planning for our future
We all need to be able to rely on Monmouth’s infrastructure and services as we build our lives here. Understanding and preparing for the risks and opportunities that lie ahead is critical to the success of our city. Some steps we should take are:
Keeping focused on the city’s long-term goals
Per state requirements, Monmouth has a set of long-range planning documents that it refreshes every ten years or so. They lay out expected needs, goals and procedures to keep the city functioning well. City departments keep city council up to date on their activities on a yearly, and in some cases, quarterly basis. I believe these updates should be made readily available to the public, and that they should reference our long term planning documents. Are we on track? If not, what stood in our way? What didn’t we account for? Such context will help council and the public better understand how to best support city staff in implementing our collective goals.
Clear emergency information for the community
City staff have a comprehensive set of emergency plans in place in case of a natural disaster. We should enhance their plans with information sessions, promote training opportunities, and provide documentation for residents so we can work better together to keep each other safe. Additionally, events such as the annual Great Oregon Shake Out are a good opportunity to remind community members to check on their emergency supplies and plans for the predicted Cascadia earthquake.
Policies that mitigate and minimize the impacts of climate change on our economy and wellbeing
What business does a city as small as ours have addressing climate change? Surely a such a big problem needs to be addressed at the state level at the very least, if not the national level.
We do not get to opt out of the effects of climate change simply because we do not have the strongest capacity to combat it. The good news is that there are things that even small communities can do to help. The even better news is that the same steps we can take to mitigate climate change can also make us more resilient to its effects and improve the livability and affordability of our community at the same time.
The two biggest levers any city has in fending off and preparing for climate change are the flexibility of its transportation options and the efficiency of its buildings. Making it just as attractive to walk, bike or catch the bus as it is to hop in your car leaves more money in our pockets, increases the safety and freedom of all who do not or cannot drive, and adds to the attractiveness of our city. Finding affordable ways to build and retrofit buildings to be radically more efficient lowers the costs of renting, owning, and doing business in the city.
What issues to you see in Monmouth’s future that we need to start planning for now? Let me know.