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Home My Public Portal AboutComm. Vision 98 Final ReportCOMMUNITYVISION '98 A Citizen's Discussion of McCall's Future Final Report Wednesday, January 14,1998 COMMUNITYVISION '98 Table of Contents 1.Summary Report 2. Survey Results: ❖ Part 1 - Basic Data ❖Part 2 Opinion Data 3.Discussion Papers A special thanks go out to the Shore Lodge, for providing the facilities; KMCL, for donating advertising; The facilitators, for donating their time and expertise: * Kirk Hall * Phil Feinberg * Jim Fronk * Scott Acker * Bonni Shikrallah * Dave Eaton * Julie Eddins * Cutler Umbach * Kathy Showers * Linda Heiter And to all the participants, for sharing their thoughts and ideas. This report was compiled by Andy Locke, City of McCall Planning &t Zoning Administrator. If you are interested in learning more about CommunityVision, or the McCall Area Comprehensive Plan Update, please contact Andy at the following address: City of McCall P.O. Box 986 McCall, ID 83638 (208) 634-7142 e-mail: planner@mccall.id.us i ,f COMMUNITYVISION '98 MCCALL, IDAHO - JANUARY 14,1998 • What is CommunityVision '98? CommunityVision is based on the idea that by bringing people together in an informal environment, we can strengthen the bonds and common -unity that each of us share. It is an exercise in which citizens of varying backgrounds and ideologies take the opportunity to engage in face to face discussions about issues important to them. Trained facilitators moderate the discussions and ensure that everyone is heard. On January 14th, 1998, over 110 residents gathered at the Shore Lodge to participate in McCall's first f CommunityVision meeting - CommunityVision '98. The idea was to With so much change, it's no wonder allow citizens to speak about issues that most impact them, and to see if any common themes emerged. In a community as socially diverse as McCall, you would expect lively discussion. But we also heard a considerable amount of consensus. Why are we doing this? The boom years of the early '90's may have passed, but McCall continues to see considerable growth. Between 1990 and 1996, the population of McCall jumped by 43%, from 2,005 to 2,876. Valley County is the 4th fastest growing in the state (which is one of the fastest growing in the nation). In 2015, McCall's population is expected to be somewhere around 4,250. On top of this, the McCall Area Comprehensive Plan has had only a minor change (in 1979) since it was first adopted in 1974. Things have changed r. • dramatically since then. The Lumber Mill closed more than 10 years ago, and the population of Valley County has almost tripled. Our employment base has shifted from manufacturing and natural resource extraction to predominantly tourism and related services. The economic and social realities of McCall have changed considerably since 1974. In fact, more than 80% of the participants in CommunityVision '98 didn't live here in 1974. New development in McCall is following guidelines based on conditions that no longer exist, and not agreed to by the people who live in McCall now. that McCall citizens are divided over issues such as signs, snowmobiles, and new development. We don't have an outline or mission statement that reflects existing conditions and the citizen's desire of the future. Using CommunityVision '98, and other forums of a similar nature, we can map out our future. If we, as a community, fail to take charge of our own destiny, others will. Who participated in CommunityVision '98 In an effort to include as many people as possible, we held two sessions of CommunityVision '98, one during the day and one in the evening. Participants were self selected, that is, they made a conscious choice to attend. Thus, they have expressed a greater than average interest in the shape of McCall's future. Though we had good social, age and 1 economic diversity, the partcipants and survey results may not be representative of the community at large. A more comprehensive survey, based in part on these findings, will be forthcoming. Some statistics about CommunityVision '98 Participants: • 28% live downtown (broadly defined), 23% live east of town (Evergreen Subdivision, Spring Mtn. Ranch, etc.) • 68% live in McCall City, and 75% work in McCall City. • 45% came here from Idaho (some, though very few, grew up in McCall), 20% from California, 8% from Washington, 6% each from Oregon, Utah and the Midwest. • 30% have lived here less than 5 years, 24% for 6-10 years, and 25% for 11 to 20 years. • Ages ranged from 13 to over 70, and 33% were between 36 and 45, and 20% between 46 and 55. • 70% are married, 20% single, and 10% divorced. • 29% are involved in professional services, 23% retired, and 16% own a business or are self-employed. • 66% have children, either living with them or grown. • Income ranges were evenly spread, with 24% having a family income of $30,000 to $40, 000. • 32% have thought about leaving McCall, 68% have not. Discussion Topics Tops on nearly every group's list was "growth control" and maintaining both the physical and cultural attributes of McCall as we grow; a desire to maintain our parks and open space, as well as access to recreational opportunities; diversifying the economy, improving infrastructure and creating a pedestrian friendly downtown. Mixing it up: Diversity in McCall is good When discussing the strengths of McCall and why they love this place, participants consistently recognized our diversity (primarily social >:t ideological). The diversity McCall now enjoys lends itself to the sense that McCall is a "real" community. Unlike places such as Aspen, Sun Valley £t Park City, we aren't "glitzy." There are people here doing ordinary jobs and leading normal lives. We of course have the privilege of leading our 2 "ordinary" lives in an extraordinary place. Participants made it very clear that as McCall grows and changes, we need to maintain and encourage this diversity. Almost all of those who recognized diversity as a strength of McCall also viewed it as a weakness. On any given issue, you're likely to find an equal number of citizens on each side. This. provokes debate, but makes finding and implementing solutions difficult. As difficult as diversity is to deal with, CommunityVision '98 participants felt that the benefits far outweighed the costs. Making it in McCall: The Economy When asked why they might leave McCall, participants most often cited economic or financial opportunities, or the tack thereof (warmer weather was popular too). Although only 31 % percent of the participants had thought of leaving McCall, this is an indicator that our economic opportunities need a boost. Consensus among participants was that we need to extend McCall's economy beyond tourism. The types of industry most commonly desired or suggested were: • Technology/telecommunications related • Small (up to 20 employees), clean industry • Higher education (specifically, a Junior College or the like) • Support for "Lone Eagles" - people living here and doing business elsewhere via telecommunications equipment • Year-round employment with stable wages Participants favored taking advantage of the natural surroundings of McCall to attract businesses and entrepreneurs that don't need specific infrastructure needs, other than telecommunications. Such businesses can attract employees seeking the quality of life that McCall provides. The desire to maintain McCall's high quality of life came through in the types of industries and employment opportunities that participants favored. Industries should be environmentally friendly (since that's the reason most of us live here) and capitalize on our recreational opportunities. Popular among one group was attracting companies that produce outdoor recreational goods. In group discussion, there was some disagreement over whether the city should actively recruit business and industry. Survey results indicated that 61% favor using city funds for economic development (business Et industry attraction). When asked whether the city should spend tax money on attracting tourism, respondents were split 50.6% to 49.4%. However, discussions found support for making economic development and diversification a responsibility of the private sector. Survey results offered a mixed message regarding shopping opportunities in McCall. Results show that 74% of participants often shop downtown, while 26% do so seldomly. However, 63% also frequently travel to a different town to shop (overwhelmingly Boise, but occasionally Ontario, OR). This appears to indicate that although residents routinely shop in McCall, they must travel to Boise to satisfy either price or variety needs. As we travel to Boise and Ontario for shopping, residents of those cities travel to McCall for recreation. Most participants reluctantly accept that McCall's economy relies on tourism. In fact, 68% felt that we rely too heavily on tourism. Consensus among participants was that we need to extend McCall's economy beyond tourism. Interestingly, although participants indicated that we rely too heavily on tourism, most felt that the number of summer visitors was about right, while we need more in the winter. Some groups discussed the need for smoothing out the spikes in visits, citing the overwhelming Winter Carnival crowds. Generally, what participants were saying is that, yes, we rely too heavily on tourism. However, we need to increase our tourism base and diversify our Com m unityVisio Discussion Topics Economic Development n '98 ■ 68;i� thought McCall relies too heavily on tourism. Diversity the Economy by attracting: Junier Cellere Value mem Uuidoei I ir•:ni�.ui 1lauutietuicrs l Ieeeni univate i; Related lmhe,tries Clem] Letim2e Indic>ine. 3 economy, thereby reducing our reliance on a single industry. Tourism Fr McCall's Economy Tourism is a broadly used term in McCall. It can refer to the day visitor walking around McCall or skiing or sitting on the beach. Some refer to people who own second homes in McCall as tourists. A broad way to view "tourism", and one that I will use in this section, is to consider it as providing goods and services to those who don't live here on a permanent basis, and come to McCall on pleasure, not business. As noted in the discussion of McCall's economy, we are leery of tourism's rote in our lives. We think we rely too heavily upon it, but we want more of it. A common theme that emerged in many groups was that we should create an environment that focuses on the needs of the people who live here. If we like it, visitors similar to us will like it. Part of this is taking a step back every once in a while and making sure that we like what we see. Housing Prices Not So Bad Most of the focus groups brought up affordable housing, often while talking about overall affordability in McCall. While they noted a growing concern over the gap between income and housing prices, most didn't feel that it was a major concern. One consideration is that 86% of the participants owned their home, indicating some level of ability to meet the housing prices of McCall. When responding to the survey, participants expressed a more active interest in affordable housing. 80% favored the creation of a city sponsored commission to investigate affordable housing. Most didn't like the idea of rent control (77%) or subsidized housing (68%). However, they did like the idea of accessory apartments (apartment above the garage or "granny flat"). Support was split over whether subdivision developers should supply affordable housing. Leadership, Empowerment & Getting Others involved Nearly everyone at CommunityVision '98 felt that they could make difference in what kind of place McCall will become. McCall is a community with an active citizenry, capable of effecting change in even the most heated controversies. Participants did lament, however, that it's always the same people getting involved, and that the risk for burn -out runs high. Though participants didn't necessarily mistrust city leadership, they cited three areas in which the city government needed to improve: informing the public; accountability; and enforcement. Leadership didn't focus solely on CommunityVision '98 Survey Results We had tourists over the last two winters too few - 39.15 right amount - 48.3% too many - 12.6% We had tourists over the last two summers too few - right amount - too many - 22.1' Overall, participants felt that tourism can be a benefit to McCall - if it's done right. That is, it focuses on the locals and the city actively plans for it. One group came up with a formula: low regulation + tourism = sprawl. There was a sense that if we don't implement effective controls, tourism will leave McCall with a case of urban blight. National Park "gateway" communities, such as Columbia Falls, MT, and Bryson City, NC, demonstrate this. 4 government. It also was extended to all citizens. Various groups throughout the community should coordinate better, as there was the perception that different groups are working toward the same goal, separately. Sense of Community Common among almost all of the discussions was McCall's "sense of community." This delightful sounding word gets at the root of why we live here: comfort and a sense of belonging among neighbors. This sense of community is manifest in the simple acts of holding the Post Office door open for the person behind you, saying hi to people you pass on the street and stopping to make conversation. All of these things put us at ease as we go about our daily routines, and make McCall home. Growth Control & Maintaining our Quality of Life Growth control was the number one topic of discussion, with all groups bringing it up at some point. Growth control is not "no growth" (only 37% favored limiting the number of building permits issued), but rather, finding a way to maintain the qualities that make McCall special as we grow. Participants felt inevitable, and that we prepared for it. The biggest concern voiced by participants was a fear that environmental quality will decline as our population increases. Another concern was that commercial development is shifting toward the airport. This same concern was raised when considering both the Deinhard Lane Extension and the future Highway 55 By-pass. A recurring theme throughout CommunityVision '98 was our love -hate relationship with regulations. We like clean takes and rivers, forested mountains, open spaces, and a cohesive urban environment. To maintain these attributes, we reluctantly give up some of our personal freedoms. It's the Environment McCall citizens consistently rate environmental quality among their greatest concerns. After all, the natural environment is the top reason for moving to McCall. 63% of CommunityVision '98 participants moved here because of the environment. 58% and 44% moved here for the recreation and open space, respectively. Although we moved here for these natural attributes, participants noted that we have atendency CommunityVision '98 Growth Management Do you favor or oppose charging developers impact fees for the following: Open Space .......- Recreation h Parks ' Water & Sew,r Roads Schools :......... . 0l 20 % 40 % 60% 80 % 100 % - Only 37% favor a cap on building permits; 575b,; opposed a Real Estate Transfer Tax - 97% thought Open Space preservation was important enough to pay for. that growth was need to be to take peace and quiet of this beautiful area for granted. The beauty of McCall is truly "stunning." Throughout their discussions, participants made it very clear that McCall's physical environment is the asset. When a McCaller shows off his/her hometown to a visitor, invariably the first thing they point out is the lake 5 and surrounding mountains. This theme carried through when participants drew maps of how they envision McCall. Consistently, Payette Lake dominated the map, with rivers and Brundage Mountain also prominently displayed. More often than not, participants saw McCall in context with Valley County and the surrounding area. Open space preservation was a high priority for participants, even if they had to pay for it. Citizens want to preserve our open spaces both within the city, and throughout the Long Valley corridor. Simply being able to look at the Open Environment Why did you Move to McCall? 0% resources also received support in the 90% to 95% range. Aesthetics £t Community Design The third most commonly discussed issue among groups, along with economic diversification and infrastructure improvement, was a desire to create a pedestrian friendly downtown. This includes a network of wide sidewalks and redirection of truck traffic. Participants also spoke of improving the aesthetic appeal of McCall: maintaining parks, undergrounding utility lines, providing sidewalks (also a safety concern) throughout downtown and connecting Lardo with the Deinhard area (through downtown). io% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% Participants 64% sounded off on 58% how McCall looks, stressing both the natural and built environment. Many were concerned that our 31% view of the lake is in jeopardy. Overwhelmingly, participants expressed distaste for McCall embracing a "theme." They liked the neat and orderly 12% appearance of towns like Leavenworth, Washington, but not because of a theme. Instead, the attraction came from a neat and orderly appearance. When you look down the street, it makes sense. One of the CommunityVision '98 exercises asked participants to list other towns they liked and why they liked them. In the process, several groups noted that the reason they liked these other towns was because of the way they looked. One group considered the role of aesthetics in creating a stress free environment. The idea is that if what you are looking at doesn't make sense or fit with its surroundings, your stress level rises. Also, advertising and loud colors tend to demand your attention. Participants felt that how a city looks has Recreation Open Space 45% Job Sense of Community Safety fili.111111111111.111 25% Family filliall..1111 21% Economic Oppty. 18% Raised 39% Schools El 3% spaces was not good enough for participants. They also recognized the need for greater public access to recreational opportunities and the lake. Providing a boardwalk along the lakefront downtown was brought up by two groups and received broad support. One participant summed up the theme perfectly: "less asphalt, more parks." Participants were interested in active protection of our natural environment. 97% thought that developers of new subdivisions should be required to provide open space and preserve environmentally sensitive areas. City protection of natural 6 a direct impact on how people will react, both residents and visitors. As a means of creating an aesthetically appealing city, several groups discussed design review requirements. Participants didn't want a single look, but instead wanted McCall to look "nice." What "nice" means to everyone, we will need to determine. Essentially, participants called for stronger regulations than we currently have, but with lots of public involvement. Participants didn't particularly like regulations, but recognized their need. Emerging themes from CommunityVision '98 (not necessarily consensus): • We Love McCall and are concerned about what growth will do to it • Diversify the economy • Attract secondary (college) or other educational institutions • Keep it affordable • City prioritize actions • Preserve Open Space and Environmental Quality - that's why .we live here • Beautification Ft Sidewalks - McCall should be more pedestrian friendly • McCall isn't a theme town, we just want it to look "nice" • Design review is good • Need for tighter regulation, reluctantly • Better enforcement • Sense of Community • Recreation - maintain and improve opportunities • Problems trusting City Government - need for better communication • Focus recreation programs on children • Improve public access to Payette Lake and other recreational opportunities • Ban big -box construction (Costco, Wal-Mart, etc.) • Coordinate Planning between McCall Et Valley County Concluding Remarks CommunityVision '98 provided McCall citizens with an opportunity to come out and talk about community issues. Participants were able to openly discuss the issues that matter most to them, in an open, public forum, and with people with whom they don't normally interact. There were no impending ordinances or actions by a public agency, so the pressure was off. The 'city' was there to listen, and the citizens spoke. Above all, participants of CommunityVision '98 demonstrated their willingness to roll up their sleeves, get involved, and make difference. And probably most important, they were able to experience a piece of the wonderful community we call McCall. 7 Value Label Value Label COMMUNITYVISION '98 - JANUARY 14, 1998 PARTICIPANT SURVEY, Part I 1. Area You Live In (Downtown, Rio Vista, Spring Mountain Ranch, Warren Wagon Rd, etc. valid Cum value Label value Frequency Percent Percent Percent warren wagon 1 7 7.3 7.4 7.4 Lardo/Rio vista 2 12 12.5 12.8 20.2 Southwest (Pine Terr 3 4 4.2 4.3 24.5 Downtown 4 26 27.1 27.7 52.1 East (SMR, Evergreen 5 22 .22.9 23.4 75.5 Southeast (Farm to M 6 12 12.5 12.8 88.3 Northeast (Carico) 7 7 7.3 7.4 95.7 Eastside Drive 8 2 2.1 2.1 97.9 Other 9 2 2.1 2.1 100.0 2 2.1 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 2. How Long Have You Lived In the McCall Area? valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Perceni 1 year or less 2 4 9.8 98 1 to 2 years 4 4.4.3 1. 2 to 5 years 3 15 15.6 16.3 30.4 6 to 10 years 4 22 22.9 23.9 54.3 11 to 20 years 5 23 24.0 25.0 79.3 21 to 30 years 6 9 9.4 9.8 89.1 More than 30 years 7 10 10.4 10.9 100.0 4 4.2 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 3. Where Did You Move From? City State Valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Perceni Idaho 1 41 42.7 45.1 45.1 California 2 18 18.8 19.8 64.8 Washington 3 7 7.3 7.7 72.5 Utah 4 5 5.2 5.5 78.0 Wyoming 5 1 1.0 1.1 79.1 Oregon 6 5 5.2 5.5 84.6 East 7 2 2.1 2.2 86.8 South 8 1 1.0 1.1 87.9 Southwest 9 3 3.1 3.3 91.2 Midwest 10 5 5.2 5.5 96.7 Other 11 2 2.1 2.2 98.9 Colorado 12 1 1.0 1.1 100.0 5 5.2 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 value Label value Label 4. Your Age ; Single Married Divorced Valid Cum Value Label value Frequency Percent Percent Percenl Less than 18 years o 1 8 8.3 9.1 9.1 18 to 25 years old 2 2 2.1 2.3 11.4 26 to 35 years old 3 6 6.3 6.8 18.2 36 to 45 years old 4 29 30.2 33.0 51.1 46 to 55 years old 5 18 18.8 20.5 71.6 56 to 65 years old 6 15 15.6 17.0 88.6 More than 66 years o 7 10 10.4 11.4 100.0 8 8.3 Missing value Label Single Married Divorced Total 96 100.0 100.0 Valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Percenl 1 18 18.8 19.6 19.6 2 64 66.7 69.6 89.1 3 9 9.4 9.8 98.9. 4 4.2 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 5. Your Profession valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Percenl Retail Sales 1 2 2.1 2.2 2.2 Professional Service 2 27 28.1 29.0 31.2 Medical 3 4 4.2 4.3 35.5 Labor 4 3 3.1 3.2 38.7 Retired 5 21 21.9 22.6 61.3 Secretary 6 5 5.2 5.4 66.7 Business owner/Self 7 15 15.6 16.1 82.8 School 8 12 12.5 12.9 95.7 Agriculture 9 2 2.1 2.2 97.8 Homemaker 10 2 2.1 2.2 100.0 3 3.1 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 6. Commute Time to Work Valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Perceni Less than 5 Minutes 1 34 35.4 58.6 58.6 6 to 10 minutes 2 16 16.7 27.6 86.2 10 to 20 minutes 3 7 7.3 12.1 98.3 More than 20 minutes 4 1 1.0 1.7 100.0 38 39.6 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 value Label 7. Number of Children Ages Valid Cum Value Label value Frequency Percent Percent Percent 0 22 22.9 25.9 25.9 1 7 7.3 8.2 34.1 2 26 27.1 30.6 64.7 3 16 16.7 18.8 83.5 4 10 10.4 11.8 95.3 5 2 2.1 2.4 97.6 6 (or +) 2 2.1 2.4 100.0 11 11.5 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 8. How Many of Your Children Attend Local School valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Percent 0 58 60.4 68.2 68.2 1 6 6.3 7.1 75.3 2 16 16.7 18.8 94.1 3 3 3.1 3.5 97.6 4 2 2.1 2.4 100.0 11 11.5 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 9. Do You Own? Rent? ; House? Condo? Apt? valid Cum value Label value Frequency Percent Percent Percent Own 1 75 78.1 86.2 86.2 Rent 2 12 12.5 13.8 100.0 9 9.4 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 10. If You Rent But Would Like to Own, what Price Range? valid cum value Label Value Frequency Percent Percent Percenl Less than $50,000 1 4 4.2 5.6 5.6 $50,000 to $80,000 2 8 8.3 11.3 16.9 $80,000 to $100,000 3 15 15.6 21.1 38.0 $100,000 to $150,000 4 20 20.8 28.2 66.2 $150,000 to $200,000 5 13 13.5 18.3 •84.5 More than $200,000 6 11 11.5 15.5 100.0 25 26.0 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 11. Approximate Total Family Income? $10-20,000 _ $20-30,000 $30-40,000 $40-50,000 $50-60, 000 _ $60-75, 000 $75,000 + Value Label Valid Cum Value Frequency Percent Percent Percent $10,000 to $20,000 1 5 5.2 7.1 7.1 $20,000 to $30,000 2 13 13.5 18.6 25.7 rF $30,000 to $40,000 3 17 17.7 24.3 50.0 $40,000 to $50,000 4 8 8.3 11.4 61.4 $50,000 to $60,000 5 11 11.5 15.7 77.1 $60,000 to $75,000 6 9 9.4 12.9 90.0 More than $75,000 7 7 7.3 10.0 100.0 26 27.1 Missing Li Total 96 100.0 100.0 12. Have You Thought About Leaving McCall? To Where? Valid Cum Value Label Value Frequency Percent Percent Percent Yes 1 26 27.1 31.7 31.7 No 2 56 58.3 68.3 100.0 14 14.6 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 13. Do You Shop downtown? Often Seldom Never valid cum Value Label Value Frequency Percent Percent Percent Often 1 71 74.0 75.5 75.5 Seldom 2 23 24.0 24.5 100.0 2 2.1 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 14. Do You Often Travel To Another Town To Shop? Y N If Yes, Where? valid Cum value Label value Frequency Percent Percent Percent Yes 1 57 59.4 63.3 63.3 No 2 33 34.4 36.7 100.0 6 6.3 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 15. Why Did You Move to McCall? (mark as many as applicable) Born >:t Raised _ Family/Relatives Job Schools _ Environment Open Space Recreation _ Safety _ Sense of Community Economic Opportunity _ Did You Have a,2nd Choice City? Where? Pct of Pct of Dichotomy label Name Count Responses Cases Why did you move to McCall: Born & Raise WHY_BR 11 3.7 11.7 Why did you move to McCall: Sense of Com WHY_COM 29 9.7 30.9 why did you move to McCall: Economic Opp WHY_ECON 17 5.7 18.1 Why did you move to McCall: Environment WHY_ENV 60 20.1 63.8 why did you move to McCall: Family/Relat WHY_FR 20 6.7 21.3 Why did you move to McCall: Job WHY_JOB 37 12.4 39.4 why did you move to McCall: Open Space WHY_OS 42 14.1 44.7 Why did you move to McCall: Recreation WHY_REC 55 18.5 58.5 why did you move to McCall: Safety WHY_SAFE 24 8.1 25.5 why did you move to McCall: Schools WHY_SCHL 3 1.0 3.2 Total responses 298 100.0 317.0 16. What Image Should McCall Strive For? Mountain Town Resort Other Vacation Area Full Service City Pct of Pct of Dichotomy label Name Count Responses Cases McCall Image: Mountain Town MCL_IMG1 66 45.5 75.9 McCall Image: Resort MCL_IMG2 29 20.0 33.3 McCall Image: vacation Area MCL_IMG3 27 18.6 31.0 McCall Image: Full Service City MCL_IMG4 23 15.9 26.4 Total responses 145 100.0 166.7 17. Monthly Payment for Housing (Rent or Mortgage) $ Valid Cum Value Label Value Frequency Percent Percent Percent 0 10 10.4 16.4 16.4 200 2 2.1 3.3 19.7 250 1 1.0 1.6 21.3 300 1 1.0 1.6 23.0 350 1 1.0 1.6 24.6 375 1 1.0 1.6 26.2 400 1 1.0 1.6 27.9 450 2 2.1 3.3 31.1 475 1 1.0 1.6 32.8 500 3 3.1 4.9 37.7 528 1 1.0 1.6 39.3 550 1 1.0 1.6 41.0 560 1 1.0 1.6 42.6 579 1 1.0 1.6 44.3 595 1 1.0 1.6 45.9 600 6 6.3 9.8 55.7 620 1 1.0 1.6 57.4 650 1 1.0 1.6 59.0 687 1 1.0 1.6 60.7 700 4 4.2 6.6 67.2 711 1 1.0 1.6 68.9 750 3 3.1 4.9 73.8 820 1 1.0 1.6 75.4 850 2 2.1 3.3 78.7 900 3 3.1 4.9 83.6 1000 1 1.0 1.6 85.2 1100 1 1.0 1.6 86.9 1200 1 1.0 1.6 88.5 1500 1 1.0 1.6 90.2 1700 1 1.0 1.6 91.8 2000 2 2.1 3.3 95.1 2100 1 1.0 1.6 96.7 3700 1 1.0 1.6 98.4 4000 1 1.0 1.6 100.0 35 36.5 Missing Total 96 100.0 100.0 COMMUNITYVISION '98 - JANUARY 14, 1998 PARTICIPANT SURVEY, Part II (please print legibly) PLEASE ANSWER THE FOLLOWING QUESTIONS Do you own? 86% Rent? 14% Are you a McCall City Resident? 68.4% Impact Area? 16.8% Valley County? 13.7% Other? 1.1 % Do you work in McCall City? Yes 74.7% No 25.3% Growth Management 1. Do you favor or oppose a cap on the number of building permits issues by the city each year? Oppose 37.2% Favor 40.7% No Opinion 22.1 % 2. Do you -favor or oppose charging developers impact fees for the following facilities?: (a) Schools Oppose 10.7% Favor 89.3% (b) Roads Oppose 8.2% Favor 91.8% (c) Water Oppose 9.4% Favor 90.6% (d) Sewer Oppose 10.3% Favor 89.7% (e) Parks Oppose 15.9% Favor 84.1 % (f) Recreation Oppose 28.4% Favor 71.6% (g) Open Space Oppose 26.3% Favor 73.7% 3. Would you be in support of a transfer tax on the sale of of real property? Oppose 57.4% Favor 42.6% 4. Do you favor or oppose annexing developed residential areas into McCall City (e.g. Rio Vista)? Oppose 73.9% Favor 26.1 % Housing 1. Do you favor or oppose the creation of a "housing advisory" body to study the needs of the residents of McCall? Oppose 19.2% Favor 80.8% 2. Should the City spend taxes to subsidize affordable housing? Yes 31.1 % No 68.9% 3. Should the City do more to encourage the construction of affordable housing and rentals? Yes 88.0% No 12.0% 4. Should the City investigate stabilizing rents (rent control)? Yes 22.5% No 77.5% 5. Should the City allow accessory apartments at private single family residences? Yes 67.9% No 32.1 % 6. Would you favor allowing accessory apartments in your neighborhood? Yes 64.1 % No 35.9% 7. Should developers of residential subdivisions be required to provide affordable housing? Yes 54.5% No 45.5% 8. What can you afford for the purchase of a home (mark one)? 5.6% less than $50,000 11.3% $50,000 to $80,000 21.1% $80,000 to $100,000 28.2% $100,000 to $150,000 18.3% $150,000 to $200,000 15.5% more than $250,000 9. What can you afford to pay per month as an indivual renter (mark one)? 1.8% less than $200 3.6% $250 7.1 % $300 1.8% $350 5.4% $400 5.4% $450 14.3%$500 5.4% $550 12.5% $600 7.1 % $650 14.3% $700 21.4% more than $700 Environment 1. Is public open space preservation worth pursuing? Yes 98.9% No 1.1 % (a) Is it worth paying for? Yes 96.4% No 3.6% 2. Should new subdivisions be required to preserve open space?Yes 97.8% No 2.2% 3. Should new subdivisions be required to preserve environmentally sensitive areas (wetlands, hillsides, drainage ways)? Yes 97.8%No 2.2% 4. Should McCall actively preserve these resources: (a) wetlands? Yes 92.8% No 7.2% (b) riparian areas? Yes 95.0%No 5.0% (c) hillsides? Yes 89.6%No 10.4% (d) wildlife/fisheries? Yes 97.6%No 2.4% (e) air quality? Yes 95.2%No 4.8% 5. Should water quality protection be mandatory or voluntary? mandatory 83.1 % voluntary 16.9% 6. Does McCall have an Air Quality problem? Yes 22.0%No 78.0%. 7. Should McCall do more to encourage recycling? Yes 96.5% No 3.5% Economy Should McCall use tax money for economic development (business Et industry attraction) Yes 61.2%No 38.8% Should McCall use tax money to promote itself as a tourist destination? Yes 50.6% No 49.4% Is the number of tourists who visited McCall over the last two winters: 39.1% too few 48.3% right amount 12.6% too many Is the number of tourists who visited McCall over the last two summers: 22.1 % too few 55.8% right amount 22.1 % too many Regarding special events, does McCall promote: 38.6% too few 54.2% right amount 7.2% too many Does the local economy rely too heavily on tourism? Yes 67.9%No 32. /X What industry or business opportunity should McCall Promote most? Several Responses - Summarized in the Report Other Comments (continue on back if necessary) What is this place called McCall? An ongoing question in McCall has been what type of a community are we? The word community is a contraction of "common" and "unity." In searching for what makes McCall a community, we must first ask what is the common purpose we have that unites us? Some people say that McCall is a resort town. Others call it a Commercial Center for neighboring residents and towns. Still others consider McCall a vacation community (not necessarily because there is a resort, but a place to have a "cabin in the woods"). Whatever kind of town we call ourselves, there's something that attracts and holds each of us. The key to our future is figuring out what this is. Most of us would be happiest if the future of McCall stayed the same as it is now. Unfortunately, that's the one option we don't have. Change is natural and unavoidable. New people enter our lives each day, while others leave us. In 1898, McCall was a forest by a lake. In 1998, almost 4,000 people live here. Rather than labeling McCall as a certain type of town, with various attributes associated with each type, try to consider what it is about McCall that you like and don't like. What reinforces your "sense of community" and what detracts from it. In addition to the sense of community that residents feel, our community character can also be defined by what McCall looks like. Today, when you get to McCall, you know you're here. However, as the valley gets developed, the division between the valley and McCall may become blurred if we do not attempt to clearly define McCall. Perhaps one of McCall's greatest strengths is our diversity. Ask four people a question, and there's a pretty good chance your going to get four different opinions. This makes us a vibrant community that constantly has a lively debate running. In order for these debates to unite our community, and not divide it, we need to know what each other values about the place where they live, work and play. So, as we begin this process of establishing a vision for McCall, let's try to put into words the things that make McCall special. Listen to each other's version of McCall, and try to understand their views. We may not all agree on what makes McCall a place we're proud to call home, but if we understand why each of us lives here, we can create a single vision of the future that incorporates our hopes and dreams. Questions/Issues: Why do you live in McCall? If you came here specifically for a job, why do you continue to stay here? If you came from somewhere else (which many of us did), chances are you moved here for something called "quality of life." What are the components of this and how can they be reinforced and tapped into? Who makes up a community? Is there a desire to maintain or encourage a diversity of lifestyles, economic strata, social classes, ideologies? Why is diversity important or not important? Should the entrance to McCall, and the distinction between the valley and McCall, be clearly defined, such that you know you're here when you arrive? r Planning and Visioning Planning for the future of communities is an ongoing process of goal -setting and problem -solving that aims to bring about livable places. Planning focuses on ways of solving existing problems facing our communities, as well as providing a powerful tool people can use to achieve their vision for the future. But what is visioning? Visioning is more than painting an idealistic picture of the future - it is a process of evaluating present conditions, identifying problem areas, and bringing about a community -wide consensus on how to overcome existing problems and manage change. By learning about its strengths and weaknesses, a community can decide what it wants to be, and then develop a plan that will guide decisions toward that vision. Because change goes on all the time, a community must decide the specific criteria they will use to judge and manage that change. Instead of reacting after the fact to forces that alter their community, residents armed with a strategic vision can better reinforce the changes that they desire, and discourage changes that detract from the vision. Having a shared vision allows a community to focus its diverse energies and avoid conflicts in the present as well as the future. A vision process must be participatory, without excluding existing groups or individuals who want to have a say in what direction the community should go, and how to get there. Participation makes for a better plan: the more people are involved, the more input; the more input, the better quality and quantity of information. And with better information, better decisions can be made about what can happen, and what needs to be done to make community plans actually come to life. By including residents, businesses, nonprofits, local officials, and other community members in a process that empowers them as a whole, visioning alsoreinforces the idea that people do in fact have a say in their collective futures, and that they also have a responsibility to each other. Visioning is a process that all community members can have a stake in; the vision is their plan to provide for their future, not someone else's imposed idea of what it should be. For a visioning process to be effective, it must represent the people's vision, not only that of planners or bureaucrats. i` Instead, planners and others with a knowledge of local and regional decision -making can provide a reality check for communities. They may serve as advisors with the technical expertise, political savvy, and fiscal understanding that help translate the vision into a t strategic plan for action. Indeed, implementation of visioning efforts is crucial, for if the people in an area spend the time and energy to establish a collective vision, then it must be followed by concrete actions. Poor or no implementation undermines the vision and without tangible results, leads to disenchantment with planning in general. APA supports visioning as a practical method communities can readily use for their k benefit. As a form of participatory planning, visioning not only allows for community members to interact, it also has the potential to open their eyes to problems and assets they might not have otherwise recognized. With more understanding of their strengths and weaknesses, communities are better able to seize the opportunities that will improve the quality of life for them and future generations. A vision process may generally be comprised of the following steps: 1. Assess community characteristics, including information such as demographics, economics and employment, and housing. Identify community strengths and weaknesses. Have community members conduct a visual inventory on a map, indicating historic sites, scenic views, problem areas, and other notable places. 2. Identify the community's most important issues and questions. 3. Translate these issues and questions into goals and objectives. 4. Identify and discuss the obstacles to these goals and objectives, and the potential use of available resources to address them. 5. Conduct a "reality check," considering local attitudes about the goals and objectives. What kind of priority should the goals and objectives be given, considering the overall vision. 6. Discuss how the implementation of these goals and objectives will occur. Factors such as cost, time frame, and oversight are essential. 7. Decide how the vision's implementation will be evaluated, over what time intervals, using what criteria, and by whom. Source: American Planning Association (http://www.planning.org/gov/vision.htmt) Annexation Between 1992 and 1993, the City annexed Spring Mountain Ranch, Woodlands, Rio Vista, Carico area, and Jacobs Manor. Developers or homeowners may request annexation such that the City will provide water and sewer services, street maintenance and police protection (this allows greater development densities). Alternatively, the City may begin annexation proceedings to bring neighborhoods into the city limits, even though they may not wish to be. Many residents of the Impact Area, which is located outside of the city limits but within our planning jurisdiction, are effectively part of the City. They most likely work and shop in the City. However, these people are unable to vote for the McCall City Council, and thus receive no direct representation. In 1994, City property owners were taxed at an overall rate of 1.6293% of market value (1.0172% by the County Et 0.6121% by the City), while the County (in the McCall area) taxed at a rate of 1.0172%. In 1997, these rates were 1.2504% for City property owners (0.7463% by the County and 0.5041 % by the City) and 0.7463% for the County property owners.' By annexing densely developed lands adjacent to the City limits, the City can achieve "economies of scale" in providing services. For example, in a town of 100, we may need 1 snow plow. In a town of 500, we may still only need 1 snow plow, it just gets used more each time it snows. Thus, the cost of providing snow removal can be spread over 500 people, instead of 100. This lowers the taxes of the 100, but adds 400 new people to the tax rolls. However, as the City annexes new lands, it must provide services to those properties. Though in some cases it may lower overall property taxes in the city, it will raise the taxes of those being annexed. Issues/Questions Does the City currently have a "free rider" situation, where residents outside the city receive city benefits without paying for them? Under what circumstances, if any, should the City annex lands? Is it fair for people who live just outside the City limits to not have a voice in matters that greatly affect them? Should the City annex properties that request services, even if the cost of providing those services is greater than the taxes generated (this would raise overall taxes of the city)? Should the city only annex lands that will generate more tax revenue than it will cost to serve them (this would tower overall taxes of the city)? 1997 data based on calculations for the Idaho State Tax Commission. 1994 data based on the Valley County Profile, published in 1996 by the Idaho Department of Commerce. Levy Year Market Value 1996 $ 352,926,622 1997 $ 373,275,397 5.77% Sheet1 City of McCall Final 1997 Property Tax Levy As Certified by the State Tax Commission Levy Rates Property Tax Revenues Non -Exempt Exempt Total Non -Exempt Exempt Total 0.004712484 0.000353858 0.005066342 $ 1,663,161 $ 124,886 $1,788,047 0.004731895 0.000317835 0.00504973 $ 1,766,300 $ 118,640 $1,884,940 0.41 %-10.18% -0.33% 6.20% -5.00% 5.42% Summary of Changes between 1996 1997 Change Nonexempt Levy $ 1,663,161 $ 1,766,300 6.2014% Exempt Levy $ 124,886 $ 118,640-5.0014% Total Maximum Levy $ 1,788,047 $ 1,884,940 5.4189% City's Portion of Tax Levy County School District Hospital Cemetary Fire District (Improvements Only) 1996 and 1997 Tax Levies 1996 1997 Change 0.004712484 0.004731895 0.4119% 0.000353858 0.000317835-10.1801 % 0.005066342 0.005049730-0.3279% What This Means to a Property Owner 1996 Percent of Dollar Amount Value $ 506.63 0.50663% $ 229.25 0.22925% $ 323.09 0.32309% $ 102.28 0.10228% $ 1.76 0.00176% $ 72.87 0.09716% $ 1,235.89 1.23589% 1997 Percent of Dollar Amount Value Change $ 504.97 0.50497%-0.3279% $ 224.28 0.22428%-2.1687% $ 354.07 0.35407% 9.5892% $ 97.00 0.09700%-5.1614% $ 1.79 0.00179% 1.6322% $ 68.34 0.06834%-6.2179% $ 1,250.45 1.25045% 1.1787% Assumptions: Property has a net market value (assessed value less homeowner's exemption) of $100,000 including improvements of $75000 Net Market Value did not change from 1996 level Other: Net Market Value and Assessed Value for each property are determined by the County Assessor and will vary with individual properties. Any given property within the City Limits may lie in any or all of the above Districts. Some properties may lie in districts that are not listed above. Owners should refer to the detailed information on their own tax bills for information specific to their property Page 1 Population According to the latest estimate (U.S. Census Bureau, November 18, 1997), the City of McCall is home to 2,876 people, an increase of 43.4% over the 1990 population of 2,005. Some of this growth, approximately 350 people, occurred when the City annexed Rio Vista and the Carico area. When we include the Area of City Impact in addition to the City, the population increased from 2,928 in 1990, to approximately 3,781 in 1996, an increase of 29.1% (4.1 % annually). By the year 2015, the population of McCall will likely be 4,251. Including the current extent of the Impact Area, the population will likely be 5,533.1 For more detailed information, see the attached worksheet entitled, McCall Area Population Projections. Issues/Questions Assuming that an additional 1,700 people will be living and working in the McCall Area 17 years from now, how should we accommodate them? Should we encourage subdivision of new lands, or promote "infill" (building on existing, vacant parcels). If we are to discourage subdivision of new lands, by what means? Should people work in commercial centers or pods, such as Downtown, Deinhard Area, Lardo? or, Should we allow businesses to intertwine with residential areas? What about telecommuters or "lone eagles" (those who run a business from their home using communications equipment)? Where should care centers (both day care for children, and assisted living for adults) go? In Commercial or Residential areas? That we will have an additional 1,700 people in the area is an estimate based on previous and current conditions. Should the city limit the number of people who move to McCall? How would we do it - limit the number of building permits issued? What kind of an impact would this have on the cost of housing and our general economy? If the City limited building permits, but the County did not, wouldn't we be sending development just outside the City? Projections were calculated assuming that the City of McCall would grow at roughly the same rate as Valley County, for which population projections are readily available from the following sources: Woods Et Poole Economics; Market Statistics, Inc.; Idaho Power Co.; CACI Marketing; ID Dept. of Commerce; and the U.S. Census Bureau. i e8ed Lb'0 £L8'9 91.L'9 061.'9 96'1, OZ'Z £L8'9 MU Z9£'9 ;SLOZ £b'0 ££5'9 ZO'Z £b'0 900'9 Z4'Z Z4'Z ZZ8'4 £b'O 99b'4 LZT 99"L 8Z917 ybat? 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Z96'L 9L'9 EZ0'8 69'S 006'L 6ZL'9 06'0 601.'9 WO 6ZL'9 L9'0 9661. 091.'9 0661. __ E£9'9 b09'9 L99 4E9'9 499 099'9 0861. 609'£ _ 1 OZ9'£ OL61 Alunoo anen 4 mood suelloafaJd 861.1e1.10 6upetpepy a6ueya Ienuue % sogsgelg 06ueya aBueya ne;o e6eieny lenuue % Ioy° lelieW lenuue % Jested al Ienuue % g spoom aeoA suoperoid uonelndod Economy/Employment In 1995, 77% of Valley County workers were employed in the private sector, 21% by federal, state, and local governments, and 2.5% owned or worked on farms.' In November, 1997, the seasonally adjusted unemployment rate for Valley County was 8.2% (6.7% unadjusted). Private Sector Employment (percents based on both public and private sector work force) Retail 22% Service 21 % Construction 11 % Finance, Insurance, Real Estate 8% Manufacturing 5% (Boise -Cascade Mill in Cascade) Valley County's economy, and even more so, McCall's, is based largely on tourism, recreation, and construction. These industries tend to be seasonal and, with the exception of construction, generally offer lower wages than manufacturing and professional services (law, finance, real estate, etc.). In 1995 per capita income for Valley County was $19,885 and ranked fifth in the state (105.3% of state average). Since 1985, Valley County incomes have been rising faster (5.4%) than both the state (5.2%) and nation (4.9%)2. What does this say about the McCall area? Issues/Questions The strength of any economy is diversification. Do we want year-round industries? What types of policies could the City of McCall adopt to attract and maintain industries not dependent on the seasons? Many industries require infrastructure improvements. Should the City, through the general budget, fund these improvements in whole, part, or not at all? How should the improvements be paid for? Should the City actively recruit industry to the McCall area? What types of industries would be best suited to this area (consider such factors as available work force, education, natural attributes, transportation, etc.)? Who should pay for the recruiting? 1 USA Counties - 1996 - Published by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis 2 1996 "BEARFACTS" - Published by the US Bureau of Economic Analysis REIS Bearfacts for Valley Idaho http://govinfo.kerr.orst.edu/cgi-bin/bfact?8_8_45-085.ic REIS Bearfacts for Valley Idaho [ Back to REIS Report ] BEARFACTS Valley, Idaho 1985-95 Valley is one of 44 counties in Idaho. It is not part of a Metropolitan Area. Its 1995 population of 7,848 ranked 32nd in the State. PER CAPITA PERSONAL INCOME In 1995, Valley had a per capita personal income (PCPI) of $19,885. This PCPI ranked 5th in the State, and was 105.3 percent of the State average, $18,885, and 85.7 percent of the national average, $23,196. In 1985, the PCPI of Valley was $11,794 and ranked 7th in the State. The average annual growth rate of PCPI over the past 10 years was 5.4 percent. The average annual growth rate for the State was 5.2 percent and for the nation was 4.9 percent. TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME In 1995, Valley had a total personal income (TPI) of $156,054*. This TPI ranked 23rd in the State and accounted for 0.7 percent of the State total. In 1985, the TPI of Valley was $76,953* and ranked 29th in the State. The average annual growth rate of TPI over the past 10 years was 7.3 percent. The average annual growth rate for the State was 6.9 percent and for the nation was 5.9 percent. COMPONENTS OF TOTAL PERSONAL INCOME Total personal income (TPI) includes the earnings (wages and salaries, other labor income, and proprietors's income); dividends, interest, and rent; and transfer payments received by the residents of Valley. In 1995, earnings were 52.9 percent of TPI (compared with 57.9 percent in 1985); dividends, interest, and rent were 26.1 percent (compared with 26.2 percent in 1985); and transfer payments were 21.0 percent (compared with 15.9 percent in 1985). From 1985 to 1995, earnings increased on average 6.3 percent each year; dividends, interest, and rent increased on average 7.3 percent; and transfer payments increased on average 10.4 percent. EARNINGS BY INDUSTRY Earnings of persons employed in Valley increased from $46,930* in 1985 to $89,708* in 1995, an average annual growth rate of 6.7 percent. The largest industries in 1995 were services, 18.5 percent of earnings; state and local government, 17.0 percent; and retail trade, 16.0 percent. In 1985, the largest industries were federal, civilian government, 15.5 percent of earnings; retail trade, 15.1 percent; and services, 14.8 percent. Of the industries that accounted for at least 5 percent of earnings in 1995, the slowest growing from 1985 to 1995 was durable goods manufacturing (6.7 percent of earnings in 1995), which decreased at an average annual rate of 0.1 percent; the fastest was finance, insurance, and real estate (5.4 percent of earnings in 1995), which increased at an average annual rate of 13.8 percent. * All income estimates with the exception of PCPI are in thousands of dollars. [ Back to REIS Report ]• Regional Economic Information System Bureau of Economic Analysis Iof1 12/3/97 11:26 AM Open Space/Environmental Protection McCall is fortunate enough to be surrounded on 3 sides by US Forest Service and Idaho State Forest/Parks lands. We also are on the shores of an alpine take, and only miles from one of the largest Wilderness Areas in the Continental United States. In a survey conducted in the Fall of '97, an overwhelming majority of respondents thought that Environmental Et Water Quality Protection are the most important issue in McCall (85.6% rated it as very important or moderately important). Open Space preservation ranked r of 15 with 77.4% rating it as very important or moderately important. Environmental protection can be expensive, both doing it and not doing it. For example, if we restrict property owners from developing near streams and wetlands, it may prevent them from using their property fully. However, if we fail to protect these areas, our water quality may become degraded. This could harm our fisheries, place further restrictions on the use of the lake and drive up the price of cleaning our drinking water. Building on hillsides can have several impacts. Steep slopes in this area have a tendency to be unstable and are prone to sliding. Building homes on hillsides places them in harms way. Also, McCall is ringed by foothills and mountains on three sides. These hills provide uncluttered scenic vistas from the valley floor. Current development regulations provide no protection against their development. On the other hand, hillsides are bad places to farm. This makes them good places to build houses while preserving the valley floor for agriculture and ranching. As the population grows, air quality will decline, particularly in winter months when we're prone to inversions. Cars and wood stoves are the biggest culprits. Issues/Questions Is public open space preservation worth pursuing? Is it worth paying for? Should we require new subdivisions to preserve open space? Where should we focus open space preservation? In town? Outside town? How can we encourage open space preservation in town? Density control? Land procurement/dedication for parks? Do we want accessible open space? How do we preserve accessibility? It is well understood that property owners have rights to use their land. What responsibilities do they have? Should water quality protection be mandatory? voluntary? Will voluntary measures work? How important are wetlands and intermittent streams? Are the requirements of the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers sufficient to protect wetlands in the McCall area? Aesthetics Everyone wants the place where they live, and the places they visit, to be attractive. The question becomes, what do most people in McCall find aesthetically pleasing, and what steps are we willing to make sure that McCall is an attractive town? A considerable portion of McCall's economy is based on tourism and second -home purchasers. These people are generally sensitive to how a community looks. Also, if McCall looks like Anywhere, USA, why would someone want to visit here or buy a home here? Any land use regulation limits what a person can do on their property. However, those related to appearance tend to be the most controversial, mostly due to variances in taste. What one person finds attractive, another may not. How much freedom of design are you willing to give up? If a majority of the people like a certain style, what about those who disagree? Questions/Issues Is McCall (the town itself, not the backdrop) a physically attractive town? Why? Why not? What makes a town physically attractive? Can you think of towns that you wish McCall looked more like? less like? Try to describe those towns. Should the City adopt development standards that influence what new structures look like? For Commercial structures? Residences? Should the standards be mandatory or voluntary? How much control should the City exert over the physical appearance of new structures? old structures? signs? Certainly, much of our economy is based on tourism. What impact does the appearance of McCall have on our economy? Housing In 1990, the McCall Area had 2,995 housing units, and 1,161 households.' Thus, 1,834 houses (61%) are second homes that sit vacant for much of the year. In fact, in 1990, we had more houses in the City and Impact Area than we had people (2,928). Since 1990, 560 new housing units have been built, and the population increased by about 853. Roughly 40% of new construction is for second homes. The median value for housing in Valley County rose from $52,100 in 1980, to $70,700 in 1990. In 1997, the approximate median price of homes put up for sale in the McCall area was $144,500.2 This represents a 100% increase over 7 years, or 14% per year. Meanwhile, between 1990 and 1994 (the last year for which income data is available), per capita income rose from $17,282 to $20,103, an increase of 4% per year. With such a gap between income and housing prices, affordability becomes a serious problem. Issues/Questions What kind of impact does a high vacancy rate have on the social fabric of McCall's neighborhoods? Does this pose a problem? If so, what can we do to improve the situation? Should the City promote second -home development? If it were possible, should the City attempt to restrict second -home development? One of the ways to reduce housing costs is to allow development at higher densities (the price of land remains unchanged no matter how many homes are built on it). Should the City allow greater densities than we currently allow? Where should the high density housing be placed? Should the City require certain areas to be developed at high densities (currently, a land owner can develop his/her property at any density up to the maximum allowed)? The rise in the cost of housing in McCall has outpaced the rise in income. Thus, affordable housing has become more difficult to find. What role, if any, should the City play in making affordable housing available? • Subsidized housing, similar to HUD? • Assist Community Land Trusts (A type of CO-OP)? • Purchase property, place deed restrictions on the amount it can appreciate, and sell it to people meeting a certain standard? • Require developers to provide a certain amount of affordable housing when subdividing or developing land? If so, what type of affordable housing should they provide? • Allow higher densities in existing neighborhoods? new neighborhoods? Each of these actions has benefits and costs. Who should burden the costs? The City as a whole? Neighbors in existing neighborhoods? ' Based on the 1990 U.S. Census and a county -wide average of 2.52 persons per household. Median value is the price at which an equal amount of homes sold for more, and an equal amount sold for less. Based on an informal survey of Homes listed for sale in the McCall Area. Recreation Outdoor and organized recreation plays an important role in the lives of McCall residents and visitors alike. In the snowless months, people have access to Payette Lake; an extensive trail system for biking, hiking and backpacking; outstanding hunting and fishing; and world class kayaking and rafting on area rivers. When the temperature drops, we have alpine and cross country skiing; snowmobiling; ice skating; and snowshoeing. Recreation provides visitors and locals with opportunities to socialize and pursue an active lifestyle. Recreation allows us to come together under informal circumstances and build (or "re-create) the bonds that tie us together as a community. Recreation is also a significant segment of our economy. In a 1997 survey, 80% of respondents indicated that recreational facilities were either "very important" or "moderately important." In the same survey, respondents said they would spend $11.71 of $100.00 on recreation Ft youth programs (ranked rd of 12 - growth management was #1 at $14.98). The City of McCall organizes recreation programs and builds and maintains parks. The list of programs, which is too long to list, includes activities for all four seasons, both athletic and cultural. Issues/Questions What role should the City play in providing and organizing recreational opportunities? If the City doesn't provide for recreation, who should or will? If the City provides this service, what about funding? Riverfront Park has been on the "wish list" for some time, and will greatly improve organized recreation in McCall. How should we fund development of the park? If we don't provide youth programs, what kind of future are we preparing them for? How do we get young people involved in their community? Are we providing recreational opportunities to each segment of the population? youth, teenage, spectrum of adults from 20s to elderly? Is recreation an "amenity" or a "necessity?" B fr Transportation By far the most common form of transportation in McCall is the automobile. There are two basic types of transportation needs: local (around town) and long distance (everywhere else). Local transportation is dominated by the automobile, with some people using bicycles and walking. Long distance transportation is also dominated by the automobile, but other options are available such as buses and air taxi. Modal Within the modes (type) of transportation there are two issues. One is street networks, the other is allowing for "intermodal" (interaction of types) transportation. For example, street networks deal with how easy it is to get around (and through) McCall and what condition those networks are in. Intermodal transportation, meanwhile, might deal with your ability to drive (or bicycle) to a bus or train station, which might take you to an airport where you could fly to another city. McCall has been developed as a fairly low density city, meaning that people don't live very close to each other. While this provides for some privacy among neighbors, it makes public transportation, such as buses, inefficient. Street Network The City is striving to establish an ordered level of streets, from arterials (Eastside Bypass &t Deinhard Extension) to collectors (Rio Vista Blvd.) to local streets (Knowles Rd.). In order to keep traffic moving smoothly and safely those streets need to be improved and maintained on a consistent basis. Issues/Questions Should the City look into public transportation? If public transportation were available, would you use it? If we develop vacant lands at low densities, spread evenly throughout the city, the cost of improving and maintaining city streets will rise, as there will be more miles of street per resident. Low density also makes public transportation more difficult to provide. If we want public transportation in the future, we'll need to look at higher density development in some areas. Does higher density housing fit with your image of McCall? Will low density housing that uses up most of the open space fit with your image of McCall? What priority should the city place on maintaining existing streets versus building new ones or paving gravel streets? Should the City play an active role in attracting scheduled air service to McCall? Would you use it? What about visitors? Should the City establish development standards that concentrate new construction (both residential and commercial) in pre -determined centers, such that public transportation may be feasible in the future? Should the City build (and require of developers) bike paths on all new collector and arterial streets? What about sidewalks? Street beautification?