Meeting Type: BCC Regular Meeting
Meeting Date: 10/19/2021
Item Status: Addendum
From: Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop, Director of Public and Government Affairs
Submitted by: Katrina Taylor, Grants Coordinator
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ITEM TITLE
Title
National Association of Realtors Level 2 Smart Growth Grant Request
Body
STAFF RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
1) Confirm, ratify, and approve the submittal of the grant application for the National Association of Realtors Level 2 Smart Growth Grant in the amount of $5,000.00, said funds to be used to reimburse Baldwin County Commission for expenses related to the DesignVision workshop.
(Grant application was submitted by Baldwin Realtors electronically prior to Commission approval due to time constraints and submission deadline.)
2) Accept the National Association of Realtors Level 2 Smart Growth Grant in the amount of $5,000.00 from Baldwin Realtors.
End
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Previous Commission action/date: N/A
Background: The Level 2 Smart Growth Grant funds activities to engage in local land-use, growth and transportation issues with other stakeholders and elected officials which will have an impact on policies. These activities could include community planning and input sessions; development of a variety of growth and development plans, development of policies impacting growth, and studies and reports.
Description of the DesignVision process that will support Baldwin County:
DesignVision is a community visioning workshop held in partnership with Auburn University’s Urban Studio. These workshops are two-day, community-oriented visioning charrettes that fit into the fall curriculum of the Urban Studio. This process involves approximately 20-25 pre-identified community stakeholders (students, Main Street Board Members, city officials, etc.), a design team of students and a design professional who serves as facilitator. During the first day of each workshop, the community participants take part in a physical walk of the focus area(s) site and nearby areas to help understand context and connectivity of the site. The group then meets in a common area where our facilitator leads the community participants and students in the design conversation through a look at local history, community stories and small group activities. Ideas generated from the first day of the workshop are then fine-tuned by the team of students and facilitator the second day of Design Vision into drawings, renderings, and other ideas, which are presented to the community at the end of the second day in draft form. Students then take these draft materials and spend a few weeks fine tuning and further developing their ideas under the direction of their professors and the DesignVision facilitator. This process is meant to help architecture and planning students learn the ins and outs of working with community members, while fine tuning their design skills.
What are the benefits of DesignVision?
• An opportunity to engage community stakeholders in the planning and design process
• An introduction to and networking with Alabama design students and professionals who can help carry the ideas created during DesignVision moving forward
• Creation of an idea which can begin to rally a community together for future community development
• An introduction to DesignAlabama and its resources/partnerships
• A deliverable to the community will be a detailed report created by Urban Studio planning and design students
What are the costs associated with a Visioning Workshop?
• Provide lodging, meals, equipment, supplies for design team if necessary
• A commitment by the community to implement recommendations
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Total cost of recommendation: $5,000.00 in grant revenues
Budget line item(s) to be used: N/A
If this is not a budgeted expenditure, does the recommendation create a need for funding? N/A
LEGAL IMPACT
Is legal review necessary for this staff recommendation and related documents?
N/A
Reviewed/approved by: N/A
Additional comments: N/A
ADVERTISING REQUIREMENTS
Is advertising required for this recommendation? N/A
If the proof of publication affidavit is not attached, list the reason: N/A
FOLLOW UP IMPLEMENTATION
For time-sensitive follow up, select deadline date for follow up: N/A
Individual(s) responsible for follow up: Katrina Taylor: enter grant in Munis; Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop: submit final report
Action required (list contact persons/addresses if documents are to be mailed or emailed): cc: Ron Cink, Cian Harrison, Christie Davis, Katrina Taylor, Sherry-Lea Bloodworth Botop
Additional instructions/notes: N/A