of life and is a major issue. But we need leadership.
Tom D: Thinks it is hard for “Common Ground” to get too specific.
Ernie L: Recently moved here and curious to see how things evolve.
Carlos A: We are more than the common ground items listed. We have history, culture, soul. Integration, freedom, and respect are vital.
Tom P: Agree with Carlos.
Constance J: Likes “Economic Development” but might suggest “Economic Well-Being.” “Development” is quite a disputed term as to what this really means. Clean air and water essential.
Dave S: Environment is key.
Yvonne P: Agree with Carlos’s ideas. Also maybe uniting as a common voice so we don’t get steamrollered by larger state and federal entities could be another common ground platform.
Susan A: We need to think more globally. City versus County is a big problem.
Gail C: We need agreement in the group first before we go out to the wider community.
Sandy B: We need to realize economies of scale in government and demand value for our taxpayer dollars. There is so much duplication of services such as with the fire and police. We also need a unified voice for instances where we must go outside the community such as to speak up to Denver Water.
Don C: We need to be open to many people’s perspectives.
Bill W: The “Reasonable Government” mention is interesting. The purpose of government is supposed to be to work towards the health, safety, and well-being of the citizens. Also important is to identify and preserve the “character” that makes Summit County unique. This needs to be defined.
Bill W also brought everyone up-to-date on his involvement with the Coalition of Counties that is currently debating the I-70 issue and trying to find its own common ground for 30 communities.
Bill P: I-70 issue will have long-range impact. We need to become more knowledgeable about the issue. We need to bring officials from Broomfield to talk about how they transitioned to a single entity and what directions we might take.
Catherine G: Diversity is not being addressed in the schools. Knows two families leaving for this reason with children of color or learning disability. Also expressed concern that we will lose the older population if we don’t have any assisted living facility. As far as recreational facilities, noted that there is only one indoor facility – in Breckenridge – and could not get there one day because of traffic.
Beverly B: Agrees we must define our character, develop our vision, and narrow our goals.
Carlos A added that we must have an action plan and a way to measure our progress against it.
Don P: We must be careful that “Common Ground” does not become “Lowest Common Denominator.” Perhaps it should instead be “Higher Common Ground.” Also, “Reasonable Government” is important, but so is “Responsive Government.”
Howard then turned the direction of conversation to our “Vision.” What might this be?
1) A place where I can be proud to live?
2) It was mentioned that “Colorado’s Playground” is the moniker that appears after you exit the Eisenhower Tunnel. Constance mentioned that this also appears on the Summit Chamber branding, but there is a move to change this. Many people don’t like it.
3) Growth/population is likely to double in next 20 years… what would we like to be?
4) Will we become a bedroom community to Denver?
5) How will the growing number of immigrants integrate and assimilate?
Howard brought up ideas for Current Projects and how it is important to stratify them since some like I-70 are immediate and others may be more long-range:
1) Transportation / I-70 Expansion
2) Beetle Kill / Deforestation
Doug M moved to make Transportation the top project and asked for a show of hands on whether everyone could agree that mass transit should be part of the solution we propose. Those in favor were the majority.
Regarding Transportation, actions and questions include:
1) Get a speaker for our next meeting.
2) Target May 24th date (last point to give public feedback).
3) Concisely present the various alternatives on the futuresummit web site.
4) Create a way for people to vote or give feedback via surveys on the web site.
5) Put links on the web site to CDOT and the Coalition.
6) Explore options such as buses and HOV lanes.
7) Come up with a common vision on which we can all agree such as use of mass transit.
8) What will we do with all the new traffic; where will they park?
9) Howard to contact Bill Linfield.