As you no doubt
know, COMPASS solicits feedback on its plans and projects – most notably Communities in Motion, the regional
long-range transportation plan for Ada and Canyon Counties, and the Regional
Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP.
This time,
we’re asking for your feedback on our public involvement plan. Yes, we are
conducting public involvement on public involvement.
COMPASS’ public
involvement program is one part of COMPASS’ overall communication program. The
work that COMPASS does affects every resident of Ada and Canyon Counties;
therefore, we strive to involve all residents in our planning efforts.
Depending on circumstances, that participation may range from being an active
participant throughout a planning process, such as serving on a committee, to
submitting comments on a draft plan.
The public
involvement plan is part of a larger COMPASS
Integrated Communication Plan. As all of COMPASS’ communication programs
are interrelated, COMPASS chose to include its public involvement plan under
the “umbrella” of its broader communication plan. This allows the user of the
plan to better understand how different aspects of COMPASS’ communication
programs support and augment each other.
COMPASS has
developed a public involvement plan to serve two primary purposes:
2. To help COMPASS staff understand what is expected of them. The plan outlines best practices for our staff to use when engaging in public involvement. Our staff will use the plan as a checklist to ensure we are meeting, and whenever possible, exceeding, all requirements for public involvement.
The public
involvement plan outlines requirements, recommended best practices, and
optional outreach elements for public involvement on different types of plans
and projects. These provide a base from which to build, while allowing COMPASS
staff the flexibility to assess each situation individually and use additional,
creative outreach elements as they are appropriate for the plan or project.
While we
welcome comments on any portion of the COMPASS
Integrated Communication Plan, we are particularly seeking feedback on the
public involvement plan section (Section II, Chapters 2 – 6). These chapters
include an overview of COMPASS’ public involvement processes (Chapter 2), and
project-specific public participation guides for plans and programs for which
we regularly seek public involvement, including the public involvement plan
itself (Chapter 3), the long-range transportation plan (Chapter 4), the
Regional Transportation Improvement Program (Chapter 5), and other plans and
projects (Chapter 6). I encourage you to take a few minutes to review the plan
and let us know what you think.
Visit www.compassidaho.org/comm/comments.htm to review the plan and submit your
comments online. You will also find a list of libraries in the two county area
where you can review a hard copy of the plan. And, of course, you are always
welcome to stop by the COMPASS office to pick up a copy, or request one be sent
to you in the mail. Contact COMPASS at 208/475-2229 or aluft@compassidaho.org for assistance or with questions.
Comments will
be accepted through 11:59 pm, Sunday, May 31, 2015.