Citizens Conference on Growth
Shaping Livable Communities in Colorado, March 23rd 2002

This years conference was a huge success, attracting over 100 concerned citizen, professionals, and activists. This was largely due to the increased participation of a variety of smart growth organizations. Along with the three sponsoring groups (Colorado Sprawl Action Center, Colorado Environmental Coalition, and Livable Communities Support Center), the following organizations played an active part in making this years conference a success.

Colorado Mobility Coalition
ColoRail
Colorado Affordable Housing Coalition
Sierra Club, Enos Mills Chapter

Thanks to all who participated. Below is the agenda.

Agenda

8:30 - 9:15 Registration
9:15 - 9:30 Welcome - Rm. C-90

9:30 - 10:00 "Growth and Livable Communities Trends," - Rm. C-90
Rich McClintock, Program Director, Livable Communities Support Center
From the San Luis Valley to the foothills along Jefferson County to Poudre Valley in Northern Colorado to the mesas and orchards on the Western Slope, Colorado's growth patterns and trends are as diverse and unique as our communities. Rich will present findings from a recent growth assessment project that examine current and future trends concerning growth, sprawl and livable throughout the state.

10:00 - 10:30 Recent Polling on Growth issues and policies - Rm. C-90
Sam Sager, Field Organizer, Colorado Environmental Coalition
Sam will present findings from the recently released Colorado Growth Survey. The survey looked at attitudes and perceptions of the growth issue among Colorado voters as well as what types of policies voters thought appropriate to solve this complex issue. Talmey-Drake Research and Public Opinion Strategies conducted the bipartisan survey on behalf of the Colorado Environmental Coalition.

10:20 Break

10:30 - 11: 40 Policies and Tools for Livable Communities Session
Experts from different fields will lead workshops on specific issues and tools for fostering policy changes. Topics will include land use planning and zoning, land conservation, transportation, affordable housing and fiscal policy. The workshops will focus on strategies and policies citizens can use at a local level to address these issues.

Land-Use Planning and Policy - Rm. P027
Ann Livingston, Land Use Attorney, CoPIRG, Moderator
Clare Levy, Land Use Attorney, private practice
Mark Heller, Executive Director, High Country Citizens Alliance
Tom Clark, Professor, College of Planning and Design, University of Colorado, Denver
Communities around the state are revising comprehensive plans and yet too often these plans either do not reflect community goals or are not implemented through effective zoning. This session will focus on how to effectively influence land use planning and zoning and will highlight best practices.

Land Conservation - Rm. P-029
Richard Skorman, City Council Colorado Springs, Trust for Public Land
Conservation Finance Staff, Moderator
Jim Reidhead, Director, Rural Land Use Center
Ben Way, Field Representative, American Farmland Trust
Colorado's rapid growth puts tremendous stress on its open spaces and agricultural lands. Learn how Colorado citizens and governments are creatively using public and private resources to protect the state's last open spaces.

Transportation - Rm. P034
Bert Melcher, Former CDOT Commissioner, Moderator
Jeanne Erickson, Executive Director, Colorado Association of TransitAgencies
Jon Esty, President, Colorado Rail Passenger Association
Kelly Nordini, Assistant Executive Director, Transit Alliance
Stacey Mikelson, Project Manager, Colorado Department of Transportation
Transportation policy plays a key role in smart growth. Ensuring that transportation planning and land-use planning are linked helps promote efficient development patterns and minimize traffic congestion. Learn how to promote transportation choices in your community and how transportation determines how your community grows.

11:50 - 1:00 Policies and Tools for Livable Communities Session II

Visualizing Sprawl and Smart Growth - Rm. P027
Rich McClintock, Program Director, Livable Communities Support Center
Steve Mullen, Senior Associate, CommunityViz and the Orton Family Foundation
It is a daunting task for communities to understand the long-term outcomes of different development and planning choices they must make everyday. But there's good news! New tools and technologies exist that make envisioning both long-term impacts of trends and quality development easier than ever before. This workshop gives an extensive overview of design, visualization, impact analysis, and consensus building tools that you and your local government(s) can utilize to make better decisions

Housing Affordability: Strategies for People and Communities - Rm. P029
Mindy Klowden, Executive Director, Colorado Affordable Housing Partnership, Moderator
Joshua Huber, Associate Director, Uptown Partnership
Joyce Alms-Ransford, Executive Director, Rocky Mountain Housing Development Corporation
A range of housing for all community members is essential to a stable and quality community. Find out what tools communities across the state are using to address the challenging problem of housing affordability.

Costs of Growth - Rm. P034
Stacey Schulte, Program Associate, Livable Communities Support Center, Moderator
Ben Way, Field Representative, American Farmland Trust
Cameron Bertron, Director, DIRT
The fiscal costs of various patterns of growth often differ widely. This workshop will explore how to project the costs of growth, how to avoid unnecessary spending and the methods to make growth pay its own way.

1:00 - 2:00 Lunch ON YOUR OWN

2:00 - 2:20 State Round Up - Rm. C-90
Elise Jones, Executive Director, Colorado Environmental Coalition
Ann Livingston, Land-Use Attorney, Co. Public Interest Research Group
The State Legislature plays active role in Colorado's growth debate. Hear about the latest proposals and how they might help or hinder your community.

2:30 - 3:35 Skills Building Workshop Session I

Working with the Media: Getting your Message Out - Rm. P027
Monica Piergrossi, Field Director, Colorado Environmental Coalition

The media is a powerful tool that influences decision makers, lends credibility to your effort, and can win citizens to your side. However, many citizen groups do not use the media to their full advantage or rely on it too heavily. In this workshop learn how to deliver an effective message through the media and how to utilize other types of communication

Planning a Winning Campaign - Rm. C-90
Michelle Kramer, Director, COPIRG's Sprawl Action Center
Don Parker, Save the Mesas
The key to any successful smart growth campaign is a well thought-out plan. The most important elements of a successful campaign plan will be discussed in this workshop including clarifying goals, understanding the processes for attaining them, identifying obstacles and allies, picking appropriate targets, and choosing appropriate strategies and tactics.

Framing the Debate - Rm. P029
Sam Sager, Field Organizer, Colorado Environmental Coalition
Mark Heller, Executive Director, High Country Citizens Alliance
Growth is a complex topic and we often suffer from an incomplete understanding of how the public views the growth issue, including what the terms "sprawl" and "growth" mean to them, what growth impacts they find most troublesome, and what solutions they view as effective in addressing this multi-faceted issue. Learn about the latest polling and focus group data on these issues and how you can use this information to craft a compelling growth message.

Finding the Money and Resources Needed to Win - Rm. P034
Michael Whiting, Development Director, Colo. Environmental Coalition

Raising money and resources is critical to the success of any group or campaign effort. In this workshop you will learn the most effective fundraising tactics and the ways to generate contributions of expertise or other resources

3:40 - 4:45 Skills Building Workshop Session II

Lobbying Elected Officials - Rm. P027
Elise Jones, Executive Director, CEC
Local officials make the final decisions on many growth issues in our communities. Learn the best strategies for influencing your elected officials and how can you get them to agree with your position.

Grassroots Organizing - Rm. P029
Matt Baker, Director, COPIRG
Christina Miranda, COPEEN
Sometimes being right just isn't enough to convince your elected officials to do the right thing. Learn the best ways to bring constituent pressure to bear on politicians, whether it is through email, organizing district meetings, or letter writing campaigns.

Planning a Winning Campaign - Rm. C-90
Michelle Kramer, Director, COPIRG's Sprawl Action Center
Don Parker, Save the Mesas
The key to any successful smart growth campaign is a well thought-out plan. The most important elements of a successful campaign plan will be discussed in this workshop including clarifying goals, understanding the processes for attaining them, identifying obstacles and allies, picking appropriate targets, and choosing appropriate strategies and tactics.

Coalition Building - Rm. P034
Rich McClintock, Program Director, Livable Communities Support Center
Mark Heller, Executive Director, High Country Citizens Alliance
Involving a variety of organizations in your campaign efforts can give you enormous clout. In this workshop learn how reach out to diverse constituencies and to avoid many of the common pitfalls when working in a coalition

4:45 - 5:00 Closing Remarks - Rm. C-90
Michelle Kramer, director, COPIRG's Sprawl Action Center