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4 I or schools to engage people in And back home in Minnesota, ways that are comfortable to them, dozens of small cities have partici- or to create new organizations to pated in the award-winning MM- involve citizens who typically nesota Design Team visioning pro- . don't participate in the decision- cess. Originally conceived by a making process. small group of architecture and "Since each city has different The National Civic League's landscape architecture students in characteristics,itisimportant Millennium Project is an excellent the early-1980s, the Design Team source for cities considering the is a well-established and respected to use existing institutions like visioning process. The project's group of volunteer professionals as- churches or schools to engage Web site (www.cdinet/Mill/Re- sisting communities in planning source/vision.html)features local and designing a viable, appropriate people in ways that are examples of and references na- future. The Design Team works comfortable to them,or to tional organizations available to not only on design issues like main create new organizations to help your city. street improvements,but also with Several notable city examples the fundamental planning process involve citizens who typically stand out. Portland, Org. has that allows communities to take don't participate in the achieved a much-deserved reputa- initiative and plan a future that re- Lion for its high quality of life flects the community's dreams and decision-making process." through its comprehensive, re- interests. According to the Design gional visioning process. This pro- Team, successful community vi- cess began in the early 1980s and sioning includes: shared ownership has provided clear directions for of the visioning process; a compre- local decision-makers with its fo- hensive community inventory; in- cus on downtown and waterfront terdisciplinary teams; democratic revitalization, support for mass brainstorming and discussion of transit, and political and legal community issues; and finding an `In the final analysis,visioning mandates to maintain an urban individual or agency to spearhead • growth boundary to prevent de- implementation of the vision. is neither a magic wand nor a velopment in the surrounding In the final analysis, visioning is silver bullet for solving the farmlands. neither a magic wand nor a silver Chattanooga, Tenn. has won bullet for solving the problems of problems of cities.It is,at its praise for its community-based cities. It is, at its best, a rebirth of best,a rebirth of citizenship Vision 2000 focusing on citizenship that will create our sustainability. During the past 10 flight plan and guide us safely into that will create our flight plan years, this once maligned city vir- the new millennium.it and guide us safely into tually eliminated its longstanding „ air pollution problem, began the new millennium. cleaning up waste sites located in minority neighborhoods, and built an enormously popular and eco- Dr. W. Arthur Mehrhoff is professor nomically successful fresh water of local and urban affairs at Saint aquarium on its previously aban- Cloud State University in St. Cloud, doned riverfront. Minnesota. KEYS 7 O SUCCESSFUL V IS I0'N IN C •,Assess and inventory the community—including ,ii Outline barriers to identified goals arid Obiecnves Census, .business, and visual data ' -Locate available`-resources ■ identify the important-trends and issues -•:Create a time•frame and assign responsibilities ■ Establish civic goals and objectives : s•'Deterrrine appropriate progress indicators ill ,Reprinted from Taking Charge and Managing Change: Basic Outline'for Developing Community Vision`for the Future, published by the American Planning Association, 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, NW, Washington, DC 20036 w 12 M I N N E S O T A C I T I E S OCTOBER 1 9 9 7