[Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive

[J Ford]

How do you expect people to be enthused with your view of the downtown when 
more and more businesses are being allowed to move in and go tax exempt or 
LLC?  What monies are generated from people not paying their share of the 
taxes?

While it is true that the BOE sets the county property taxes, it is the City 
Council and City officials allowing these businesses to not only go there 
but stay there even when "discovered".

And I still question a Community Development Department head that can't seem 
to get his head out of the sand (or bag of pork rinds) long enough to get to 
know the businesses moving in or that is allowing them to stay even when it 
is pointed out to him that it is illegal.  Why is he allowed to continue to 
be employed if he is not capable of doing his job?

This attitude of the city running on a "complaint oriented" system is for 
the birds.  It doesn't seem to work very well anyway.  Even when complaints 
are filed, Mr. Plaskon finds some kind of way to weasel out of the situation 
and the illegal businesses are allowed to stay...in fact, are encouraged by 
him to stay.

Seems to me we could save a great deal of money by firing the person/people 
that can't seem to live up to their job descriptions and putting 
someone(bodies) in there who are willing to do the job correctly.

J  ;)



>From: "John Dickinson" <johnd at moscow.com>
>To: "'Vision 2020'" <vision2020 at moscow.com>, "'Art Deco'" <deco at moscow.com>
>CC: "'JoAnn Mack'" <jlmack1 at verizon.net>,        "'Nancy Chaney'" 
><nchaney at moscow.com>,        "'Peg Hamlett'" <peg_hamlett at sbcglobal.net>,   
>      "'Linda Pall'" <lpall at moscow.com>,        "'Marshall Comstock'" 
><comstock at moscow.com>,        "'John Dickinson'" 
><johndickinson at moscow.com>,        "'Jon Kimberling'" <jon at n-k-ins.com>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive
>Date: Tue, 12 Jul 2005 23:14:06 -0700
>
>Hi Art,
>
>There has been some follow-up from the planning done several years ago.
>Barbara points out that the short term downtown plans resulted in grant
>proposals that were successful and that are currently renovating Friendship
>Square. There was money for a downtown coordinator position but that money
>was used up a couple of years ago.
>
>Revising the Comp Plan is not a task taken lightly. The last revision of 
>the
>comprehensive plan took 7 or 8 years to complete. The length of time was 
>due
>primarily to the time commitment required of staff to create a new plan. 
>The
>council desires to have this revision of the Comp Plan to happen more
>quickly. We are bringing in a group, New Cities, to help us focus on a few
>areas and to provide specific technical assistance in those areas. Our
>current Comprehensive Plan is not bad, but it is ten years old and time to
>once again think about the future.
>
>I do think that Council has acted quickly concerning the “current zoning
>issues/fiasco” since the first time that council was given an opportunity 
>to
>express an opinion on this matter was about two weeks ago and we made a
>decision.
>
>I find your paragraph asking Where is the reform? to be interesting because
>changes are happening each month with new ordinances and hearings on 
>changes
>to major development processes like the Subdivision ordinance. I suspect
>that advances are not happening in areas of interest to you and so I would
>like to know what those areas are so that we can look at them.
>
>Concerning the $50,000 and the rat hole – I may be wrong since this 
>happened
>before I was elected, but I believe that the $50,000 has resulted directly
>in the current grant fro the State of Idaho to update Friendship Square, so
>the return on the money was 10 to 1, I think.
>
>What happens downtown is a complex function of zoning, building permits,
>specific local economic factors, and the general health of the economy.
>Downtown is not under the control of the city to manage. There are
>organizations that are trying to bring individual businesses together to
>create a healthy economic atmosphere in our downtown, the Chamber is one of
>those, but the viability of any single store on Main St (or anywhere in our
>community) can only be assured through a combination of hard work and
>economic well being in the region generally. There also needs to be a
>commitment from the community to support local businesses. It is not enough
>to not support a few businesses that you do not like – we must positively
>support our local businesses. Every one of you should be buying books, CDs,
>paper, groceries, furniture, etc. from the most local business you can. In
>this way, almost all the money we spend gets spent in our community again 
>by
>the store owner and employees.
>
>Leadership involves many things – one of the agendas that I hope to press 
>is
>to influence all of Moscow to buy local, starting with the City. The City 
>of
>Moscow has a policy whereby it can select a local bid over a non-local bid
>even if the local bid is higher, as long as the local bid is within 10% of
>the lower bids. Since spending locally generates so much economic good,
>perhaps the city should consider strengthening this policy.
>
>That’s probably enough for the moment. Do let me know if there are areas
>that any of you feel need revision. Thanks.
>
>John Dickinson
>
>
>
>   _____
>
>From: Art Deco [mailto:deco at moscow.com]
>Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:08 PM
>To: Vision 2020
>Cc: Peg Hamlett; Nancy Chaney; Linda Pall; Jon Kimberling; John Dickinson;
>JoAnn Mack; Marshall Comstock
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive
>
>
>
>Barbara, et al,
>
>
>
>I guess I'm not very bright.
>
>
>
>I still do not see the reason for a three year delay by the city council to
>begin to revise the comp plan, New Cities or not.
>
>
>
>Had the council acted in a timely and effective manner, the current zoning
>issues/fiasco would not be.  And still they do not squarely face the issue
>in a manner suggested and propelled by law.  I see a lot of hemming and
>hawing and a great reluctance to do their statutory duties in a prompt and
>courageous manner.  I am particularly disappointed in those that ran for
>office on a reform promise.  Where is the reform?  I do not want to hear
>that it takes time.  Time has already passed with little or no results!
>Where is the community leadership they should be eagerly supplying?
>
>
>
>
>
>With regard to the BID:
>
>
>
>[1]    There has been a lot of negative comment about the goals and effects
>of the proposed BID by several downtown businesspersons.  They do not
>believe that it really will return a viable cost benefit to their
>businesses.  Some of that comment has appeared here on Vision 2020.
>
>
>
>[2]    The last organization I would trust to implement any kind of more
>than a very elementary plan is the Moscow Chamber of Commerce.  During the
>just previous years they have exhibited grossly inept financial management,
>extraordinary insensitivity to community values, and a close-mindedness,
>secretness that rivals the most dogmatic religious leader/organization.
>
>
>
>[3]    The city council cannot delegate its responsibility to govern!!!
>They are in charge of producing the comprehensive plan, the resulting 
>zoning
>ordinance, and the other various elements of insuring the opportunity for a
>viable downtown core.
>
>
>
>Perhaps, the city has poured $50,000 and a lot of well-intended citizen
>effort down a rathole.  Perhaps they need to start over again or at least
>public review the $50,000 masterpiece and try to determine if it has any
>useful parts.
>
>
>
>As V 2020er Pat Kraut asked:  Why did they need to spend the $50,000 on
>outside consultants in the first place?  Why are we paying elected 
>officials
>and city staff if not to tackle problems like these?
>
>
>
>I may be in error, but between the elected officials, the city staff, and a
>wealth of community expertise that could be had on a voluntary basis just
>for a polite, open invitation, I should think that in a fairly short time, 
>a
>downtown vision/plan could be generated.  However, it won't be if the city
>council continues to act like sluggish, snaffled, prideful, frightened
>snails.
>
>
>
>
>Wayne A. Fox
>1009 Karen Lane
>PO Box 9421
>Moscow, ID  83843
>
>
>
>(208) 882-7975
>waf at moscow.com
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: Barbara <mailto:edc at moscow.com>  Richardson Crouch
>
>To: Art Deco <mailto:deco at moscow.com>
>
>Cc: Vision2020 at Moscow. <mailto:Vision2020 at Moscow.%20Com>  Com
>
>Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 9:30 AM
>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive
>
>
>
>Wayne,
>
>
>
>The City has begun the Comprehensive Planning process by utilizing the New
>Cities Initative.  I'll try an answer your questions.
>
>
>
>Originally, the Comprehensive Plan was going to be worked on in sections -
>Downtown, Economic Development, etc.  It was decided by Council and agreed
>to by many groups interested in the Comprehensive Plan that first the City
>needed to find a way to engage all stakeholders.  This lack of engagement
>was made clear during the formulation of the Downtown Plan.  Action has 
>been
>taken on the Downtown Plan, the Chamber was selected to implement the
>Downtown Plan and has been working with the merchants association to do 
>some
>things - BID, Parking Survey, etc.
>
>
>
>As far as the information being "stale", many of the suggestions made in 
>the
>plan  are being implemented - the use of CDBG funds to improve Friendship
>Square
>
>
>
>The LEDC agrees that the focus should be on completing a Comprehensive Plan
>update that contains the following:  a clear vision for Moscow's future;
>sufficient public input to validate the vision; a buy-in from the decision
>makers and citizens. I know that the City Council, MCA, LEDC, Chamber, etc.
>all want to ensure that the planning process is open, fair and respects the
>needs of all citizens and other stakeholders.
>
>
>
>Barbara
>
>
>
>
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: vision2020-bounces at moscow.com 
>[mailto:vision2020-bounces at moscow.com]On
>Behalf Of Art Deco
>Sent: Tuesday, July 12, 2005 7:49 AM
>To: Vision 2020
>Cc: JoAnn Mack; Nancy Chaney; Peg Hamlett; Linda Pall; Marshall Comstock;
>John Dickinson; Jon Kimberling
>Subject: Re: [Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive
>
>Barbara,
>
>
>
>Thank you for the information about previous work on a downtown Moscow 
>plan.
>It was most informative.  Perhaps you can post a précis of the major
>elements and goals of that plan.
>
>
>
>Perhaps also you and/or some open-minded city council members (not an
>oxymoron, I hope) can answer the following questions:
>
>
>
>After spending $50,000 and lots of effort on the part of citizens,
>businesses, political figures, and governmental staff:
>
>
>
>Why has action been delayed for more than three years after the downtown
>plan was completed on the city comprehensive plan?
>
>
>
>Has not some of the information gathered and recommendations made in this
>plan more than 3 years ago become stale?
>
>
>
>Since the issue of allowing educational institutions and other possibly
>counter-productive uses in the downtown core is one with great consequences
>for the future of Moscow, shouldn't the current city zoning ordinances be
>updated only after the comp plan is updated and clear goals are set for the
>downtown core and its relationship to the rest of the city?
>
>
>
>I am sure there are a large number of citizens (residents, patrons, users,
>visitors, etc) that want to know why the normal city planning processes are
>not being followed and what effort, if any, is being made to get them back
>on track instead of doing planning/zoning business in a crisis driven,
>piecemeal fashion.
>
>
>
>Wayne A. Fox
>1009 Karen Lane
>PO Box 9421
>Moscow, ID  83843
>
>
>
>(208) 882-7975
>waf at moscow.com
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>
>From: Barbara <mailto:edc at moscow.com>  Richardson Crouch
>
>To: Art Deco <mailto:deco at moscow.com>  ; Vision
><mailto:vision2020 at moscow.com>  2020
>
>Cc: Linda Pall <mailto:lpall at moscow.com>  ; Nancy Chaney
><mailto:nchaney at moscow.com>  ; John Dickinson <mailto:johnd at moscow.com>  ;
>Peg <mailto:peg_hamlett at sbcglobal.net>  Hamlett
>
>Sent: Sunday, July 10, 2005 2:05 PM
>
>Subject: RE: [Vision2020] RE: The Key to Helping Downtown Moscow Thrive
>
>
>
>Everyone,
>
>
>
>If you do not remember, Moscow and the University did complete a Downtown
>Plan.  The Committee was the CRC and was a part of the LEDC.  We solicited
>for consultants, hired a group and actually received and the City Council
>accepted a short term plan from them - they felt the long-range plan was 
>too
>grandiose.  This plan was the basis of the Downtown Grant and the 
>activities
>happening in Friendship Square.  The plan cost a minimum of $50,000 and the
>LEDC/Chamber used the plan to receive a grant from Verizon to hire an
>interim Downtown Coordinator until a BID could be done.  The implementation
>of the Plan was left to the Chamber.  The LEDC's participation ended after
>we supervised the interim Coordinator.  In fact, First Step was kind enough
>to give the Downtown Association a website and free hosting.  This all
>happened in the last three years (3).  There is also a section that talks
>about zoning changes in the Downtown.  If you would like this section (it 
>is
>about 40 pages) just e-mail me and I will send it to you.
>
>
>
>There was lots of public input sought, including a tenant at the Ren Fair
>and a table at the Latah County fair.  The General Public Input was
>solicited in 2001 and 2002.  Downtown Property owners and Business people
>met for almost a year before public input.
>
>
>
>Moscow plans to start the public process for the Comprehensive Plan 
>re-write
>this fall as part of the New Cities Initative.  I would like to see the
>community focus on writing a good solid, 20-30 year Comprehensive Plan.
>
>
>
>Barbara Crouch
>
>_____________________________________________________
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>                http://www.fsr.net
>           mailto:Vision2020 at moscow.com
>¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯¯

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