PCSR INFO 04-12-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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. . . Printer version: Unifying Anoka proving difficult Page 2 of3 "The basic question I would put before the community in the context of having a broadly based discussion would be: What are your hopes and dreams for a healthy and vital future for the city of Anoka?" he said. People who attended talked about joining forces to set a vision for the future that will keep Anoka's spirit, assets and identity from being forgotten in the midst of interpersonal conflicts and surging development in surrounding cities. "Obviously we need some help to get the entire community involved in a visioning process that gets everyone on the same page or moving in the same direction," resident Ed Handrick said. First public meeting The March 8 meeting of the visioning group was the first attended by Handrick and several others in the crowd of nearly 30. Some said they were unhappy that the first two meetings weren't advertised. Skogquist said he asked a variety of people to attend the first two meetings to gauge the interest level before moving it into an open forum. The group, which included city workers, business owners and residents, lost a handful of participants throughout the night. Some walked out amid criticism and questions about the group's purpose, earlier meetings, the facilitator, funding, and the ability to make changes without more councilor city staff support. In the end, about 15 people said they wanted to participate in a project Stitt said should take six months to a year. No one has determined how Stitt will be paid, but he said the funding will come from people in the community who believe in the process. Stitt said that although it would be valuable to have the Council and city staff working with the group, official participation isn't required for residents to achieve their goals. Whose role? Council Member Mark Freeburg, who did not attend, said he isn't opposed to the meetings but has some confusion about them. "I think the council should be the visioning thing, as the ones who ran for election on a vision and who the public supported, and that's who should be visioning along with other committee members," he said. Mimi Doran, who has attended all the meetings so far, said she thinks change can happen even without support from people in power. "The potential is fabulous, but it's not going to go anywhere if people spend time blaming others. And all these little groups -- they work hard but they work on their own -- need to be working for a common goal," she said. "Nobody knows what that goal is yet. But we wouldn't be here if we could do this on our own." For information on the next meeting, call the mayor's office at 763-576-2706. Contact writer at 612-673-7512 http://www.startribune.comldynamic/story . php ?template=print_a&story=5288702 3/16/2005