A community engagement process is back, and this time the organization behind it is trying to envision what Eau Claire may look like into 2030.
Clear Vision Eau Claire started in 2007 as a way for people to have a voice in shaping what the city looks like by 2020. Now, the group is back at it for a second time and again is looking for community collaboration in shaping the future Eau Claire, said Vicki Hoehn, Clear Vision Eau Claire board member.
"If we can get the citizens of our community to collaborate and cooperate and talk to each other and find out what’s important to everyone, then I think that we have a better community to live in," said Hoehn.
More than 200 people participated in that initial visioning done through meetings.
One idea that came from the initial Clear Vision Eau Claire process is the Pablo Center at the Confluence, a performing arts center that opened this year.
Mike Huggins is a retired Eau Claire city manager and a founding member of Clear Vision Eau Claire. He said when the process started, community and government leaders found there were hurdles to finding agreement on big picture ideas for the city and it's worth continuing.
"I think that’s still a key central focus to Clear Vision: creating a space, bringing people together, building their skills to do a better job of solving problems and overcoming the fragmentation," Huggins said.
In addition to the performing arts center, Clear Vision is being credited with helping bring the Eau Claire Sculpture Tour to the city, expanding community gardens and its involvement in the ongoing Eau Claire Poverty Summit.
People are being asked to fill out a brief online survey which will help address the issues residents want to work on going forward. Face-to-face community meetings are planned for the first quarter of 2019.
