Subject: Community networks to assist in *planning* ?!?!?

From: Douglas Schuler <[email-masked]>
Date: Wed, 14 Oct 1992 09:10:11 -0700

Here is an angle that I think we ought to be exploring in relation
to community access to computers and to local civic networks.  

The following quote is from "ARCADE", the "Northwest Journal of 
Architecture and Design" from an article called "Busting the Land 
Use Rut: Visioning and the Role of Education in Community Planning."

   THE GROWTH MANAGEMENT ACT

   The Washington State Growth Management Act requires procedures
   for "early and continuous public participation in the development
   and amendment of comprehensive land-use plans and development
   regulations implementing such plans."  (Section 14, SHB 2929)
   While the Act explicitly states the provision for

      "...broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives, 
      opportunity for written comments, public meetings after
      effective notice, provision for open discussion, communication
      programs, information services, and consideration of and 
      response to public comments..."

   It leaves it up to the local planners to come up with a specific
   program for participation.....

It seems like many opportunities exist for a local civic network to
promote this process.

This problem is important, challenging, and topical.  Can we begin to
design and implement systems that would enable citizens to enter into 
and effectively have an impact on these policy issues??

Does anybody have any thoughts on these possibilities?

---- Doug

---

From: [email-masked]
Date: Thu, 15 Oct 1992 01:09:21 -0700

> Does anybody have any thoughts on these possibilities?

That could certainly be a section on SCN, and would enable those
responsible for the "broad dissemination...." to reach another audience
than whoever they are addressing now (I have no idea where they publish
now, those big signs at sites stating there is a master plan on file?), I
think I have read some information like that in the notices section of the
classifieds, but it is not usually the first section of the paper I turn
to, so I probably usually miss it. A section of SCN entitled "Public Input
Needed" or something like that might help get that information out. Also
the smaller area newspapers and magazines would probably be willing to
both reprint an article each week or month from their publication on SCN
and use other areas as an information source for stuff that needs more
public participation that they could expand on in their publications.

Perhaps publishing those notices could be a source of funding for us? If
they are required by law, maybe the state makes some provision for
funding, or it is figured into the cost of the contract and by being a
regular place, we could get a grant from the contractors association or
whoever to do it? 

Just ideas. Too many for me to follow up on right now however. 

Seanews is willing to give email accounts to people who want to work on
SCN and be on our email lists so they will "be in the loop" so to speak
and know when and where meetings and etc are. Anyone reading this who
knows someone who has not been able to participate because they cannot
afford compuserve or another commercial service, tell them to use their
computer to call 937-9529 and sign on. Mention that they are part of SCN
and Bill McCormick will attempt to validate their account within a day.
The mailer is ELM. (Maybe others, I found that one and stopped looking.)
So please put out the word to those who want to participate.

Thanks, 

-sharma