96 NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW [February

Citizen Action . . Kim Taylor, Editor

HUD Introduces New Plan Method

Officials, Residents Meet to Discuss Local Issues

T H E Department of Housing and Ur- ban Development (HUD) has a new

technique to involve local citizens in plan- ning community projects called the “char- rette.” Local officials and neighborhood residents hold marathon meetings to dis- cuss issues and decide solutions. Based on the assumption that interest and in- volvement produce responsibility and dedication, the meetings encourage com- munication between hostile groups which often results in understanding. Some ex- amples are reported in a recent issue of HUD Challenge.

The Hannibal Square community center in Winter Park, Florida, proved that this process is successful at least in the planning stages of HUD projects. The new center houses welfare services, senior citizens’ activities and recreation facilities. The plans were designed and developed in two days by more than 970 residents, Ten days after the charrette began, Winter Park had submitted its application to H U D and construction had begun.

The charrette has had mixed success in U. S. Office of Education projects to resolve neighborhood opposition to pro- posed school facility expansions. In Ta- coma Park, Maryland, residents recently blocked construction of a conventionally designed elementary school, Then in a one-week charrette about 200 residents and teachers designed an educational- cultural-recreational community center. School board officials were not directly involved in the planning, but the design,

even if not approved, can still be the start- ing point for talks.

An unsuccessful charrette held at Shaw University in Raleigh, North Carolina, centered around urban renewal location problems. There planning had been com- pleted by the local redevelopment author- ity, and the approved application sub- mitted to the HUD regional office.

A similiar situation at Temple Univer- sity in Philadelphia produced more grati- fying results. The university had acquired some land formerly occupied by low- income families. To prevent further uni- versity enchroachment those residents wanted some housing and community facilities of their own. After a 10-day im- passe the parties started to compromise and plan. The meetings did not produce any specific proposals but basic conten- tions for land control were discussed.

H U D hopes to adapt the charrette process to situations where tenants are in- volved. In renewal projects displaced families could plan replacement housing, Residents might be encouraged to improve their own homes with the help of con- tractors, engineers and managers.

Despite the energy and spontaneity generated by mass enthusiasm the char- rette cannot be a haphazard affair, H U D cautions. The consequences of community planning have far-reaching effects, either positively or negatively. A potential crisis must exist to stimulate neighborhood interest. A steering committee of local housing officials with state and federal officials as ex officio members must be formed. Then the pre-charrette sessions are necessary to define the problem, select leaders, promote community participation and provide physical facilities. The whole process requires trust in the charrette method, negotiable issues and the will- ingness of all groups to negotiate and compromise,

19721 NEWS IN REVIEW 97

New Coalition Formed in King County Area

The Municipal League of Seattle and King County has joined with other groups to open the governmental process. A new organization called the Coalition for Open Government is exploring the possibility of developing a statewide initiative based on “the public right to know.’’ After more than six months of research, the coalition has set forth some preliminary proposals which it believes will show voters who influences public decision makers. Specif- ically the initiative outlines full-disclosure procedures rather than controlling or regulating campaign contributions and ex- penditures, lobbying expenditures, financial affairs of elected officials and freedom of information.

The coalition drafting committee has proceeded slowly, the league reports, be- cause of the variety of state and federal laws it has studied. One of the major areas the organization has tackled in its efforts to produce model legislation is campaign finance reporting. This section would require that all contributors be dis- closed as well as all expenditures by or on behalf of candidates and campaigns. This would include dinner tickets and loans to political committees. About the only ex- emption would be volunteer service. To facilitate disclosure committees and candi- dates would designate a treasurer and bank to handle all financial transactions and make periodic reports. A requirement that radio and television stations, news- papers and printing companies file reports with the commission would cross-check the candidate reports.

For violation of these sections of the proposed law a system of fines would be established in conjunction with imprison- ment and civil penalties. Making these provisions work would require an election commission to develop reporting forms, make information available to the public and outline administrative procedures.

Court enforcement would be possible and the state attorney general would prose- cute serious violations. In the event that public officials did not act the public would be able to initiate civil proceedings.

Currently the coalition is trying to establish guidelines to promote the right of the people to know government records, while not sacrificing governmental ef- ficiency and necessary privacy. With cer- tain exceptions the organization believes records should be available to the public at no charge, and all rulings, interpreta- tions, policy statements, consultants’ studies and correspondence dealing with public rights should be subject to disclo- sure.

Two other areas will have to be con- sidered before completing the initiative. One is to extend the open meetings law to any where deliberation of public issues occurs. The other would require that the legislature open, and disclose the votes of, all committee meetings.

These last two require legislative action, and, the Municipal League reports, a con- stitutional amendment may be necessary to allow the public to know fully many activities of their government.

Canadian Citizens Help Land-Use Planners

According to provisions of a country planning bill every Canadian municipal council is required to prepare a land de- velopment plan for rural areas of the municipality. Local authorities must con- sider the regional plan, those drawn up by other state and provincial services, and hold hearings for local residents. Deter- mining local wishes has proved the most troublesome aspect for the planners.

Since 1901 land use plans have been checked by “rightful claimants.” At that time only landed estate owners had that privilege. With the new law anyone be- lieving that a plan is improper has the right to dispute it. This creates new prob- lems for the planners.

NATIONAL CIVIC REVIEW [February

According to the newsletter of the In- ternational Union of Local Authorities, in developing the land plans municipal officials consult with service groups, social organizations and experts in every field. The public should, IULA notes, begin to dispute the plan in these initial stages since changes become more difficult to make as the plan develops. Since most people feel that planning should be dele- gated to experts, they wait until its com- pletion to criticize it. Then both sides are disgruntled.

Advisory councils were established to communicate popular values to municipal councils developing plans. In this way some of the conflict was relieved. Other councils tried to publicize their plans on radio and television with little success, since most stations broadcast national or regional news.

Since neither of these methods gave local officials sufficient public input in initial planning, a new form of participa- tion has emerged. Described by IULA as a preliminary dialogue or ittspraok, this technique highlights the views of society beyond supplying information by turning its wishes into tangible form. Though the people are not directly involved in the decision making, they are associates in it. Local residents state their views about principles and policies used in the initial planning, Consultation groups are orga- nized specifically to discuss the plans’ values with authorities who will take their views into consideration in drawing up the final plans.

Allentown Youth Propose Local Government Courses

Allentown, Pennsylvania, teenagers ad- vocating secondary school instruction in local government and politics have formed the Allentown Congress of Youth. Repre- senting many local youth organizations, these students, who will be eligible to vote at 18, are unhappy that their high schools are not teaching them how school

boards, and county and municipal govern- ments operate.

The prospective voters are taking that future responsibility seriously and com- plain that their only knowledge of com- munity government comes from casual conversation or reading. The group has made plans to present its proposal for civic education programs to the school authorities, according to the Institute of Regional Affairs. The Congress of Youth members hope that when they graduate from high school they will have the knowledge necessary to cast an intelligent vote in local elections.

Citizens League Committees Begin Research Work

The Citizens League in Minneapolis has organized four new research committees on metropolitan capital improvements, state-local fiscal planning, achieving ex- cellence in schools and cable television. Citisens League News reported that some committees have already met with govern- ment officials, citizens directly affected by programs studied and experts.

The metropolitan improvements commit- tee has begun by consulting with officials responsible for capital improvements re- lated to transportation. Future studies will be on sewage disposal, parks and open space facilities. After reviewing demands for improvements and the problems as- sociated with such progress, the committee will be able to examine the need to CO-

ordinate priority setting for new public works projects.

The school committee has begun by meeting with parents, students and teachers to determine the feasibility and desirability of setting performance stan- dards.

The committee on fiscal planning is try- ing to predict future expenditures and has asked officials in major public service agencies to forecast spending trends for the 1970s.