VLMPO Planning Meeting

A local planning organization that studies advertises frequent meetings for input and studies facebook usage data to see what people care about? That's the Valdosta-Lowndes Metropolitan Planning Organization (VLMPO), which holds frequent and repeated hearings on major projects. Next week it's having its regular Policy Committee Meeting 1:30PM to 4:30 PM, Tuesday 11 Jan 2010, at the SGRC office at 327 West Savannah Ave., Valdosta. You can see what they're up to about traffic congestion, busses, trains, bicycles, Moody access, conservation, or other issues, and voice your concerns.

The Policy Committee is the Valdosta Mayor, the County Commission Chair (or their delegates), the Valdosta city manager, the county manager, somebody from SGRC, GDOT, and a rotating member from the smaller municipalities, currently Wayne Bullard, Mayor of Hahira.

Earlier that same day, 10:30AM-noon is a Transportation Coordinating Committee meeting; hm, that includes a "Bicycle/Pedestrian Advocate" in addition to the usual enginers and such.

Update: Corey Hull pointed out I got the date wrong for this one, now fixed as below. -jsq Later that same day, Thursday 6 Jan 2011 from 3PM to 4:30PM there's a Citizen's Advisory Committee Meeting, which seems to consist entirely of people involved with various large institutions around here. Why look, there's Brad Lofton! I wonder why they call it a Citizen's committee?

VLMPO is an organization that advertises its meetings in advance on facebook. I'm not sure where that information is on VLMPO's home page, but that has a link to its facebook page. VLPMO's website publishes agendas and minutes, committee descriptions and memberships, and other information, including a regular newsletter. Could this be an organization that practices transparency?

Appended is the VLMPO Policy Committee's agenda:

Valdosta-Lowndes MPO
Policy Committee
Meeting Agenda
Tuesday, January 11, 2011
1:30 PM
Note: This meeting is expected to last 90 minutes.

1. Call to Order
2. Introductions/Roll Call
3. Approval of Minutes – September 14, 2010
4. Old Business
   1. VLMPO Policy Committee Bylaw Changes
      Committee Action: Vote to Adopt Bylaw Changes
5. New Business
   1. FY2012 FTA 5303 MPO Planning Grant Application, Resolution 2011-3
      Committee Action: Vote to Approve Grant Application
   2. Public Participation Plan Update – Special Presentation- Whitney Biggers
   3. Items for Discussion:
      1. FY2012 UPWP and Budget
      2. HB277
      3. Access Management
      4. Gateways Committee
      5. Freight Study
      6. Crash Report
6. Staff Update
   1. CAC Attendance Report
   2. Website/Facebook Report
   3. GAMPO Update
   4. JLUS Update
   5. Census Update
   6. Transit Contract Update
7. Privilege of the Floor/Public Comment
8. Next Meeting Date
   1. March 8, 2011; 1:30 PM; SGRC Office
9. Adjournment

An Equal Opportunity Employer / Program
327 W. Savannah Ave., Valdosta, GA 31601
1725 S. Ga. Parkway, W., Waycross, GA 31503
Phone (229) 333-5277 • Fax (229)-333-5312
Phone (912) 285-6097 • Fax (912) 285-6126
www.sgrc.us

-jsq