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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2016-08-26-2020-min Town of Lexington Lexington 20/20 Vision Committee Minutes of Meeting of August 26, 2016 Parker Room, Town Office Building, 1625 Massachusetts Avenue Members Present: Fernando Quezada, Margaret Coppe, Judy Crocker (by conference phone), Peter Enrich, Ginna Johnson, Dan Krupka, Joe Pato Visitors: Elaine Ashton, Boy Scout Ryan Members Absent: Carroll Ann Bottino, Andrew Dixon, Bhumip Khasnabish, Peter Lee, Alan Wrigley Staff and scribe: Candy McLaughlin Call to order:Adjourn: 7:50 am; 9:05 am Action Items: Peter Enrich will reach out to Selectmen and the Planning Board to gauge support for a supplemental appropriation request to the fall Special Town Meeting for funding to analyze results of a community survey to be conducted in the spring of 2016. Fernando will coordinate with Claire Goodwin to schedule a photo and draft the narrative for the Committee’s Town Report submission which is due October 31. Committee members should send Fernando their ideas for what should be highlighted. The meeting acted on the following items: Approved minutes from the July 22 meeting by roll call vote (Yes: Fernando, Joe, Margaret, Ginna, and Judy; abstain because not present at the meeting: Dan, Peter). Received update from Subcommittee on Asian Communities. Dan is working on a draft report which the Subcommittee plans to finalize in December. There is ongoing follow-up with two California communities from the Subcommittee’s outreach efforts: Walnut Valley Unified School District Margaret is coordinating a visit from the (serving the communities of Walnut and Diamond Bar) September 28-29. Ginna mentioned the importance of early publicity for the open forum to be held on Thursday evening, saying that the Planning Board was able to move its tentatively scheduled meeting to another night. Cupertino Dan described a recent phone call to find out more about ’s Block Leader program, which grew out of community-wide forums on race relations starting 20 years ago. This program recruits and trains Block Leaders to communicate City issues within their neighborhoods, serve as go-to resources when an earthquake happens, and plan activities to bring people together. Town Manager Carl Valente and Selectman Joe Pato plan to speak with the City Manager and current Block Leader Coordinator to find out more. Cupertino doesn’t have organizations such as CAAL and IAL, and the Rotary Club has been the leader in addressing rapid demographic change. The city, now about 60% Asian, has high and rising housing prices as people move there for the schools and many leave when their children have grown up. Cupertino’s version of a citizen’s academy, Leadership 95014, consists of ten full days over 9 months and charges tuition of $1,000; about 20 residents participate every year. Received update from Working Group on Issues of Social Diversity. Peter reported that the group is meeting monthly and is working on two tracks: demographic data Marian Cohen, Joe and other members are working on assembling as the basis for a 10-20 year forecast for Lexington. Data from 2000 to 2014 shows increases in the number of people with annual incomes of over $200,000 and the percentage of households with school children. Joe has scheduled a meeting with Planning Director Aaron Henry to see what other data may be available. community survey They are developing a that will ask some of the same questions as the last two Committee surveys to identify any trends, as well as new questions about current issues of interest. Elaine commented that people recreate in different ways, and wondered whether there are potential common interests that would bring people together; Peter said he isn’t sure how to collect this kind of information in a survey. Dan suggested asking the three elected boards what information they would find useful, and Peter noted that all three boards are represented on the working group. The tentative plan is to have a draft survey prepared by late fall, test the survey instrument in the winter, and administer it in March of 2017. The previous 20/20 Vision surveys have been done pro bono, but no one this time has offered to cover the costs, which are projected to be roughly $30,000. The group has been unsuccessful in pursuing a grant from a community organization and finding available funding in this year’s Town budget. There was an extended discussion about how to justify and obtain support for Town funding, which seems to be a modest investment for significant value. Ginna stated that the Planning Board has a tentative schedule for updating Lexington’s comprehensive plan, and they would like to obtain input from many sources in order to make it truly comprehensive. She noted that the community survey could provide useful information. Peter commented that as Lexington faces a number of large capital decisions, the survey would be a useful way to get both qualitative and quantitative information to help understand what people are thinking and how their support for public services is evolving. The following two motions were made and passed: Moved by Peter and seconded by Ginna, that the 20/20 Vision Committee submit a FY2018 o budget request for an appropriate amount to analyze the results of a community survey. (Yes: Judy, Ginna, Margaret, Peter, Dan, and Fernando; Joe was out of the room.) Peter will prepare a request and send it to Claire by the September 12 budget deadline. Moved by Peter and seconded by Dan, that the Committee request a FY2017 supplementary o appropriation at the fall Special Town Meeting to fund preparation and testing of a community survey. (Yes: Fernando, Judy, Ginna, Joe, Dan, Margaret, and Peter.) Joe recommended sounding out the Selectmen on whether they would support this, and said he would mention it to the Chair. Peter will call several Selectmen, and also the Planning Board chair. Received comment that one person has sent email to the Committee expressing interest in the Working Group on e-government. Fernando will forward the email to Bhumip who is leading this group. Next meeting: Friday, September 23 at 7:45 am in the Parker Room.