AgdaPkt 2008-01-28 Clsd and Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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7A effort. City staff time is not included in this budget, nor are administrative expenses suctfage 4 as those associated with hosting public meetings. Examples of these types of expenses include printing and mailing, facility use, as well as refreshments and child care. Remaining General Plan CJP budget will be used to support these associated costs. The New General Plan is a significant City investment. Council's comments at the December 1 0 meeting stressed that management of this project including the evolving work products, considerable budget, and important schedule milestones will be demanding and require careful attention by staff. Staff is prepared to maintain conscientious and heightened oversight of this investment, which will include engaging the support of the General Plan Committee and providing regular updates to Council. The consultant firm estimates that it will take 20 months from the signing of the contract to complete the work described in the revised scope .and schedule. The consultants understand that there is a strong need to maintain schedule. Public Outreach The firm's approach was summarized in its proposal by the "four Cs:" Curiosity, Creativity, Clarity, and Confidence. In that a significant part of the New General Plan work will be public outreach, the four Cs will show through in that effort. The General Plan Committee has affirmed using an "affinity group" approach. The New General Plan team consisting of the consultants and staff will engage with these groups at their established meetings of or will host sessions for cross sections of multiple organizations with shared interests. This will entail outreach toa broad swath of the community with representatives from many aspects of the City's diverse population. The contract calls for at least 15 of these meetings. Besides the affinity group meetings, there will be at least three open City-wide forums to help reach those not part of organized associations or through other means. Other layers of communication with the community are anticipated to include stakeholder interviews, newsletters and on-line surveys. Outreach will occur in three rounds or "waves:" Wave 1 - Re-Iaunch General Plan: The communUy, Council, and Planning Commission will be asked to affirm the Guiding Principles and to join the New General Plan process. Wave 2 - Shapinq Our Future: The community and the General Plan Committee will provide input for the development of land use, housing, and transportation alternatives, as.weU as other pertinent information. This part of the process will involve affinity groups and the use of "Community Viz" software to help analyze "what if?" scenarios. Wave 3 - Validation/Celebration: The community and .the General Plan Committee will provide validation of the preferred plan and the alternatives to be studied in the Environmental Impact Report. In order to engage and inform the public, the cpnsultant will prepare fact sheets, newsletters, notices and an online survey. They will work, closely with the City's public information officer. Staff strongly believes that the Downtown Precise Plan has set the standard for integrity of the outreach and planning process, and the quality of work. That experience was invaluable in terms of understanding community sensitivities and expectations. The outreach process for the New General Plan will follow and build upon that foundation and foster community building.