In the spring of 1997, the Mayor and Council of the City of Tucson initiated the Livable Tucson Vision Program to identify a long-term, community-driven vision for Tucson that would help to shape the city's budget and provide a framework for developing programs and services that address the real concerns of the community.
From Seattle to Jacksonville, communities across the country are starting to define a vision for their future that balances the needs of this generation without compromising the abilities of future generations to meet their needs. These "sustainable" cities are learning and demonstrating that balancing the economic, social, and environmental concerns of their communities can improve their quality of life and ensure a better future. Over 1,200 community members, business people, and city employees have participated in the program to date, laying the groundwork for the development of new and enhanced programs and services that will help bring us closer to the community's vision of a more Livable Tucson.
BACKGROUND
During the spring and summer of 1997, three public forums were held in each ward to engage the community in identifying a common vision and strategies for achieving a sustainable community. In addition to these ward forums, additional forums were held in the fall targeting businesses, youth, and Spanish speakers. An Internet site also gave citizens the opportunity to contribute their priorities, and City Council offices had bulletin boards for community input. Based on the thousands of comments that the community made, seventeen (17) key goals emerged. These goals embody the values and aspirations of the community to maintain and improve Tucson in the future. The next phase of the Livable Tucson Vision Program involved holding six workshops in the spring of 1998 to develop indicators of progress towards each of the 17 goals. Taken together, the indicators will form a community report card. For the latest Livable Tucson information, including a listing of the goals and indicators, visit the city's Web page at www.tucsonaz.gov/livable.
LIVABLE TUCSON TIES TO NATIONAL INITIATIVE
The Livable Tucson Vision Program closely aligns our community with the federal Livability Agenda for the 21st Century. In announcing the new initiative on January 11, 1999, Vice President Gore stated, "It is an initiative that will help us build more livable communities in which to raise our families - places where young and old can walk, bike, and play together; places where we not only protect historic old neighborhoods, but where farms, green spaces, and forests can add life and beauty to the newest of suburbs; places where we can work competitively, and still spend less time in traffic and more time - that most precious of commodities - for the families we really are - with our children, our spouses, our friends."
LIVABLE TUCSON TEAM
To continue the progress already made with the Livable Tucson program, and to expand the program further throughout the city organization and in the community, an interdepartmental Livable Tucson Team was formed in the fall of 1999. These city staff members meet on a regular basis to determine the next steps that must be taken to further the Livable Tucson goals. During the coming year, the team has three priorities: 1) refine the indicators and determine how indicator data can be gathered on a regular basis, 2) review current City of Tucson projects with a goal of determining how these projects could benefit from additional collaborations with other city departments and offices, as well as organizations outside of city government, and 3) determine strategies for communicating progress on Livable Tucson to the community.
