Here are Our Valley, Our Future action items that came from issues identified by the community
A community outreach campaign conducted by Our Valley Our Future in late 2015 received feedback from several thousand people (a survey of 1,550 residents, interviews of 35 community leaders, discussions at 50 meetings and events, and a community summit attended by 120 people). The community outreach found concern among residents about the region’s future in the face of rapid change and problems like poverty, housing costs and lack of good-paying jobs. Below are some of the key issues identified during the outreach campaign and a sampling of the Our Valley action items and “game-changer” major projects developed by residents to address these challenges. The lead partners have committed to championing these projects and programs and seeing them to fruition.
Pushing for greater collaboration
Our Valley has many governmental boundaries. Residents want duplication and competition in government decision-making to be eliminated as much as possible. Many consider “silos” to be the biggest obstacle and collaboration the key to future success. Residents want their leaders to get to work and to make things happen and to align their decisions with the community’s vision and values.
GAME-CHANGER: One Community
ACTION ITEMS:
Decide 2.1
Regional Water System
Analyze the status of the region’s existing water systems and explore potential changes that will improve the ability to serve the region as a whole.
Lead partners: East Wenatchee Water District, Chelan County PUD, City of Wenatchee, City of Rock Island
Decide 2.2
Regional Storm Water System
Analyze the status of the region’s existing stormwater systems and explore the possibility of merging the operation of these systems.
Lead partners: Douglas County, City of East Wenatchee, City of Wenatchee, Chelan County
Decide 2.3
Regional Sewer System
Analyze the status of the region’s existing sewer systems and explore potential changes that will improve the ability to serve the region as a whole.
Lead partners: Douglas County Sewer District, Chelan County PUD, City of Wenatchee, City of Rock Island
Decide 2.4
Second Water Source
Identify and evaluate a second water source in Our Valley.
Lead partner: Regional Water Coordinating Board
Decide 3.1
Forum for Civic Engagement and Civil Dialogue
Create an ongoing civic forum to promote increased civil discourse and participation in the region, where citizens can explore and discuss important issues confronting the community, decision makers can receive information and training in effective leadership, new or minority residents can find their civic voice, and youth can become more involved in community and public affairs.
Lead partner: Our Valley Our Future
Sustain 4.1
Regional Parks and Recreation Authority
Create a regional parks and recreation authority for Our Valley to gain more efficiency, cost-savings and cohesion among multiple jurisdictions now involved in the development, management and maintenance of parks.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee, Chelan County PUD, Eastmont Metropolitan Parks District
Adjusting to cultural changes
Our Valley’s demographics continue to change, mainly due to growth in the area’s Hispanic population, which represents 29 percent of the overall population in the two-county area today. While Latinos are finding their voices and becoming more visible and active in community affairs, the community as a whole recognizes a cultural divide exists between Anglos and Hispanics. At the same time, many residents also see cultural diversity as a strength and want greater collaboration between the cultures.
GAME-CHANGER: One Community
ACTION ITEMS:
Plan 3.3
South Wenatchee Improvements
Lead partner: City of Wenatchee
Plan 3.4
Latino Business and Cultural District
Lead partner: City of Wenatchee
Live 1.1
City Voting Districts
Encourage the City of Wenatchee to examine whether voting districts would remove barriers to equal cultural representation.
Lead partner: City of Wenatchee
Live 1.2
Civility Project
Engage Our Valley’s community members in a “civility project” that centers on showing respect for various cultures, minority groups and religions, and the sexual orientation and lifestyles of our residents and visitors.
Lead partners: Wenatchee Diversity Council, The Wenatchee World
Decide 4.1
Culturally Competent Leadership
Educate local political and community leaders around issues of cultural diversity and competency to better reflect and serve a diversifying population.
Lead partner: United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties
Decide 4.2
Immigrant Citizenship
Support and promote the pursuit of U.S. citizenship among immigrants in the region, encouraging their pursuit of civic education and active participation in local democracy.
Lead partner: Opportunity available
Decide 4.4
Chamber Affiliation
Encourage the NCW Hispanic Chamber of Commerce and the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce to affiliate.
Lead partners: NCW Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce
Planning as one community
There is no comprehensive land-use planning occurring between both sides of the Columbia River. Many residents want growth to occur in an orderly fashion and consider that vital in maintaining a good quality of life and in keeping taxes down. Wenatchee has little new developable land left and land costs are high because supply is constrained. In the East Wenatchee area, there is more developable land.
GAME-CHANGERS: One Community, Regional Housing Approach
ACTION ITEMS:
Plan 2.1
Mixed-Use Planning
Encourage mixed-use planning region wide, emphasizing higher density, pedestrian- and transit-friendly development in designated urban centers that is coordinated with regional transportation planning.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee and City of East Wenatchee
Plan 2.2
Downtown Residential
Promote and incentivize residential development in the region’s downtown urban
centers.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee, City of East Wenatchee, Wenatchee Downtown Association
Plan 5.1
Identify Regulatory Barriers Affecting Affordable Housing
Review development regulations to identify barriers to affordable housing and propose alternatives.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee, City of East Wenatchee
Plan 5.2
Incentives for Affordable Housing
Offer tax breaks and other incentives to builders and property owners to develop more affordable housing for middle- and lower-income earners.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee, City of East Wenatchee
Protecting and Enhancing our quality of life
Residents want Our Valley to come to terms with growth before development forces, including a feared large influx of new residents from the increasingly congested Puget Sound region, threaten to overrun us and damage our quality of life.
GAME-CHANGERS: One Community, Regional Housing Approach
ACTION ITEMS:
| Prosper 5.1
Small Town Community Culture |
Enhance and promote Our Valley’s small-town community culture through planning, marketing, tourism, community events and local volunteer programs.
Lead partners: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
Sustain 1.4
Local Ownership of Public Power
Maintain our region’s robust public power generation system and work to protect it from control by interests outside the region.
Lead partners: Chelan County PUD, Douglas County PUD
Sustain 2.1
Open Space Preservation
Incentivize and preserve Our Valley’s open spaces for their scenic and recreational values, and their diversity of native plants and wildlife.
Lead partners: Chelan-Douglas Land Trust, City of Wenatchee, City of East Wenatchee, Douglas County
Sustain 2.2
Orchard Preservation
Promote the continued viability and bucolic nature of Our Valley’s agricultural lands.
Lead partner: Opportunity available
Sustain 2.3
Improved Fish Habitat
Continue to improve and upgrade fish habitat on the Columbia River and Wenatchee River and their tributaries.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Watershed Planning Unit
Sustain 4.2
Trailhead Parking and Restrooms
Develop more trailheads with restrooms and adequate parking at the base of the Wenatchee Foothills.
Lead partner: Opportunity available
Live 2.3
Soccer Complex
Develop a large sports complex for use by local and visiting soccer teams for matches and tournaments.
Lead partner: Opportunity available
Live 2.7
New East Wenatchee Park
Design and develop a new park along Ninth Street in East Wenatchee to meet the needs of a growing population, and to improve recreational opportunities for those living in nearby underserved neighborhoods.
Lead partners: Eastmont Metropolitan Parks District, The Trust for Public Land
Attacking income and wage disparities
We have major income disparity in Our Valley. More than 30 percent of Our Valley’s households sit in poverty. A large number of jobs do not pay well, and in recent years, we have not seen much growth in professional or other good-paying jobs. Residents strongly favor economic growth and the creation of good-paying jobs. Going forward, we do not have a basis for middle-class life — including housing affordability — in Our Valley. To continue to grow as a community, we need to change these trends.
GAME-CHANGERS: Technology & Innovators Hub, Alleviation of Generational Poverty, Regional Housing Approach
ACTION ITEMS:
Prosper 1.1
Assets and Resources Inventory
Inventory major assets and resources for strengthening and diversifying the region’s economy, as well as barriers that work against business and industry development efforts. Include quality of life assets in the work.
Lead partners: Port of Douglas County, Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Port of Chelan County
Prosper 4.1
Economic Gardening Program
Create an Economic Gardening Program that will support businesses in Our Valley to grow, assisting them in accessing outside markets, adding new jobs, and connecting to the resources necessary to manage and support their growth.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Valley College Center for Entrepreneurship
Prosper 4.2
Makers Space
Develop a Makers Space where innovators and entrepreneurs can work on projects, share resources and network. Look to open the Makers Space in a strategic location for youth to easily access. Secure funding and qualified volunteers to run quality programs.
Lead partners: Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, North Central Regional Library System
Prosper 4.9
Broadband-Based Businesses
Target and attract companies and businesses requiring accessible, fast and reliable broadband services.
Lead partners: Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
Prosper 4.12
‘Spillover’ Technology Businesses
Target and attract “spillover” high technology businesses and start-ups from larger, more crowded metropolitan areas in the West seeking less congested settings in which to grow their companies.
Lead partners: Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
Realizing new economic opportunities
Residents want Our Valley to capitalize further on its assets, such as the agriculture, outdoor recreation, natural resources, cultural diversity, and the public power system, and to add new technology, infrastructure, facilities and businesses to spur growth in those sectors. From an economic standpoint, many residents believe we have barely tapped the potential of these key community assets.
GAME-CHANGERS: Technology & Innovators Hub, Regional Trails Organization
ACTION ITEMS:
Prosper 3.3
Job Creation Based on Innovation
Support the creation of new jobs linked to innovation, research and development based on the region’s existing local resources and opportunities they present.
Lead partners: Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
Prosper 4.3
Local Venture Capital
Develop venture capital funds to support the development of outdoor recreation, technology and other emerging businesses.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce
Prosper 4.6
Tree Fruit Investment and Research and Development
Expand Our Valley’s status as the investment and research and development center for the tree fruit industry.
Lead partner: WSU Tree Fruit Research Center
| Prosper 5.3
Outdoor Recreation Destination |
Capitalize on the region’s outdoor recreation resources as a way to attract businesses, professionals and tourists.
Lead partners: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce, Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
| Prosper 5.5
Culinary Destination |
Establish Our Valley as a major ‘farm-to-table’ food destination, highlighting the bounty of the region and attracting food writers and visitors.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce
Prosper 5.6
Waterfront Destination
Accelerate development of Our Valley’s waterfronts on both sides of the Columbia River into major tourist attractions and destinations.
Lead partners: City of Wenatchee, City of East Wenatchee, Port of Douglas County, Port of Chelan County
Plan 3.2
Craft Brewery District
Develop, promote and market a craft brewery district in Our Valley that features local brewers and attracts both local residents and visitors.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Valley Brewing Co.
Sustain 4.6
Mission Ridge Expansion
Develop a small village of homes, beginner terrain and cross-county ski trails on private property that Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort purchased adjacent to the existing ski area.
Lead partner: Mission Ridge Ski & Board Resort
Improving our education offerings
Residents believe more needs to be done to improve the education system. This includes improving early learning and technical learning, building new school facilities, and developing more higher education opportunities. Many believe having an institution of higher-education, one that complements Wenatchee Valley College, will be a boon to the economy and our quality of life, and will allow children who grow up here to remain here.
GAME-CHANGERS: Early Childhood Learning, Graduate Research Center
ACTION ITEMS:
Prosper 2.1
Career and Technical Education Programs
Work with local K-12 schools, Wenatchee Valley College, job training programs and other organizations to expand and strengthen career and technical education opportunities.
Lead partner: North Central Educational Service District
Prosper 2.2
Career and Technical Education Job Link
Create a career and technical education hub that develops and models innovative approaches linking career and technical education with job creation and placement. This hub should focus on specific careers and mentoring should be a large component.
Lead partner: Wenatchee Valley College
Learn 1.1
New School Facilities
Finance and construct new school facilities incorporating state-of-the-art programs and technology in needed locations to meet the demands of a growing population.
Lead partners: Wenatchee School District, Eastmont School District
Learn 1.2
Modernized Wenatchee Public Library Facility
Renovate or rebuild the Wenatchee Public Library to meet the growing needs of Our Valley and its changing population, specifically addressing the integration of new technology, community education programs, and community meeting spaces.
Lead partner: Friends of the Wenatchee Public Library
Learn 3.1
Awareness of College and Career Pathways
Build awareness in Our Valley of pathways to college and career readiness through training and education.
Lead partner: North Central Educational Service District, Wenatchee Valley Chamber of Commerce
Learn 3.3
Museum/Library Based Makers/Hands-on Programming
Expand and make sustainable current makerspace programs for students, as well as secure funding and qualified volunteers to run quality programs.
Lead partners: Wenatchee Valley Museum & Cultural Center, North Central Regional Library System
Learn 3.4
STEM Programs
Support the development of top-level STEM (science, technology, engineering, math) programs in the region.
Lead partners: North Central Educational Service District, Apple STEM Network
Decide 3.2
Town Hall Series
Develop a Town Hall Series that brings authors, experts and innovators to our region, stretches our minds and imaginations around new ideas and information, and discusses different structures and systems that could be relevant to regional challenges and opportunities.
Lead partners: North Central Regional Library, KOHO Radio, Our Valley Our Future, Wenatchee Valley College, Numerica Performing Arts Center, Snowy Owl Theater
Ensuring our youth bubble succeeds
While we have a big youth bubble in Our Valley, our youth poverty rates are very high and many young people lack upward mobility. This also creates an enormous drain on social services. This generation could be an enormous asset to the Valley – if they develop into a good workforce and successful entrepreneurs.
GAME-CHANGERS: Early Childhood Learning, Alleviation of Generational Poverty, Technology & Innovators Hub
ACTION ITEMS:
Live 2.1
Year-Round and After-Hours Activities for Families and Children
Develop an inventory of year-round and after-hours activities in Our Valley and research best practices in these areas in order promote more and better activities in the community.
Lead partner: Coalition of Children and Families
Live 3.2
Boys & Girls Club
Develop a new Boys & Girls Club in Our Valley.
Lead partners: Boys and Girls Club of Brewster, Brian Paine, Malaga Colockum Community Council
Live 3.3
Youth Job Opportunities
Support initiatives that help local businesses connect young people with the world of work, including local employment options, needs and
opportunities.
Lead partner: WorkSource
Live 4.1
Gang Activity
Enhance efforts to reduce area gangs and to provide alternatives to gang activity for vulnerable populations and potential gang members.
Lead partners: Local law enforcement agencies
Live 5.3
Poverty Reduction
Strengthen regional programs to address the causes and symptoms of poverty, especially as it impacts families and children.
Lead partner: United Way of Chelan and Douglas Counties
Learn 2.1
Workforce Needs Assessment
Complete a workforce needs assessment with the major employers in Our Valley that will guide our school districts and higher education institutions in developing programs to educate and train students to meet those workforce needs.
Lead partner: Express Employment Professionals
Learn 5.2
Youth Driven Ideas, Projects & Initiatives
Support youth driven ideas, projects and initiatives with coordination and funding and scholarships.
Lead partner: Opportunity available
Creating climate resiliency
Water availability is an issue and future water shortages are a distinct probability. The number and intensity of wildfires is increasing. Drought, water shortages, and wildfires create uncertainties. Regional solutions are needed because drought and fire do not respect jurisdictional boundaries.
GAME-CHANGER: One Community
ACTION ITEMS:
Sustain 3.1
Long-term Wildfire Recovery initiative
Develop strategies to mitigate damage from summer wildfires and smoke. Foster a fire adoptive community. Be proactive in fire management. Increase awareness and education.
Lead partner: Cascadia Conservation District
Sustain 3.2
Healthy Forests and Wildland-Urban Interface
Improve efforts to keep our forests and wildland-urban interface healthy to reduce the threat of wildfires.
Lead partner: Cascadia Conservation District
Sustain 3.3
Small Diameter Thinning of Overgrown Forests
Address Our Valley’s overgrown, unhealthy, wildfire susceptible forests by utilizing small diameter mechanical thinning methods, leaving large strong trees standing, vastly improving forest health, and creating jobs in forestry, manufacturing and energy generation.
Lead partner: The Wildfire Project
Sustain 3.4
Regional Emergency Operations Center
Establish a full-service emergency operations center in a permanent location.
Lead partners: Chelan County Sheriff’s Office, Chelan County Emergency Management
Decide 2.4
Second Water Source
Identify and evaluate a second water source in Our Valley.
Lead partner: Regional Water Coordinating Board
Creating more travel options
Residents are increasingly calling for a better transportation system. Options are limited for getting “in” and “out” of Our Valley. Air service is inconvenient at times, limited to just a few flights a day and only between Wenatchee and Seattle. There is no freeway link to Interstate 90 or the Puget Sound region. Traffic congestion is growing in the Wenatchee area’s north and south bottlenecks. Infrastructure for alternative forms of transportation is lacking.
GAME-CHANGER: One Community
ACTION ITEMS:
Plan 1.2
Our Valley I-90 Link
Explore improved connectivity between the Wenatchee Valley to Interstate 90, including a new highway link.
Lead partner: Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council
Plan 1.4
Confluence Parkway
Begin planning and development for a new Confluence Parkway in north Wenatchee, facilitating connections with existing routes, alleviating local traffic congestion and commuter traffic, enhancing regional commerce and distribution, and minimizing environmental impacts.
Lead partner: Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council
Plan 1.6
Expanded Airline Service
Expand airline carriers and service at Pangborn Memorial Airport, including direct flights to other cities in addition to Seattle.
Lead partner: Pangborn Memorial Airport Board
Plan 4.1
Complete Streets
Promote the “Complete Streets” concept in Our Valley, developing more streets that safely accommodate pedestrians, cars, bikes, delivery vehicles and public transit.
Lead partner: Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council
Plan 4.2
Expanded & Improved Public Transit
Expand and improve public transit in the region, providing more transit stops, greater frequency of service, and improved connections to major employment centers, increasing commuter options.
Lead partner: Link Transit
Plan 4.3
Bike Lanes and Bike Trails
Develop more bike lanes and bike trails throughout Our Valley.
Lead partners: Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council, Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee
Plan 4.4
Electric Vehicle Infrastructure
Promote the development of electric vehicle infrastructure and tourism in our communities.
Lead partners: Economic Development District of NCW, Plug-In NCW
Plan 6.2
Bicycle Amenities and Information
Develop new bicycle amenities and related information to promote and support the use of bicycles, including bike racks at local businesses, coordinated information on bike routes and maps, and
bike information in visitor packets.
Lead partners: Regional Bicycle Advisory Committee, Wenatchee Valley Velo Club
