Winter 2001
PLANS: Tulare County Links Livability and Economic Development
 Harrison
Rue of Citizen Planner, Inc. came to Tulare County in December
to conduct workshops on involving community members in creating
more livable communities. Specifically, the workshops focused
on the tools for conducting a “charrette” or community
design workshop.
Hosted by the City of Visalia and sponsored by the Tulare County
Redevelopment Agency and the LGC, the workshop for 25 local government
staff and elected officials included numerous exercises for engaging
residents and businesses to revitalize their neighborhood and
communities.
 Rue
spent the next day in workshops and presentations with the communities
of Cutler and Orosi. One highlight was a pedestrian audit of both
cities with members of a local high school leadership group. The
youths identified many trouble spots for pedestrians and made design
suggestions to improve traffic safety.
Rue’s visit was one in a series of community visioning
events for Cutler and Orosi sponsored by the Tulare County Redevelopment
Agency to help develop an economic strategic plan for the two
towns. The agency has asked the LGC and Community Services Education
and Training, Inc. to provide assistance with community education
and visioning. The work is being funded with redevelopment tax
increment funds, in cooperation with the County through CDBG grants
and a Great Valley Center grant.
In September, LGC brought pedestrian and livable communities
expert Dan Burden of Walkable Communities, Inc. to Cutler-Orosi.
According to Burden, making Cutler-Orosi safer for pedestrians
and bicyclists will not only make it a more livable place it will
also strengthen its economy.
For details: Jim Brown, Tulare County Redevelopment Agency,
(559) 733-6291 or Steve Hoyt, LGC, (916) 448-1198.
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