From Stella Sellner, Frederick MD
Dear BOA and Mayor O'Conner,
I am skeptical about the City’s commitment to the success of the NACs. When I first started attending NAC 11 meetings, developers came to them to present information about their project in the NAC and then listened to resident discussion about what was presented, answered questions, and interacted with the meeting participants. This has become a very important role for the NACs as development is accelerating in Frederick. The Land Management Code (Article 3, Section 301) explains exactly what the developer must do to satisfy the NAC notification and public input requirements. It refers to each NAC, not all NACs put together. With the monthly Citywide Planning Department Community Outreach Meeting, all City residents are given one powerpoint of all NAC projects by a City Planner and this completely does away with any interaction of residents with developers. Actually, there are no more discussions since the residents can only give a 3 minute, one way comment after each brief presentation. This type of meeting in no way fulfills the intentions and requirements of the LMC and the 2012 amended Resolution 12-05 which includes the NAC Guidelines. These guidelines separate development meetings from twice yearly Citywide NAC meetings. Why is it that residents who can’t attend the individual NAC 11 meetings can do so online and interact with the group at the meeting while the Citywide meeting only allows you to watch on Channel 99 and not be able to call with comments or questions? This to me shows that the City is not serious about allowing the NACs to function as intended. The NACs are a great asset to residents and the City and the City should be helping to strengthen them, not weaken them. Thank you.
As a reminder to all, the NACs (Resolution 08-87 as amended by Resolution 12-05) are intended to facilitate “regular communication among City residents, staff, and elected officials” and to serve in an “advisory and partnership capacity” to the City. I’m pleased that—after more than a year—the Mayor and Board of Aldermen are seriously considering NAC “revitalization” of these important vehicles for dialogue and involvement of residents. And I applaud the language in the Executive Summary prepared by the Communications Department workgroup asserting that:
“This City endeavors to utilize the NAC program in a way that works for the residents who choose to use it as a way to engage with local government, while understanding the additional needs and opportunities that exist for engaging other residents in different venues.”
My (possibly Pollyanna) interpretation of this statement is that the committee wishes to strengthen the NACs to improve/enhance their ability as well as reach out to residents who would like to be heard and involved—perhaps in ways other than the NAC structure. All good.
Given the limited space for comments, I have forwarded the remainder of my comments directly to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Thank you.
From Stella Sellner, Frederick MD
Dear BOA and Mayor O'Conner,
I am skeptical about the City’s commitment to the success of the NACs. When I first started attending NAC 11 meetings, developers came to them to present information about their project in the NAC and then listened to resident discussion about what was presented, answered questions, and interacted with the meeting participants. This has become a very important role for the NACs as development is accelerating in Frederick. The Land Management Code (Article 3, Section 301) explains exactly what the developer must do to satisfy the NAC notification and public input requirements. It refers to each NAC, not all NACs put together. With the monthly Citywide Planning Department Community Outreach Meeting, all City residents are given one powerpoint of all NAC projects by a City Planner and this completely does away with any interaction of residents with developers. Actually, there are no more discussions since the residents can only give a 3 minute, one way comment after each brief presentation. This type of meeting in no way fulfills the intentions and requirements of the LMC and the 2012 amended Resolution 12-05 which includes the NAC Guidelines. These guidelines separate development meetings from twice yearly Citywide NAC meetings. Why is it that residents who can’t attend the individual NAC 11 meetings can do so online and interact with the group at the meeting while the Citywide meeting only allows you to watch on Channel 99 and not be able to call with comments or questions? This to me shows that the City is not serious about allowing the NACs to function as intended. The NACs are a great asset to residents and the City and the City should be helping to strengthen them, not weaken them. Thank you.
As a reminder to all, the NACs (Resolution 08-87 as amended by Resolution 12-05) are intended to facilitate “regular communication among City residents, staff, and elected officials” and to serve in an “advisory and partnership capacity” to the City. I’m pleased that—after more than a year—the Mayor and Board of Aldermen are seriously considering NAC “revitalization” of these important vehicles for dialogue and involvement of residents. And I applaud the language in the Executive Summary prepared by the Communications Department workgroup asserting that:
“This City endeavors to utilize the NAC program in a way that works for the residents who choose to use it as a way to engage with local government, while understanding the additional needs and opportunities that exist for engaging other residents in different venues.”
My (possibly Pollyanna) interpretation of this statement is that the committee wishes to strengthen the NACs to improve/enhance their ability as well as reach out to residents who would like to be heard and involved—perhaps in ways other than the NAC structure. All good.
Given the limited space for comments, I have forwarded the remainder of my comments directly to the Mayor and Board of Aldermen. Thank you.
Marjorie Rosensweig
Citizen's Way