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Steamboat Springs — The Vision 2030 process provides a valuable opportunity for community members to discuss their hopes for the future of the Yampa Valley. Strong public involvement began last week in North Routt, and we hope that trend continues tonight in Olympian Hall at Howelsen Hill.

Whether you are overjoyed, chagrined or apathetic about the results of Tuesday's election, Vision 2030 provides an example that the ballot box is not the only place to make your voice heard and effect change in the community.

Routt County is experiencing unprecedented growth that will have widespread impacts for years to come. How to manage and define those impacts has been the subject of local debate for years - well before the Steamboat skyline became dotted with cranes. In 1994, a citizen-driven initiative known as Vision 2020 hosted community discussions about topics including education, transportation, economics, city planning and government. The discussions created recommendations that, through seemingly intangible ideas, yielded very tangible results.

Vision 2020 directly led to the creation of First Impressions of Routt County, which supports early childhood education; the Purchase of Development Rights program, which helps landowners use conservation easements to protect against future development; the Routt County Open Lands Plan, which furthers open space needs addressed in Vision 2020 discussions; and Yampa Valley Recycles.

In addition, the Community Agriculture Alliance, Yampa Valley Partners and Yampa Valley Land Trust all have at least partial origins in the Vision 2020 process.

Finally, city staffer Linda Kakela has publicly stated the importance of including Vision 2020 guidelines and goals in grant applications for community needs - and her statement came not while reviewing Vision 2020, but while requesting city support for Vision 2030.

The Vision 2030 group is seeking to freshen the goals and desires identified in 1994. The timeline is long - the group plans to spend 2008 exploring how to formalize and implement recommendations gleaned from community meetings. A Vision 2030 report is planned for March 2009.

But the lengthy process provides as much opportunity for public input as citizens are willing to give. Tonight's meeting begins at 6 p.m., as does Thursday night's meeting at Christian Heritage School. Community meetings in Hayden and Oak Creek are Monday and Tuesday, respectively. Food and child care are available at each meeting.

Whether you woke up this morning with a smile on your face or shaking your head in worry about what the future might hold, Vision 2030 is an example of how you can take action in your community. Elected officials are placed in office to represent the people who elected them. Being an active community member is a great way to help those officials understand the communities and people they serve. We support Vision 2030 and its desire to place a megaphone before the voices of residents.

More information can be found online at www.vision2030routt.org.