Healdsburg by The Voices of Healdsburg - May 2018

The American Institute of Architects (AIA) visited Healdsburg on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 to learn more about local issues, meet the people and decide whether a Sustainable Design Assessment Team (SDAT) project would be a good fit for our city. Over the course of the day the two staff members and team leader met over 100 residents in 5 comfortable sessions.

Mayor Brigette Mansell who attended them all reflects on the day: “I experienced a full day of collaborative, generative, inclusive discussions regarding our town of Healdsburg. The public engagement process today, for this initial visit, was a testament to the dedication and integrity the SDAT Steering Committee demonstrated throughout the planning process. I deeply appreciate all the thorough planning and shaping of this critical first step in our analysis of what Healdsburg needs—what experts we need, to support a study to better understand our shared community values and, ultimately, what we want to cultivate and create for a sustainable, healthier, more inclusive future.

“Since I attended all of the full day’s activities, beginning with the tour, listening and contributing to the four separate dynamic sessions: Environment, Economics, Social/Cultural and Governance, as well as the Latino Community’s Comité from 6-7:30 pm, I was “gifted” with heartfelt, civil discourse. I heard common themes. I felt our stakeholder’s passion for Healdsburg. I penned, in many pages of my notes today, copious, specific feedback from brilliant, concerned activists, conscious business owners, and curious citizens who each shared their observations and pride and love for their town and mostly, its people: our youth, our education, our health, our workers, our elderly, our families.

“Let’s keep up this momentum and value and honor what we all know is at the heart of this mission: to seek balance, as an eco-system, as an economically and culturally wealthy community, and to honor the community commitment seen today. My hope is to sustain this level of authentic outreach. Your mayor and City Council value the efforts of the SDAT steering committee and the community members who participated in the topic sessions facilitated by the AIA.”—Brigette Mansell, Mayor of Healdsburg

Wednesday morning, before rushing home to Washington D.C. and Seattle, our 3 guests (2 AIA staff members and the AIA team leader) told the SDAT steering committee that they felt the incredible enthusiasm and passion throughout the day. “Healdsburg is one of the most engaged communities we have ever dealt with; we got to meet more people than we normally do on these initial visits.”

They shared that the meetings attended by community members were incredibly informative in terms of identifying emerging themes. Besides the specific issues, housing being prominent, the question they formed from listening to all those conversations was: ‘How can we maintain the values and character of our town and the richness of our human relationships while continuing to maintain this vibrant economy, in a place that continues to be unique and authentically ours?’

Erin Simmons, SDAT project coordinator, acknowledged all the planning that had gone into making this a great preliminary visit; then explained to the 25 or so steering committee members the importance of letting go, trusting the SDAT process and suspending expectations “because SDATs are totally organic and therefore outcomes can’t be predicted.” Ms. Simmons concluded by saying the words we were all waiting to hear: “We definitely see a real opportunity for an SDAT project here!”

Next steps: AIA staff will assemble a unique team of professionals and return for an intense 3-day community engagement process culminating in a public presentation of their policy recommendations and a later report. The date for the full SDAT visit is yet to be scheduled.

Stay Engaged: The SDAT opportunity has fostered other community conversations including weekly Campfires and monthly workshops. All are welcome to the informal, self-organizing Saturday morning Campfires where participants sit comfortably around the imaginary fire, listening and talking together about what Healdsburg could be.The Campfire has a self-organizing, leaderless structure with a group-initiated agenda.

Join us Saturdays, 9- 11am, Healdsburg Community Center, Room 14, 1557 Healdsburg Ave, Healdsburg. This month’s workshop will be a housing panel:May 19, 2- 3:30 pm at the Healdsburg Senior Center, 133 Matheson St, Healdsburg.

To learn more and participate in Healdsburg’s future visit www.Healdsburg-SDAT.org.

Finding a common vision rooted in our shared values will help us solve the barriers and challenges, and implement and sustain the desired changes over time.