Survey is on the way
Deborah Macartney
Wanted to let you know that a box of surveys is being delivered today
to the courthouse for county mailing. Watch for them, and spread the
word of encouragement to all to fill out and return the survey. The
online survey is now prepared too. We've deleted the test data. Be
sure and wait until you have your control number to go back and do
your own survey if you'd like to do it online.
A couple of questions came up while we were in the final throes of
completion.
One was suggestion that we publish the timelines for the survey. I
will update and send them out this evening, based on a mailing date
of within the next few days.
The second question was asked; "Will the survey be the only source of
changes to the Oceanside Plan?" I'll share my thoughts, and ask Jud
as ONA chair and the co-chairs to add their thoughts too.
The survey is definintly not the only source of changes to the plan.
We already started the process during the brainstorming session which
contained the many comments, concerns and ideas for looking at
updating the community plan. More were gathered from the committee.
Most of those ideas are reflected in the survey, a very few were too
complex to do justice in a survey. The survey then is not the source
of change, it is a way to validate broader community interest, where
possible, beyond the smaller group of volunteers focused on
recommending changes. This becomes critical in the acceptance and
support of the county who will in turn go through their own process
to codify, or make official, our recommended changes. In
representative government, a regulatory agency has to have evidence
that a majority wants and supports a change in order to move
forward. If you were in their shoes, you'd want to know that, as an
example, if they were braced to listen to the objections of
developers and contractors about tree regulations or grading
ordinances, the county would want to know that most of the
neighborhood wasn't likely going to show up and also object.
I think at least one set of additional opportunities will come once
the survey results are in. We've discussed the idea of taking them
to several forums, such as the ONA meeting of course, but also to the
community club to talk with and listen to more input etc. I'd
encourage the co-chairs to gather any additional suggestions
committee members may have.
Deb