The Planning Commission - a DPPA forum Every city has one, and yet to many of us, its mission is unknown. This unfamiliar governmental body might determine how wetlands are dealt with when development could impact them. It might be a primary reason you are able to enjoy a public walkway along a stretch of lakefront, or the reason you find yourself living unexpectedly next door to a demolition landfill. What is this group? It's a city's Planning Commission -- an organization that almost always has substantial impact on a community. In Duluth, the mayor appoints members of the 13-member Planning Commission; those appointments are reviewed and voted upon by the City Council. It's only seldom that the City Council chooses not to approve those appointments. The work Commissioners do demands multiple meetings and many hours each month, but they are not paid for their service -- it is strictly a volunteer arrangement. Duluth's Planning Commission has found itself at times entangled in some of the city's most sticky issues -- such as whether a golf course should be built at Spirit Mountain or how Bed and Breakfasts should operate in Duluth's neighborhoods. The Planning Commission has over the years been charged by some with not adequately representing the diverse members of the Duluth community as well as for not meeting the needs of citizens by holding its meetings at 9 a.m. on a weekday. On January 25, from 10 to 11:30 a.m., the Duluth Public-Policy Alliance hosts a forum on the Duluth Planning Commission. The forum will answer such questions as what effect the Planning Commission has over our everyday lives, what direction this influential Commission could and should take in the future, and what Planning Commissioners see as the most challenging aspects of their jobs. Forum participants will be Planning Commissioner Donn Larson, Senior Planner Jim Mohn, Dave Lee of the A. Charles Weiss B&B, and local civic activist Nancy Nelson. The forum is open to DPPA members and the public alike. DPPA's Planning Commission forum Saturday, January 25 10 to 11:30 a.m. Fireside Room, behind Bennett's Restaurant. Coffee served. A ``Report Card'' of Sorts: DPPA's ``Duluth City Councilor Review'' DPPA Members Will Help Determine a Job Well Done Beginning in January 2003, and continuing through June 2003, The Duluth Public-Policy Alliance will conduct an assessment of the Duluth City Councilors. In an ongoing effort to encourage open government, and with the understanding that the City Council is the citizen's closest connection to city government, the DPPA Board of Directors has elected to offer an analysis of individual councilors. The assessment will be based on six points that the DPPA board believes are behaviors that citizens can reasonably expect from their city councilors: Attendance at Council Meetings Regularly attends Council, committee, and agenda meetings. Participation in Councilor Discussions at Council Meetings Enters into discussions on issues that require a vote. Attitude Toward the Public Exhibits a welcoming attitude toward the public and listens attentively to public comment. Explanation of Individual Votes Lets the public know the reasoning behind each decision. Attention to Detail Follows up and makes sure that information is provided -- or gets good reasons for a lack of information -- when Councilors or members of the public request information. Response to the Public Responds promptly to public contact, be it through email, letter, phone calls, or personal visits -- and does so respectfully. At the end of June, each DPPA member will be mailed a survey form requesting a ranking of each councilor on the six points. (Members: When you receive your form, please fill it out and mail it promptly!) In addition, at six randomly selected City Council meetings volunteers will ask members of the public to fill out the surveys. The DPPA Board will then compile the member and public surveys and announce the results in August. This process will be introduced to the City Council publicly at the first full Council meeting of 2003, on January 13, during ``Opportunity for Citizens to be Heard,'' which occurs at the beginning of each Council meeting. The DPPA Board of Directors believes that initiating this sort of local ``watch dog'' approach to City Council activity can -- if it operates in a non-political fashion -- be a good step toward strengthening and building an open city government. Civic-Activist ``Burnout'': Treating the Symptoms If you're actively involved in community issues, you've probably experienced these feelings: You're suddenly sure that, despite all of your hard work and best efforts, nothing will ever improve. Or, you look back over an election and know, without question, that no candidate you work for will ever be elected; in fact, no good candidate will ever be elected again! Perhaps you worry that, in the interest of your civic involvements, you are neglecting your family and friends. Or, maybe you feel like each day is over in a flash, with not a moment in it is set aside for your personal needs. The diagnosis: A likely case of ``Burnout.'' Most who've been civically involved have run into burnout at one time or other. Some of us call it quits for good and leave the work to others to follow in our footsteps. Some of us have learned tactics that help us cope with burnout stretches when they occur and then just keep on going. ``Common Sense'' asked for reactions to the question ``What do you do to avoid burnout? And if it occurs, what remedies do you try?'' Here are some of the answers we received from a number of active people in the community. For each of the respondents, only one or two of their many civic involvements is noted -- there wouldn't be space to list them all! Debbie Dunbar Ortman Two-term Hermantown City Councilor, founding member of a number of local environmental and political groups. ``The key to avoiding burnout is to learn how to say `no' and not over-commit oneself. To deal with burnout and stress, I schedule regular massage appointments, watch too many comedy/romance movies on the weekends and, yes, sometimes overeat. I also talk about issues, feelings, and thoughts with friends. I plan walking dates with friends and give and get lots of hugs. I also attend gatherings where I can connect with activists and progressives, which can often be very therapeutic.'' Marsh Stenersen Board of Directors, Lake Superior Area Labor Management Association and delegate, Duluth Central Labor Body. ``Talking with others of generally like minds, bouncing ideas off of others, and taking some time to think conceptually instead of focusing on the instant political disappointment or frustration generally recharges my batteries. I continue as well to be inspired by Paul Wellstone, who would not allow himself to be paralyzed by disappointment, frustration, or even his own personal health problems. He always picked himself up and urged us, his supporters, to fight even harder for what we believe in.'' Greg Gilbert Duluth City Councilor ''It often seems that just when I get that occasional `burned-out' feeling, I get a letter, email, or phone call from someone simply thanking me for the work I do. This makes the effort all worthwhile and leaves me reenergized.'' Louise Curnow Co-Owner, Green Mercantile ``Healthy Products'' store and co-organizer of current ``Progressive Series'' discussions. ``I always find it enjoyable to get together with members of the progressive community. I think if it were not for these gatherings -- where we can regain spirit, enthusiasm, and hope -- I may have given up the activist role some time ago. I think it is also incredibly important to maintain a sense of humor. We are, after all, such a tiny little speck in this great, vast universe. We can't take ourselves too seriously!'' Jamie Harvie Member of Duluth's Environmental Advisory Committee. ``After particularly hectic times, I find that a key is to trust and have faith that others have the skills and vision to keep the dream alive. I withdraw to a less visible place. I also find I am at my best when I bike to work. Not only is the health component of the commute important but also the spiritually, as I reconnect to the daily passage of life, the sun coming up, the bite (or warmth) of the sun, or the hello to walkers and others along the way. It is a good grounding.'' DPPA's Civic Activist of the Year for 2003 It's time to begin thinking about whom DPPA will honor as Civic Activist of the Year in 2003. If you would like to nominate someone for consideration, email the person's name, as well as your reasons for the nomination, to DuluthPPA@yahoo.com. Or mail your nomination to: DPPA, PO Box 404, Duluth MN 55801. The 2003 award will be announced at the DPPA Spaghetti Extravaganza and Annual Meeting, on April 11. ``Making Places Special'' Features Duluth ``Making Places Special,'' a new book by Gene Bunnell, features Duluth as one of five cities in the nation that are ``real places made better by planning.'' The book also showcases San Diego, Charleston, S.C., Chattanooga, TN, and Providence, R.I. Bunnell covers Duluth with 88 pages and many photos and gives an excellent understanding of the colorful history and politics of planning in the city. It helps explain how and why the physical and man-made Duluth is shaped the way it is and why we have a culture of protection in the city. As professional planner Barb Koth notes, ``The book will help show those of us who are discouraged how other cities have had cycles of support and non-support for city planning.'' The book is published by the APA (American Planning Association) Press and can be ordered online at www.APA.org. DPPA Briefs Joining DPPA-Talk or DPPA-Alert Duluth is teeming with lively Internet discussion groups -- and DPPA offers one of them. If you are a member of DPPA, have email, and would like to be part of online discussions of local issues, email DuluthPPA@yahoo.com, and ask to be added to DPPA-Talk. There, you'll find conversation about all sorts of open-government and planning issues, with a smattering these days of talk about what's happening nationally. DPPA-Alert offers an alternative email group that carries only action alerts. You need not be a DPPA member to be on DPPA-Alert. To join DPPA-Alert, email DuluthPPA@yahoo.com. Where's Nancy's Tree? A Northern Pin Oak was scheduled in October to be planted in Duluth's Lake Place Park to honor Nancy Nelson, DPPA's 2002 Civic Activist of the Year. At the last moment, however, the selected tree was determined not to be mature enough for planting, so the ceremony has been rescheduled for the spring. Please stand by for more information! The DPPA Yearly ``Extravaganza!'' and Annual DPPA Meeting If you've ever attended DPPA's yearly ``Spaghetti Dinner Extravaganza! and Annual Meeting,'' you know all about the fun: Great food. Superb live music. Children's activities. Fab speeches. And a silent auction good enough to make you weep. Plus, the opportunity for DPPA members to vote on DPPA elections and other DPPA issues. Before we know it, it'll be April again, and time once more for this event. This year, it'll be held on April 11. Please mark those crisp, new 2003 calendars! And come prepared to vote on changes to the DPPA Bylaws that are intended to sharpen DPPA's focus on open government and responsible city planning, plus, to create separate board positions for DPPA Secretary and Treasurer. DPPA Calendar of Events January 2003 Tue 14 6:30 pm NSBA post-holiday social at Mama Gets in Superior. 724-3464. Sat 25 10:00 am - 11:30am Planning Commission forum sponsored by DPPA. Fitger Building, behind Bennett's. Sat 25 12:00 noon Peaceful demonstration against a war on Iraq. Minnesota Power Plaza (Lake and Superior St.) Sun 26 4:00 pm - 7:00pm ``Progressive Series'' discussion. Paul Wellstone Room, Duluth Labor Temple. Mon 27 City Council meeting. February 2003 Sat 01 Citizens In Action Training. 525-6878. Fri 07-9 Human Rights Watch Film Festival. 722-7200. Sat 08 12:00 noon - 5:00pm Living Green Conference. 392-5782. Mon 10 City Council meeting. Mon 24 City Council meeting. March 2003 Mon 10 City Council meeting. Sat 15 7:30 pm Irish Ceili Dance, Raleigh St. Edison School, 5901 W. Raleigh St. 728-4062. Mon 24 City Council meeting. April 2003 Fri 11 DPPA Spaghetti Extravaganza! and Fundraiser. 728-3987. These articles are retained on the web for historical interest and do not necessarily reflect the views or goals of DPPA today.