Vision, Change & Local EngagementWhole-of-Community Planning in a Fast-Moving World

© 2014 Steven Ames Planning • All Rights Reserved

A Master Class with Steven AmesNSW Department of Planning & Infrastructure

APRIL 2014

Your presenter

STEVEN AMES

Principal

Steven Ames Planning | NXT Consulting Group

Portland | Bend, Oregon

Sponsored by Engage2

Greetings from Portland

Shaped by its natural environment

Photos: Walker • Macy; • www.KenDietz.com

Celebrated for its liveability

www.portlandground.com

Leader in urban sustainability

www.portlandground.com

Recognised for great planning

Guided by strategic vision

And yes…Portlandia, too.

Today’s agenda and key themes

Learning objectives, agenda, context, caveats

Theme 1 – Building local vision

Theme 2 – Accelerating envisioned change

Theme 3 – Stewarding civic engagement

Open dialogue, questions & learning objectives

Group introductions…

Who are you?

What is your job?

One reason you are here today?

Learning objectives

What one idea or questions would you like to explore?

American context for planning

Strong local governments (cities, counties)

Direct citizen participation in local governance

Non-partisan local political tradition

Strong grassroots community involvement

Local political activism

Australian context for planning

Strong state government involvement in localities

Corporate-style local governance structures

More limited grassroots community involvement

Strong tradition of local “consultation”

Rapid evolution toward local “engagement”

Some caveats

All planning is place and culture specific

Planning and engagement continually evolve

Flexibility/adaptability are essential

Best practice involves risk and creativity

High tech does not replace high touch

Building Local Vision

“If you don’t know where you’re going, you might end up someplace else.” – Yogi Berra

Societal change and the need for strategic vision

What is strategic vision? (Oregon Model)

Best practice visioning (U.S. and Australia)

Case study in community visioning (Bend 2030)

Lessons and tools

What I’d like to talk about…

Our world is changing

Population growth, demographic shifts, migration

Environmental stresses and resource depletion

Economic globalisation and restructuring

Scientific and technological advances

Information and telecommunication

Social and cultural shifts

Local communities need vision

All global trends have local impacts

Local communities are front line of change

Local authorities often caught in reactive mode

Strategic vision is indicated

Most powerful vision grounded in community

What is strategic vision?

Tracking emerging trends & issues

Exploring alternative scenarios or strategies

Charting a preferred scenario (vision)

Putting vision into action

Measuring progress over time

What is visioning?

A process through which a local council and community

creates a strategic vision – and begin to make it happen.

A strategic framework for other municipal plans,

policies, decisions and investments.

Vision = preferred ‘destination’

Long-term

Comprehensive

Value-based

Direction oriented

Motivational

Plan = road map to get ‘there’

Near-term

Specific

Information-based

Action oriented

Instructional

Vision builds…confidence.

The Oregon Model

Visioning in Oregon

Strong statewide community-based planning system

Focus on land use, growth and development

Planning for growth – but not for change

Wanted: more comprehensive view of planning

‘Visioning’ was the response

The Oregon Model

Five driving questions

Where are we now?

Where are we going?

Where do we want to be?

How do we get there?

Are we getting there?

Five key activities

Where are we now? 4 Community Profile

Where are we going? 4 Trends Analysis

Where do we want to be? 4 Vision Statement

How do we get there? 4 Action Plan

Are we getting there? 4 Targets, Measures

Blue Mountains, New South Wales

Wyndham, Victoria

South Perth, Western Australia

Visioning benefits…

Brings community together in positive context

Facilitates deeper understanding of change

Creates sense of direction

Develops concrete goals & strategies

Promotes plan of action

Second order benefits…

Enriches citizen engagement

Strengthens community cohesion

Promotes community partnerships

Catalyses community change

Fosters relationship and leadership

Q&A – Change, Vision, Oregon Model

Visioning Case Study

Welcome to Bend, Oregon…

Where mountains and desert meet…

A big town becoming a small city…

Vibrant local culture…

Healthy, active lifestyles…

A great place to grow and learn…

Short history of Bend

Explorers, trappers, white settlement (1800s)

Railroads, lumber mills, wood products (1900s)

Recreation and tourism (1950s)

Lifestyle-driven real estate boom (1990-2000s)

Economic collapse (2006-07)

2005 – a city at the precipice

Bend 2030 visioning process (2005-06)

Bend’s biggest conversation ever

Engagement ‘bending’ the rules

Council-led, community-owned process

Public-private sponsors

Incorporation of survey research & QDA

Sophisticated branding and marketing

Website and internet access

Vision validation and endorsement

A ‘whole-of-community’ vision (2006)

Well-planned city

Vibrant economy

Quality environment

Safe, healthy people

Strong community

Creative, learning culture

Detailed plan of action (2007)

63 partner groups implement plan

Q&A – visioning case study

Building local vision – lessons & tools