City Asks Citizens to Complete Opinion Survey

Fairhope, Alabama

 HELP PLAN FOR FUTURE GROWTH


The mayor and council are asking citizens to participate in planning for the city's future growth by filling out a questionnaire online (click) or by picking one up at any city building.

The survey includes questions about the quality of the city's leadership, transportation infrastructure, public buildings, recreation facilities, art/culture facilities, education, health care and historic preservation.

It is not necessary to put your name or address on the form, according to Sherry Sullivan.

Mayor Kant: "Growth is inevitable and by participating in this program, we insure we have plans in place: a comprehensive plan that describes what we need to grow orderly; and a strategic plan that involves all segments of our community."

The survey, conducted by the Alabama Communities of Excellence (ACE) program (click),  is the first step in their three-phase growth planning process. ACE is a privately funded non profit corporation.

Completed surveys must be submitted by August 9th (to any city building).

Community Planner Brandon Bias (picturedof the Goodwin, Mill and Haygood Engineering firm (click) will be the city's ACE liaison and facilitator for the initial citizens' assessment.

HIGH PARTICIPATION NECESSARY


Mayor Kant: "We are asking everyone to help with this. The more involvement we have ... the more we will know what we need to do to make Fairhope better."

Bias, who will be collecting the data,  said it was essential for every citizen to become involved -- to document trends and ensure obtaining an accurate "snap-shot" from the community.

Bias: "Its imperative we get a good cross-section ... of the community to respond."

"Every opinion is valuable ... when we start seeing groupings of things ... that kind of fit together ... is when we start determining a list of priorities (for the community)."

Councilman Burrell predicted the normal wide diversity of opinion here may prove problematic: "If you have 20 people in a room, you have 15-20 opinions ... that's a challenge."

Councilman Mueller concurred: "Half the town seems to wants to progress  ... half wants to stagnate ..."

Mayor Kant said he thought people worried more about the way the city progressed.

TOWN MEETING SCHEDULED

Results of the survey are to be announced at a Community Assessment town hall meeting on Sept. 6th at 9AM at the Civic Center.

Mayor Kant: "Some folks will be invited to attend to make sure we get a good cross section of the business community ... but it will also be open to the general public ... ."

Comments

Anonymous said…
Lower your expectations.

These are the people who don't recycle.
thefriedmans said…
Atleast TRY to think positive anonymous person.
Anonymous said…
What is to keep poeple from filling out more thn one?
Anonymous said…
Burell is right. People can not agree on anything here.
robert said…
If progress means cramming more and more people into ugly, sprawling D R Horton subdivisions and clogged streets with traffic then I prefer stagnation.

Fairhope was a far better place 15 years ago.
Anonymous said…
"Fairhope was a far better place 15 years ago."

Why don't we just take it back to the 60's where everyone seems to live anyway?
Anonymous said…
So, certain business people will get special invitations and the rest of us rabble can show up if we want to? ominous sounding
Anonymous said…
This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.
Anonymous said…
^^^

That is a ridiculous comment...
Anonymous said…
Seems like went through this before. We were going to keep us a village and keep the gigantic big box stores out. How did that work out?
Anonymous said…
99% of residents will be able to knowledgeably answer less than 10% of the questions on this survey, myself included. The results of this survey would be something you would expect to see from an in-depth study by an independent agency. Fairhope resident's input would be subjective at best.
little billy said…
This things looks to me like its to PROMOTE more growth rather than manage it.

Who is financing the A.C.E. Inc? Alabama Power and Regions Bank among other corporations.

What do they get in return?

Watch out for secret meetings with realtors, developers and other special interests.