The Forum had approximately 60 participants over the course of the morning, but only 30 people voted at the end of the morning. PLEASE REALIZE THAT THE VOTING IS NOT BEING USED ALONE TO DECIDE ON PRIORITIES FOR KEYS REGION COLLABORATIVE ACTION. The KEYS Region Coordinating Council will review the results, and make recommendations for regional projects. Each individual sector will continue with actions on its goals, but will hopefully also work collaboratively on some of the goals.
Based on the votes within each topic area, the top three topics were Communication (46), Environment (34), and Housing (31). Based on the votes for single goals, the top three (actually four, with a tie for third) were:
• ENVIRONMENT: Land Management: Decrease the spread of development in rural parts of the region, focusing it instead in regionally designated growth centers. (31)
• COMMUNICATION/MEDIA: Expand media outlets focused on the KEYS region. (29)
• HOUSING: The KEYS region will embrace a diverse housing stock as necessary to maintaining a healthy economy and will work to achieve an adequate inventory of quality housing for working families and seniors of modest means. (23)
• YOUTH: Community and Regional Youth Centers: Each town has accessible, safe, nurturing, and fun places for youth with varied programs that are focused on youth needs and interests. There will be a KEYS region Youth Resource Center offering a community hub and housing regional youth programs and activities. (23)
Full voting results below:
Key to value of dots:
Red = first choice (4 points)
Green = second choice (3 points)
Yellow = third choice (2 points)
Blue = fourth choice (1 point)
Goals to move us toward that vision: (17 total)
A KEYS regional Arts & Culture Council and Network is established and active. (7)
red – 1
green – 1
yellow – 0
blue - 0
A KEYS creative/re-creative center for arts and culture is built, beautiful, accessible, and well used. (4)
red – 0
green – 1
yellow - 0
blue - 1
A KEYS region arts and culture website, listserve, eNewsletter, and updated directory are established and well used. (6)
red – 0
green – 2
yellow – 0
blue - 0
A KEYS region arts & culture map and events listing is created, maintained, and used. (0)
none
A KEYS region recreation council, center, website, directory, and map are created and used. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (19)
The KEYS region has sufficient family support and education services, including the Family Resource Center, to offer parents and other caregivers (including adoptive parents, step parents, foster parents, child care professionals and extended families) opportunities for parent education, parent support, and child care provider trainings and support. (16)
red – 2
green – 1
yellow – 2
blue - 1
KEYS children are educated at home and in school with the attitudes and skills needed to become successful parents, if they choose that role in the future. (3)
red – 0
green – 1
yellow – 0
blue - 0
The KEYS region has sufficient, affordable, and high quality early childhood experiences, including preschool age childcare, in the KEYS towns (0)
none
The KEYS region has sufficient, affordable, and high quality before and after school care for school age children. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (46)
Expand media outlets focused on the KEYS region. (29)
red – 5
green – 3
yellow – 0
blue – 0
Living and doing business in the KEYS region will be made easier and more cost effective because of the telecommunications infrastructure (1)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 1
Community life will be enhanced through increased use of technology by government, nonprofits, and other organizations, enabling citizens to participate more fully, and build new relationships. (10)
red – 1
green – 1
yellow – 1
blue - 0
Education resources will be made available across town borders to as many students and residents as possible. (6)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 1
blue - 0
Goals to move us toward that vision: (5)
The KEYS region offers ample opportunities for citizen giving and volunteering. (2)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 2
The KEYS region has an informed and active citizenry. (3)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 3
KEYS citizens have a high rate of social and inter-racial trust, an appreciation of diversity, a high rate of associational involvement, and strong informal social ties. (0)
none
KEYS citizens have a high rate of faith-based engagement. (0)
none
The KEYS region is served by communication channels that give citizens ready access to accurate KEYS news and information, and citizens make good use of these resources. [This goal is the basis of the vision for #3 above.]
NA – see Communication goal
green – 1
yellow – 1
blue - 1
Goals to move us toward that vision: (10)
A KEYS regional economic growth council works to implement KEYS economic development goals, led by the Chamber of Commerce with active participation by KEYS municipal appointees. (5)
red – 0
green – 1
yellow – 1
blue - 0
The KEYS region has a Dept. of Labor “Career Center”, and existing business development resources (i.e. BRIC, SBA, Technology & Innovation Center, etc.) are known and used by new and existing KEYS businesses, and the York County Development District resources are used by businesses. (0)
none
The KEYS region has excellent infrastructure (water, sewer, gas, electricity, cable) in areas designated for commercial/industrial growth and travel flows well in our in transportation corridors: Rte. 236, Rte. 1, Rte. 91, Rte. 101, Rte. 103. (0)
none
The KEYS region benefits from lower overall costs of doing business in Maine, including low cost worker’s comp. insurance, improved access to health care insurance for employees, equipment tax reimbursement, etc. (1)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 1
The KEYS region natural resource base (i.e. beaches, public access to water, watersheds, Mt. A, rivers, ponds, trails, forests, parks) are maintained and strengthened to support a healthy environment and our tourism industry. (4)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue – 0
KEYS region resource maps are developed and distributed to local citizens & visitors: culinary trail, arts and heritage trail, hiking/biking trails, etc. in support of the creative economy & tourism. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (20)
The KEYS region schools have an extended school year with coordinated and accessible courses offered at all grade levels. (1)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 1
The KEYS region schools have an expanded centralized purchasing system so that all KEYS school districts can save money by using economies of scale. (4)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 0
Every KEYS student/adult will graduate from high school, college-ready with a plan for the future. (4)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue – 0
The KEYS region schools will offer services to underserved students on a regional basis, looking at adult education, alternative education, recreational offerings and preschool therapies. (6)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 1
blue - 0
All KEYS children will have appropriate support and interventions to be ready to learn when they enter kindergarten. (5)
red – 0
green – 1
yellow – 1
blue - 0
Goals to move us toward that vision: (34)
Land Management: Decrease the spread of development in rural parts of the region, focusing it instead in regionally designated growth centers. (31)
red – 3
green – 3
yellow – 5
blue - 2
Water Management: Improve the quality of regional fresh, estuarine and marine waters to ensure that they are drinkable, fishable and swimable. (3)
red – 0
green – 1
yellow – 0
blue - 0
Stewardship: Increase the percentage of KEYS communities’ waste that is recycled. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (15)
Conduct a survey by 2005 to find out what leaders and voters think about bigger is better, paying more to keep what we have, lower unit costs from economy of scale, etc. (0)
none
Conduct a feasibility study to determine what public safety issues could be addressed regionally (i.e., area sub-stations for police and fire protection, communications/dispatching, etc.) (4)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue – 0
Conduct a feasibility study regarding development of a regional recreational complex (indoor & outdoor swimming pools, tennis courts, recreational fields, bicycle and walking paths, fitness center, etc.) (7)
red – 0
green – 2
yellow – 0
blue - 1
A white paper is written by 2005 showing the cost savings and pros and cons of providing a specific municipal service at the regional level instead of by individual municipalities (i.e. licensing, assessment, code enforcement, one planning board with 2 members from each town, etc.). (0)
none
Expand joint town purchasing within KEYS region or at SMRPC level. (4)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 2
blue - 0
Goals to move us toward that vision: (21)
We will have access to both prevention and treatment mental and physical health services for all – including those with low-incomes and no insurance. (12)
red – 2
green – 0
yellow – 2
blue - 4
We will have a regional community campus that includes family service agencies, health and dental services, childcare, recreational facilities, support services (state services, AA, etc.) and mental health services. (9)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 2
blue - 1
There will exist a comprehensive, current and accessible “Virtual Resource Center” in the KEYS region. Most likely this will be accomplished via the completion or expansion of one of these 3 I&R programs: the Maine 211 system, the Ingraham system, or InfoLink. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (31)
The KEYS region will embrace a diverse housing stock as necessary to maintaining a healthy economy and will work to achieve an adequate inventory of quality housing for working families and seniors of modest means. (23)
red – 2
green – 2
yellow – 4
blue - 1
KEYS region communities will work to ensure that local regulations, including growth control measures, do not create barriers to the creation of workforce housing. (8)
red – 1
green – 1
yellow – 0
blue - 1
KEYS region communities will plan for adequate transportation, water and wastewater infrastructure in order to accommodate housing. (0)
none
KEYS regions communities will actively seek alternative funding sources for the creation of workforce housing. (0)
none
KEYS region communities will balance conservation with the need for workforce housing, perhaps through the creation of a community land trust. (Note: community land trusts hold the land and then develop housing on it (rental or homeownership). Buyers lease the land under the house but own the home outright. By keeping the land under the control of the CLT, they have the ability to set policies re: the income ranges and sales prices, which supports the goal of permanent affordability.) (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (in process)
Goals to move us toward that vision: (21)
Older adults and their families will have access to an array of health, financial, educational, and social supports and opportunities. (16)
red – 2
green - 2
yellow – 1
blue - 0
Older adults and their families will be supported in their efforts to continue to live productively and be cared for in their homes and communities. (5)
red – 0
green – 2
yellow – 0
blue - 1
Older adults and other kinship caregivers who are raising minor children will have their needs recognized and met in the community. (0)
none
Older adults will benefit from programs that protect their rights and prevent elder abuse, neglect and exploitation. (0)
none
(Telecommunications Vision: (moved to "communication/media”, at #3)
Goals to move us toward that vision: (16)
Public Transportation - Connect KEYS Communities through public transportation. (8)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 2
blue - 0
Non-motorized Modes of Transportation – Safe Walk-able Communities – Connect popular destinations in the KEYS Region through off-road trails or paved and signed shoulders on public roads. (8)
red – 1
green – 0
yellow – 1
blue - 2
c. Infrastructure (Roads, highways, etc) - Educate and inform people on transportation issues and major projects to ensure meaningful public participation and community input. (0)
none
Goals to move us toward that vision: (24)
Community and Regional Youth Centers: Each town has accessible, safe, nurturing, and fun places for youth with varied programs that are focused on youth needs and interests. There will be a KEYS region Youth Resource Center offering a community hub and housing regional youth programs and activities. (23)
red – 2
green – 3
yellow – 2
blue - 2
Mentoring: By 2010 mentoring in all KEYS schools by community volunteers will double. (0)
none
Healthy Youth: Youth are knowledgeable about caring for their health, and motivated to act on that knowledge. (0)
none
Marketable Skills: Youth prepare to become financially self-supporting adults. (1)
red – 0
green – 0
yellow – 0
blue - 1
Community Service Opportunities: Youth have a place to go for community service opportunities, and they have a high rate of community service hours. (0)
none