[Vision2020] When Moscow Doubles in Population

[Nils Peterson]

I have thought for awhile that the two universities, who's employees live in
these towns, should be more active, and more actively courted, to contribute
to the success of the community. The Wheatland Bus is one positive example,
lets name some others actual or potential.


On 5/21/06 2:58 PM, "Jerry Weitz" <gweitz at moscow.com> wrote:

> With UI's decline and BSU's incline and state population/economic shifts,
> it appears that a rural research triangle between the Universities,
> business, and our local counties may prove extremely helpful.  Planned
> growth would be need to be implemented with a full understanding of its
> permeations.  jerry
> 
> 
> At 08:34 AM 5/21/06, Mark Solomon wrote:
>> I too have heard Mr. Lambert refer to a doubling of population in Idaho
>> over 15 years. However, I have yet to hear anyone say that Moscow's
>> population will follow that same curve. Moscow has had an averaged growth
>> rate of 1%/year for decades and there is no reason to assume it will be
>> changing anytime soon, especially given the restraint of available water
>> supply and the somewhat steady state of our leading economic drivers (UI,
>> ag, retail and, to a lesser extent, technology).
>> 
>> Here's an open question, that I keep hoping someone more versed in
>> statistical analysis than myself would undertake: how much of the 1%
>> Moscow growth rate was driven by the artificial restraint on development
>> of ag land in Whitman County and what the anticipated effect on future
>> Moscow growth might be?
>> 
>>  My quick look at the Pullman annual growth rate is 0.5% annually from
>> 1990-2004. Given the similar nature of the Moscow/Pullman economies and
>> the removal of the ag land development restriction it is more likely that
>> we'll see a leveling of the growth rates between the two: 0.75% annually
>> for Moscow. Of course, we are a different community with different
>> amenities (such as a forested mountain just outside of town) but I would
>> like someone to explain why we should either plan for or expect our
>> population to double in 15 years when there is no historical trend to
>> indicate it will occur. We are not Boise or Coeur d'Alene or Sandpoint or
>> McCall or Kuna or Meridian or....
>> 
>> Then there is that water thing.
>> 
>> Mark Solomon
>> 
>> At 8:02 AM -0700 5/21/06, Nils Peterson wrote:
>>> I was at the Affordable Housing workshop yesterday afternoon, and as it
>>> broke up, got to chatting will Bill Lambert who mentioned that Idaho is
>>> predicted to double its population in the next 15 years. Lets assume, for a
>>> minute, that is true, and further that Moscow will participate and as a
>>> visioning group, work on a thought experiment. For point of topicality, lets
>>> say the doubling will be achieved in the year 2020 (14 years).
>>> 
>>> Rules for this conversation: you must be as explicit as you can about your
>>> assumptions, but you are allowed to make them -- even like this one:  for
>>> point of this conversation, assume Moscow has a population of 20,000 now and
>>> will grow to 40,000.  Others are allowed to talk about your assumptions, or
>>> to make counter assumptions.  Bashing one another is not interesting.
>>> 
>>> My suggested goal for the opening part of this conversation -- surface the
>>> topics for the sub-conversation. What are the big areas and issues we need
>>> to think about? The big areas will either be represented by government and
>>> civic organizations in existence today, or they will point to organizational
>>> gaps we need to consider filling.
>>> 
>>> If you will make your subject line informative, like this, we'll all be
>>> better able to track what may be multiple threads of the conversation: When
>>> Moscow Doubles - Topic Water
>>> 
>>> I'm looking forward to your help thinking out this question.
>> 
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