HISTORY

· 1996-1997: Applegate Valley Strategic Planning Process

· Winter ’96 - Summer ’97: Interested residents began action planning for an organization that would help us (Jackson County portion of the watershed) become more self-directed and have more say in issues that affect the quality of life in the Applegate. (Declaration, organization structure, neighborhoods & reps, Bylaws, first 4^{th of July celebration). See the May-June 1997 Applegator for details including a map and nomination form for Neighborhood Reps).}

· 1997-1998: Rural Unincorporated Planning Process (state-mandated). Outcome: changes to the Jackson County Comprehensive Plan (Ruch and Applegate sections added) and to the JaCo Land Development Ordinance for both the Applegate and Ruch cores. Both Applegate and Ruch communities include policies for improved citizen participation and communication between the county and the residents.

· May 15, 1997: First official meeting of the Applegate Valley Community Forum (AVCF). 13 of 18 represented neighborhoods voted to request JaCo Board of Commissioners’ recognition of the AVCF as the Citizens Advisory Committee (CAC) for the Applegate-Ruch Planning Area.

· May 30, 1997: Letter from Laurel Prairie-Kuntz, Planning Director, recognizing the AVCF as the successor to the previous CAC headed by Laura Ellis (Laura relinquished her long-held position in writing and gave the AVCF her blessings).

· December 18, 1997: AVDF Bylaws adopted as amended.

· 7/20/2000: Some additional Bylaws amendments.

DECLARATION of the Applegate Valley Community Forum and Council

The Applegate Valley’s natural beauty and resources have attracted a diverse group of individuals and families. In spite of the wide range of lifestyles, we share a desire to live and work in harmony with each other, in a manner which will protect our land and lifestyle now and in future generations.

The Applegate Valley Community Forum is being formed to increase local control over decisions which affect our valley.

WHAT WILL AVCF DO?

· Provide a forum for discussion of key issues (be our “town hall” meeting) such as: growth, development, jobs, land use, transportation, health care, education, recreation, water, resource protection, etc.

· Voice community concerns to county and state governments

· Influence decisions which affect our valley

· Work with other agencies and organizations for the benefit of our valley

· Gain recognition as the representative body for the Applegate Valley as specified by Statewide Land Uses Planning Goal 1: Citizen Involvement.

WHO IS THE AVCF?

You are the AVCF. All individuals who live, own property, or own and operate a business within the Jackson County portion of the Applegate watershed will have a vote at meetings. We will be as inclusive as possible, therefore if you are unable to attend a meeting, your voice can be heard through a system of proxy votes and neighborhood representatives.

HOW WILL THE AVCF BE STRUCTURED?

An elected council of neighborhood representatives will facilitate meetings. Decisions will be made by a vote of all community members who wish to participate, not just the council.

This council will consist of 23 community members. 18 will be elected to 2-year terms from their geographic neighborhoods. 5 will be elected for 3-year terms from the community “at-large”.

WHAT WILL THE APPLEGATE VALLEY COUNCIL DO?

· Anticipate events that affect our community

· Identify and prioritize issues (set agendas for Forum meetings)

· Gather information for decisions

· Seek out diverse opinions

· Facilitate decision-making process

· Record, announce and implement decisions when appropriate

· Represent community to other organizations

· Present the AVCF’s positions to decision makers

· Take actions to express the AVCF’s viewpoint

WHAT ARE THE RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD REPRESENTATIVES?

· Inform their neighbors of issues and meetings

· Present the viewpoints of their neighbors at meetings

· Attend Forum and other meetings

· Recruit an alternate from their neighborhood for back-up

· Help facilitate Forum meetings

· Organize a neighborhood phone tree or other appropriate communication method for their neighborhood

HOW WILL THE AVCF BE FUNDED?

The AVCF will NOT levy taxes or create a levy district.

The AVCF will be a non-profit corporation (501)(c)(3) which will obtain funds through grants, issue-based fundraising, donations and various levels of sponsorship.*

 

 

*Editor’s note: the Forum has never pursued non-profit status. We’ve felt we could ask to work under the Greater Applegate Community Development Corporation’s (GACDC) NPO status if we ever sought grants or had a project requiring NPO status. To date none of that has happened.

 

 

Pg/4/17/2003