10/03/09 Mesa LTD Class
“Responsible Growth & Development”

Mesa LTD’s October class occurred in a large, comfortable conference room located at Salt River Project’s East Valley Service Center and, in addition to supplying meeting space, SRP generously provided breakfast and lunch for everyone.

The day’s topic “Responsible Growth & Development” was introduced by having the class identify a Mesa area they knew best and decide if the area exhibited qualities of responsible growth.  

Knowledgeable speakers provided interesting and thought provoking viewpoints on the topic.

• Christine Zielonka (City of Mesa) - "Impact Fees -- the Contribution of Development"

• Art Jordan - Valley Forward

• Lori Singleton (SRP) - "Earth-wise Energy"

• Dave Richins - Sonoran Institute

Class members Leo Archer, Armando Espinoza and Cliff Richeson made presentations on the three potential class projects identified during September’s class to research.  After much discussion and question answering, the attendees chose the “2010 Census” as their project.  Armando, who introduced the idea, accepted the assignment to draft the concept and time schedule to review prior to and during their November meeting.

In the afternoon, teams were formed to review a proposed development from Planning & Zoning using the developer’s, community’s and government’s different perspectives.  The end-result goal was to implement responsible growth ideas through collaboration.  Each team then made a report to the entire group on the decisions they had made.

Every year, the Mesa LTD class chooses three members to represent them.  This year Leo Archer, (Class Representative), Sally Harrison (Social), and K. Charles Phillips (Historian) were selected by the class to serve in those capacities.