Survey provides chance to give Grand Coulee your thoughts

The city of Grand Coulee held an open house last Wednesday night to talk with citizens about proposed upcoming changes to its comprehensive plan.

The planning commission had scheduled the meeting to seek comments from city residents about what they would like to see happen in the city in years to come.

No one showed up but planners and city officials.

The city's planning firm, SCJ Alliance, from Lacey, had prepared drawings of the city, and of other cities they have served, to help solicit comments.

Dan Penrose and Eric Johnson, the two SCJ representatives, showed on diagrams how subtle changes, such as planting, can change the appearances of city streets, making areas more attractive and people friendly.

Members of the city's planning commission, as well as City Clerk Carol Boyce and Fire Chief Richard Paris attended.

SCJ had prepared a "needs survey," which was made available to those attending. Surveys can be picked up at Grand Coulee City Hall.

Basic questions included:

• How would you describe the vitality of the city?

• What is working well in the city? and

• What needs more attention?

In regard to the economy, the survey asks:

• Is the local economy adding jobs or losing jobs?

• Are there adequate job opportunities to keep young people from having to leave to find work?

• Do businesses struggle to find enough customers or employees?

• What do you have to travel for that you would like to have locally? and

• Is there a shortage of certain types of housing?

The survey also asks how residents rate emergency services, streets, sidewalks, parks and trails, the library, and water and sewer infrastructures.

Those who fill out the survey are asked to describe in six words Grand Coulee as it is now; and to use six words to describe how they would like to see it in the future.