Citizen advisory committees, blue ribbon task forces and similar groups by other names are a useful tool for involving stakeholders and citizens in the planning process.
An advisory committee can be a means to involve a broad cross-section of people in the planning process. This tool was used in Wexford County, Michigan (see also Modern Planning Process: The Wexford County Example The Wexford County Example). In Wexford County’s case the advisory committee was actually assigned the job of preparing the first draft of the county’s new plan. An advisory committee was used in Butte County, Calif. (see their Web site: http://www.buttegeneralplan.net/cac/default.asp) as a means of involving many people in its planning process. If one searches the Internet for “citizen advisory committee,” many other examples will be found.
An advisory committee can also be a means to bring together a selected panel of experts on a given topic.
Planning commissions often have a great deal of latitude to form committees and task forces for conducting various aspects of their duties. In Michigan, for example, the Michigan Planning Enabling Act (M.C.L. 125.3801 et seq.) specifically empowers a planning commission to have traditional committees made up of members of the planning commission. The law also provides for committees of people who are not members of the planning commission or a combination of members and non-members. The non-member people on the committee do not have to meet any residency, voting or citizenship requirements. This allows for committees that include people from neighboring governments; key business persons who might reside elsewhere; or other state, county, or federal government officials with certain skills or knowledge. You will want to check with your state laws or your municipality’s attorney for how this can be done in your state.
The possible uses of advisory committees are limited only by one’s imagination.
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- Kurt H. Schindler, AICP, Regional Land Use Educator
- Michigan State University Extension
