Summertime Goings On

So, here we are deep into Summer 2011. If we were in elementary or secondary school we might argue it just began, but I think for adults more and more the lines of summertime blur and extend. So, in my mind we are deep in the summer. It is the All Star Break for the baseball season, so it must be the middle of summer.

I was thinking last night about summer projects. One I really want to tackle this summer is scanning documents and cleaning up some files and paperwork in the office. I know this has been on the back burner for what feels like eons. It is an ongoing battle to review and reduce the amount of paper we have in the office. Even better if we can weed out extraneous stuff and then scan it and make it available to the public via the internet and save us all time.

Another project is the Capital Improvements Program. There are two elements to this, one regrouping and redefining the 2013-2018 plan for presentation to the Planning Board and City Council in the fall. The second element is using the web to track progress on the FY 2012 projects as they get underway this year. I need to pin down some specifics on how we will do this.

A third project is the ever present review of zoning and land use regulations. A month ago we had a meeting with consultants from the Environmental Protection Agency, and their consultants who were retained to perform an audit of our regulations. They suggested areas we can look to make changes to encourage sustainability. I will be looking over these recommendations and bring them forward to the Planning Board towards the end of the summer.

Catching up is another "always on the list" task. In this case I need to catch up on some reading of journals and trends. Additionally, we need to review some procedures for the CDBG program and for the way we investigate code complaints.

A summer project is to determine where some of the sustainability programs we started in the winter will go now that we no longer have a Sustainability Coordinator. As I mentioned last month, we did not have funding in the, now, current budget to keep that position in play. I will be reviewing the tasks and programming started and evaluating how we can maintain some if not all of them.

So, that's my summer to be. Oh, that and one more project. To use this blog to answer some questions about why areas are zoned, and to also update people on existing programs, such as the Fast Trans, and Pay N Display parking program. For that last item, I will be bringing Bill Simmons from the Police Department in for an interview, as Bill is the Parking Manager for the City.

A Year In

I was thinking about the use of social media and planning, or government for that matter. Have I found value in it? I've been doing a Facebook page, this blog and our twitter account for a year or so, I'm not counting.

Are they valuable? I am not sure. I enjoy the opportunity to get information out, and to have a venue, where I can hope to pass information along, and hopefully engage the public to participate more in planning in Dover. Does that happen? I am sure that some study exists to tell me yes, and another to tell me no.

Locally, I know that the twitter and Facebook followers are up. Here in Dover, the Library is the only other department with a Facebook page. They also blog and have a twitter account. We use the tools very differently. I tend to use them more as here's some info, digest it and use it as you will. The Library tends to be a bit more interactive. Their blog site seeks input on books and book reviews. They also use it to pass information (hours, programs etc) to the reading public (figuratively and literally, I suppose).

I am amazed that more Planning offices don't use this tool. It is not overly complicated, and as long as you budget time for it, and stay on it, I think that it doesn't add any more time to my day or week.

I take a systematic approach to it and plan the entries out, as much as I can. I think that like going to gym or eating healthy (both things I am working on), you have to make, and not find, the time to pursue social media. In some ways this is similar to traditional media.

Beginning in January, I told my staff that on average we were going to produce one press release a week. This could be a success we had, or it could be a project or program we are planning. Everyone has to take part in this and help move the ball forward.

I use these press releases to help create posts for the Dover Download, video and email, as well as social media topics. This way we don't lose site of traditional media as we work to use social media outlets.

My wife asked me two questions about twitter the other day, she asked how I compare it to email and how it compares to Facebook.

Regarding email, it seems to me they should be similar, but I find email is much more prevalent. I think that people like the length and like the privacy of sending an email directly, I think people aren't convinced they can say enough in 140 characters. One thing I find is that if I get a question emailed to me, that has an answer which many people should know the answer to, I will use twitter to send a general answer out.

Regarding Facebook, I think twitter is the more appropriate avenue for non-personal updates. Facebook has the fan pages and the like, but it seems that more people follow me on twitter, and more people interact with our information on twitter. Maybe I don't do a good job using twitter to drive folks to the Facebook page.

Anyway, it's an evolution. It is also a comfort level. Just like everything else, there are things we are comfortable with, and the traditional is always more comfortable than the new and unknown. It is good to challenge ourselves and push to try things. Which is why I am going to try and find ways to be more interactive on the social media outlets.

First challenge, is to readers. Is there a planning topic, I should cover or you are interested in? Let me know. Feel free to tweet it, post to our Facebook page, or email it to me (c.parker@dover.nh.gov).

Ward Redistricting

Do you know where your ward boundary is? I suspect not. It isn't something that you pay attention to. You know your ward, and you know who your Councilor is, and you know where to vote. That is the important tri-fecta, but where the ward boundary is? Why would you need to know that?

I can think of a few reasons, but that said, I understand and don't think many people, other than those running for Council, worry about the size of their ward. Now comes that time when we all find out where the boundaries are. After every decennial census we are mandated by law and statutes to review and adjust ward, and for that matter state and federal districts are reviewed and adjusted as well. The goal is to get as close to one person one vote representation.

The one vote one resident concept is a hall mark of representative governing. On the local level we have to adjust the ward boundaries to ensure that each one is within 1 percent population of each other ward. This works out to a swing of less than 300 resident difference in each ward.

There are six wards in the City, and this won't be affected by the changes that will be proposed. The wards are intended to be bounded by natural boundaries (rivers etc) and definitive physical barriers (roadways, and the railroad). Currently the ward populations range from approximately 4500 residents in wards 1 and 2 to over 5500 residents in wards 5 and 6.

In my mind, wards 5 and 6 will be viewed as donor wards, shifting population to wards 1 and 2. This will ensure that the residents of wards 5 and 6 receive the representation they are intended to, closer to 1 to 1, than the current set up.

It makes sense that wards 5 and 6 have the highest population, as they have had the largest land areas developed in the past ten years. If you look at the census data is correlates accurately to the development trends we've witnessed in Dover and also with the amount of available developable land.

I started with the City June 1, 1997. Fourteen (14) years tomorrow, which is astonishing to me, in many ways. I know I have thiner in hair, and a thicker middle, but what I find funny is that I am at that point of scratching my head about projects and the way we've done them before. According to the minutes from the meetings in the summer of 2001, I was involved with the last ward adjustments.

I recall basics about that effort. I recall coming up with the population numbers and running the calculations to see what the 1 percent number for populations should be. I recall discussing how not to split neighborhoods up, but mostly I recall learning the lesson that you need to avoid politics from the process and get back to the core natural and physical boundaries, and one vote one person.

On May 25th, the Mayor appointed a committee for this year's redistricting, and I am the only one who was involved 10 years ago. That makes me feel old. I was in a different role at that time, and as with most experiences, this will be a much different project and have different outcomes; how can it not with different players involved, and a different climate involved.

I am looking forward to the process, and project. I like puzzles and like the idea of systematically working through the project to ensure that we are all fairly represented. I find it ironic that my ward, 5, will be one where population needs to be shifted the most. Not quite sure how things will work out, but none the less it will work itself out.

I am looking forward to the outcome and will use the blog as a way to update us all on progress, and when we present the group's recommendation to the City Council in a month, we can sit back and enjoy the next step of working to get a charter amendment before the public discussing changes that need to take place, and I'll go over that step then.

Until then, enjoy the heat and I hope you can relax and enjoy the coming summer.

Activated Planning

What... two blog posts in one week? Wow, something must be up!

That's right folks, I've been inspired. Yesterday (Tuesday), was a day of active planning. Not to imply that regular day to day activities don't include planning, nor to imply that the day to day activities aren't important, but we all get bogged down in the day to day, and when something out of the ordinary comes along, you can get inspired by it.

Yesterday was one of those days. On the face of it, a day of 4 meetings, and some administrative work, might seem day to day. Bonus was the two main meetings. The first was a session with residents, business owners, transit providers and civic leaders to discuss ways to improve our wayfinding in downtown Dover.

What is wayfinding? It can be signage, but it is a much larger concept. Think about the tools we use to get around town. It isn't just signs - in the literal sense. We use clues such as activity and street furniture and lighting styles to be aware that we are in the downtown area.

The meeting was a great kick off to what I see as a project to highlight Dover's assets, our waterfall, our river, our shops and restaurants, and our museums. The meeting was geared to generate excitement among the stakeholders, and I think it did just that. It was fun to discuss Dover as a resident and as a tourist trying to get around.

The second meeting of note was a workshop the Sustainable Dover program hosted on permaculture. What the heck is permaculture? It is designing development with nature in mind. It is the idea that we are part of nature and need to design our homes, neighborhoods and communities to be part of nature and not fight nature.

Steve Whitman, a planner from Plymouth, who in my estimation is one of the most visionary and proactive planners in New Hampshire, came and taught 12 of us the basic philosophy and framework of this concept. It is not new, and Steve isn't the innovator, but it is new to many peoples conscious, and Steve has immersed himself and family into the idea. He has developed a sideshow that demonstrates the philosophy and framework using examples from his home and life.

I am not going to try and summarize the 12 points involved, or even try to explain the overall concept more than I have. Instead I am going to dwell on it, and review my own activities and make lifestyle changes to embrace the philosophy and I hope to continue to be inspired by the workshop, and its companion workshop in 2 weeks.It was great to see a concept that is complicated, but makes so much sense, and is obtainable with some minor changes to your life (composting etc).

I went home at 9:30 last night and didn't mind a bit that I had last stepped foot in the house 15 hours earlier. I didn't mind, because I was so jazzed about the great work we had completed during the day. It was rewarding to be encouraged by the stakeholders involved with the wayfinding project, and then to be inspired by learning something new and adoptable, was that much more energizing.

So, how do we replicate that energy today? We'll see and I'll let you know.

Cleaning Up with Pride

How did you spend your weekend? Maybe some mulching, maybe some planting of flowers, maybe some raking? Did you do this at your house, or in downtown Dover? If both you are dedicated.

I spent Saturday morning leading a great group of volunteers outside of City Hall pruning, mulching and raking. There were probably 15 of so people at the height of involvement and the volunteers did a great job. Drive by the Central Ave side and check out their work. All involved should be proud.

Clean up day, or its proper title "Dover Pride Clean Up Day" is probably my favorite community day here in Dover. It is great to see so many people from all sections, sectors, and walks coming together for the common goal of sprucing up our downtown. As in years past this was a family affair, not just my family - my sweet wife lead a group of volunteers on the brick walk way from Washington Street to Orchard Street - but it seemed that almost everywhere you looked there was a family working side by side.

We (all volunteers) did a lot of work. The City looks great. Check out Henry Law Park, where plantings/trees were trimmed, flowers planted, and mulch freshened. Continue onto River Street, where the view was opened up tremendously and you can see the beautiful river that much clearer. Walk the Community Trail or Joe Parks Riverwalk and see the wonder of nature in the heart of downtown, and swing through the Transportation Center or Library, where visitors will now be met with spruced up plants and trees. All of it looks tremendous (If I missed your area, I apologize - truly).

I challenge us all to appreciate what has been completed here, and dig in and help next year. Better yet don't wait until next year. Take pride in your neighborhood and get together with your friends and families and pick a Saturday, clean up your neighborhood park or other amenity and then have a barbecue and get to know everyone you might pass by daily that much better. It doesn't have to be a 4 hour commitment, just get in and get it done.

You can take pride in your community every day and grow and become more connected to it, by just reaching out, even a little. Take a walk, and don't ignore that piece of trash or debris, pick it up. Let your kids - or dog - play at the park, and look for litter. Smile and be part of the community.

Taking ownership in the place you live is an important lesson that everyone can learn. We try to teach our children to be aware and educated about life, do we do the same about community? Hopefully. The more people are involved and the more people are aware of the community around them, the better that community will and can be.

Capital Improvements

Last week I took some time off and went camping. Truth be told it was a cabin in the woods, no electricity or indoor plumbing, but a hard roof, so if it rained it wasn't that big a deal. I was in the "wilds" of Maine with just my dog. No cell phone coverage (yeah), no one to interact with. So what did I do? I read. 5 days = 5 books.

One of those 5 was On The Grid, by Scott Huler. Mr. Huler lives in North Carolina, and after experiencing some household issues, wonders about the infrastructure that surrounds him. He is curious about where the water that comes out of his faucet originate.

Basically the book is public works for a laymen. It describes water, sanitary and storm water sewer systems survey work, road building and other aspects of the built world that most people take for granted. At just over 200 pages, it is a quick read and is very informative and enjoyable.

This book was perfect for me to read last week, because at work, I am in the early to middle stages of putting together the City's Capital Improvements Program (CIP). This program is a fundamental step in reviewing the City's infrastructure needs as well as effectuating the City's Master Plan - specifically the Community Facilities and Utilities section.

The process for the CIP involves reviewing projects currently in the plan/program, looking at capacity for new projects, looking at funding availability and the relationship those programs have to the Master Plan. Infrastructure is an interesting concept. We know it is the structure below the surface, and we know that we use it everyday. As Mr. Huler describes in his book, we all turn on the water faucet and we all walk the sidewalks or ride a bike or drive on streets everyday, but no one knows how they appear.

One interesting idea from the book that relates to the CIP is the idea that cities don't actually build roads, they rebuild them. If you think about it, very few roads in Dover were "built" by the City of Dover - Venture Drive is one I can think of. The majority were built by private landowners who wished to make their land available to others, and needed to create a way to access that land. In many cases the road is then "turned over" to the City and becomes a public road. The City then repairs and maintains the roadway. This is the largest component of the CIP, road reconstruction; Dover has over 130 miles of roadway to maintain.

Other areas we see in the CIP are related to utilities, culture and recreation, public safety, education and transportation elements. These areas are important and round out the capital needs the community has.

Beginning in October, the Planning Board and City Council will discuss the CIP. Departments will make presentation and explain their needs, and I hope to develop a easy to follow guide for residents to follow along with and be part of the process. Watch this blog, our twitter, face book and the City's web site for more information, times and dates for meetings. You need to be involved with this important, if overlooked area of government.

Local vs Regional Planning

In the world of sustainability you will hear the term "Think Globally, Act Locally." The meaning behind this typically is to urge us to consider the health of the entire planet and to take action in their own communities and cities. This term actually started out as a planning term. It was coined by Scottish planner Patrick Geddes in the early twentieth century.

We tend to forget the planning origin and see the phrase as part of an economic strategy or environmental one. Both are very worth while. In Dover we have a strong buy local movement, coordinated by Dover Main Street.

I'd like to focus for a paragraph or four on the planning aspects of local vs regional planning. In New Hampshire, as with the Northeast, we don't rely too heavily on county government. We have counties, but they are not as important to our daily lives as they are in other areas of the Country. Subsequently we really have no county planning. Instead we have a regional planning agency. For Dover the agency is the Stafford Regional Planning Commission. The SRPC provides some planning services for communities in the region. Mainly they are influential in GIS and transportation networking. They have also worked on regional housing needs and environmental needs.

Dover is a non-dues paying member of the Commission. Until 2008 we paid dues. At that time we evaluated, and have since re-evaluated annually, our membership level and determined that the cost benefit analysis for the approximately $20,000 in dues was not in favor of paying the dues. The reality that I saw was being a community with fulltime planning staff, we didn't need the full services that SRPC offered, and we can still work with them on a case by case, cost by cost issue.

So what do we do for regional planning? First off, we act locally and think regionally. Dover doesn't reside on an island. We have strong connections, most of them transportation based, with our surrounding neighbors. We communicate with Somersworth on the efficiency of Weeks Crossing, we communicate with Rollinsford on Oak Street, which meanders across the boundary and also on a few housing projects which cross the boundary.

Thinking larger I meet quarterly with counterparts in Rochester, Portsmouth and Somersworth to discuss larger issues, and in some cases gripes. Probably the biggest boon to regional discussions has been the reliance on email. If any of us have local versus regional concerns we can shoot a quick email back and forth to garner understanding and influence outcomes.

I wrote previously that Willand Pond has helped the communities of Dover and Somersworth think more holistically, and it has. I meet biweekly with Somersworth planning, to connect and make sure we are moving forward, and through those connections we have developed a dialog that has extended to other areas, including working with Rollinsford to understand the impact of a proposed 270 unit residential complex located close to the town bound.

Speaking (writing?) of the town bound, I am starting a process of re-evaluating the boundary Dover has with each neighboring community. I met this morning with Madbury's selectboard to discuss the process. RSA 51 states that each community needs to walk its bounds every 7 years. We will be locating and documenting the existence of the boundary makers, and noting the absence of others. This process is interesting and should also be a good example of local and regional interests.

As I said before, we don't live on an island, and we interact on a regional basis whether we think about it or not. A project in Rollinsford affects to some degree Dover and vice versa. It is all about degrees and the more we talk to each other the clearer the degrees become. I hope that as we move forward we can better understand our degrees of impact and be more mindful of our neighbors and ultimately using the do unto others philosophy they will be mindful of us.