I’d like to suggest that Sturgeon Bay send its planning staff (Community Development Director and City Planner) to the Wisconsin chapter, American Planning Association’s Fall Conference, September 22-23 at Lawrence University in Appleton. This year’s theme is “Planning for Prosperity: The Link between Planning & Economic Development.”
I hope that Marty and Ryan might consider proposing a presentation this year - here is the link: http://wisconsinplanners.org/2016-fall-conference/apa-wi-session-proposal-form_2016_5_accepted-edits/
I hope that the Sturgeon Bay that we all love stays the Sturgeon Bay that we love. Hearing ideas from other communities doesn’t mean that I think we should directly copy other ideas here - to me it means finding out how other communities have made their best selves, have been reminded of what is important and special about their own community and worked with all they already have to offer new opportunities, services, experiences - while still keeping its core qualities and valued attributes. This then can inspire our own ideas! And then we can share those from Sturgeon Bay with others. To me this includes valuing our history and those physical reminders that remain and that tell interesting stories that are unique to Sturgeon Bay. It also means valuing those attributes that our community thinks of in a nice way as making Sturgeon Bay the wonderful community that it is. I think participation in regional conferences like this is a good way for all the towns in our region to hear from others about the treasures they have in their own community and great ideas they’ve had to keep and value and share those treasures. It’s for inspiration and for collaboration.
Thank you,
Nancy Aten
(sent via Center Line Community Forum)