Agenda 06-15-1995 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Vision? acting to situations. It is planning in its Have You Got the best sense,and if it takes the coining of • (Cloquet Does) - Financially sound government,able it.anew buzzword to accomplish it,so be 3) BY BILL SCHLENVOGT to address needs; There have been a lot of new 4)Quality education systems for all So,have you got the vision? If you do, - buzzwords circulating in planning cir- levels,which promote cultural un- accolades to you. If not, I would en- des these days. It used to be that the derstanding; courage the use of this process.The term"comprehensive planning"kind 5)Qualityof life,providing respect, Blandin Foundation has a mission to of told the whole story,but that no understanding and opportunity for assist rural communities in Minnesota, longer seems to be true. Now we hear all citizens and that would be a great place to terms such as"strategic planning," 6)Expanded retail community; start. Other communities have also "sustainable development,""vision- 7) Provision of a wide variety of hous- used this process;Duluth just started ing,""future thinking,"etc. Most of ing opportunities; one in 1994. these terms simply mean planning in 8) Respect and protection for the nat- In closing, I would like to quote some its ongoing,comprehensive sense,but ural beauty and resources of the thing I read long ago and keep a copy sometimes a term can invoke an intui- area; - of pinned to my bulletin board as a Live understanding of what is going on 9) High quality health services and reminder. I don't know the true author, in the mind of the person using it. I systems. so I cannot give credit where it is due. think the term"vision"has this capa- Cloquet didn't create its vision just to However, I think it should be every bility. let it languish. It formed a"Partnership planner's (professional or citizen)guid- I am not referring to"visioning."That Program"with the Blandin Founda- ing principle: "We must have a vision is a process,and is sometimes used to tion: a ten-year contract to implement of the future before we can begin to identify a vision.The term"vision,"to the vision.The program committee has decide how to get there.Without vi- me,means being able to grasp an all- been meeting diligently since it was sion,we have no goals.Without goals, encompassing concept and visualizeit formed in 1992 and several active sub- we cannot choose among our options; within your mind. Once visualized,the committees have already experienced we cannot plan.And if we do not plan concept becomes more understandable success.This will be a continuing pro- for our future,we must accept the fu- and less abstract cess that involves participants from all ture we get" • ,Cloquet now has a vision,created areas of the community.It is a positive Bill Schlenvogt is City Planner for Cloquet attempt to deal with issues relevant to and MPA Co-Directorfor District B. through a visioning process sponsored the community,rather than simply re- by the Blandin Foundation.Actually, the process generated a spark in the participants that eventually led to cre- WANT T TO BE A WINNER? ation of the vision.Participants were so inspired that they were willing to put Enter APA's Awards Program! in the long,hard hours of work re APA National Awards for Planning quired to create the vision.The result submission deadline is was completion in 1992 of a compre- September 20, 1995. hensive survey of the community that identified areas of community need An APA Award is more prestigious than ever. and suggested some directions to pro- ceed. From this information,a vision WINNERS: for Cloquet's future was created. • receive engraved sculptures or certificates • are_ featured in a video at the APA Awards ceremony unique to Cloquet,Cloquet's vision is Clo qq 11996 awards will be given at the APA National and reflects the needs and desires of its Conference in Orlando, Florida, April 13-17, 1996) people. In the ensuing years, Cloquet • are featured in a special issue of Planning magazine will focus on nine areas which will hopefully mold a better community: 1)Quality and diverse employment to For an official application contact: Awards Program provide security and retention of g youth; American Planning Association 2) Respect and appreciation for cul- 1776 Massachusetts Avenue, N.W. Washington, DC 20036 tura]diversity and improvement of 202-872-0611 Ill the interaction of cultures; 202-872-0643 Fax June:1995; x , i i 1 rte"* r "'°` y°. r -i�'� .� t, !9r -1