Topic Area Work Plans:

Arts, Culture & Heritage

Business, Economy & Tourism

Communications & Technology

Health & Safety

Land Use

Recreation

Youth

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Vision 2020 is a community-based initiative involving Plumas County citizens in a grass-roots effort to form a vision of what Plumas County could be in the year 2020. The project is designed to develop a clear vision, a series of goals, expectations and actions which decision- makers, community groups and individuals can follow, and use to measure success and results.

Vision 2020 is a framework for the future of Plumas County. The goals include:

Vision 2020 addresses many aspects of our future quality of life including arts, culture and heritage; business, economy and tourism; communications and technology, community organization; community safety; education; environment; government; health; housing; infrastructure and transportation; natural resources; recreation and open space; and youth. Vision 2020 also addresses how to move the county towards achieving this vision.

Vision 2020 has received tremendous support from local government, community organizations and residents of Plumas County, who will all be invited to play a key role in implementing the vision.

This Vision 2020 will be updated annually, reflecting actions taken on key elements of the Vision. In addition, topic areas not previously developed will be explored, goals created and implementation plans made.

We hope that, as you read this, the goals of Vision 2020 will be clear, the commitment by those involved will be appreciated, their enthusiasm and concern for the future of Plumas County will be valued, and most of all, that you will wish to participate in planning the future of Plumas County. Please join us in planning the future!

Vision 2020 began as conversation around the kitchen table about changes taking place in 6ur community and the potential negative impacts to our unique quality of life in Plumas County. That led to continuing conversations about collaborative problem-solving and how to retain the uniqueness of Plumas County. A round-table of interested parties was formed and the process was begun. Project partners were identified and recruited from each of the five population centers in the county: Chester and Lake Almanor Basin; Indian Valley and the Feather River Canyon; Quincy and Meadow Valley; Mohawk Valley; and Portola and eastern Plumas County. The Steering Committee was formed to begin the planning process. In order not to duplicate previous assessments, a data report was compiled of every study and report done on Plumas County in the last 20 years.

The planning process involved defining fourteen areas of interest: arts, culture and heritage; business, economy and tourism; communications and technology, community organization; community safety; education; environment, government; health; housing, infrastructure and transportation; agriculture and natural resources; recreation and open space; and youth. Within each area of concern, leading questions were designed to identify directions and interests of the participants.

Community-based teams were formed to bring the Vision 2020 process into each comer of Plumas County. More than 30 community meetings were held throughout the county. Surveys were designed and distributed at locations around the county and mailed to part-time residents. More than 1000 completed surveys were completed and returned for compilation.

Detailed results from the community meetings and surveys were reviewed and discussed by the project partners and seven topic areas were identified based on those results:

A work group was formed to focus on each topic, using the data report and input from the meetings and surveys. In each topic area, a goal was identified that reflected the wishes, concerns and ideas of those who attended the community meetings and completed surveys.

These are the goals:

Each topic group was also asked to identify the strategies and activities, stakeholders, resources, barriers, outcomes, and evaluation of the strategies. Those strategies have been summarized in this report. A full text of the strategies and activities, stakeholders, resources, barriers, outcomes, and evaluation methods is also included here.

In 2001 five communities received funds for local priorities:

What's next? Topic groups will continue to refine their objectives and create action plans specific to each strategy. Each community will have the opportunity to receive training and resources to seek further funding to implement projects identified as local priorities in the Vision 2020. The core committee is committed to reviewing the goals and objectives annually for progress. That progress will be tracked using the following indicators:

Increased funding for arts education

More opportunities to participate in cultural and art activities

Increased number of heritage events and participation

Number of jobs increases when compared to population growth

Number of businesses operating in the county increases

Tourism dollars spent in the county increases

More people have access to high-speed technology

Access to internet in schools and public locations increases

Adequate emergency equipment and trained personnel available

People's perception of their safety increases

Availability of health care services through technology and telemedicine increases

Number of fire safe plans increases

Participation by local residents in land-use decision-making increases Perception that "quality of life" and "sense of belonging" by community members increases

Number of participants in recreational activities increases

Availability of facilities throughout the county for organized sports and free use increases

Quality and number of trails available for hiking, biking and horseback riding increases

A decreasing trend in alcohol, drug and tobacco consumption

Percentage of high school students taking SAT tests and achieving college-level scores increases

Percentage of children living in poverty declines

As we move forward with Vision 2020, the Core Committee is working hard to help interested community groups gain the skills and funding they need to implement goals and objectives. Leadership Teams are committed to assisting residents accomplish projects that are important to them, and will be offering skill building trainings throughout the county in 2002.

The plan for Vision 2020 in the years to come also includes annual review of the goals and objectives created during the planning phase of the project. The indicators listed in this report will be tracked, and changes/progress noted. Changes and amendments will be made to the Action Plans as more information is known, or progress made. Additionally, topics that were not addressed in the planning phase will be the focus of Action Planning efforts, as time and funding allows.

Communication with county decision-makers and the public is an important part of the Vision 2020 plan for the future. A written communication plan will be in place by early 2003, defining the frequency and modes of communication.