Group to hear how other counties plan for future

The Daily Inter Lake

Citizens for a Better Flathead will host a public presentation on the "Cascade Agenda" prior to its annual meeting on Friday.

The Cascade Agenda refers to a joint land-use planning effort that four counties in Washington used to develop a long-term vision for their future.

The plan, according to a Citizens press release, "brought together local leaders in the business, political and natural resource arenas to formulate goals and list of tools and strategies to achieve those objectives."

Two community leaders involved in implementing the Cascade Agenda will attend Friday's meeting and share their success stories and strategies.

The presentation comes as Flathead County tries to develop its own growth policy and vision for the future.

"At this critical juncture for land-use planning in the valley, the [Cascade Agenda] offers an important model from which we can draw inspiration and ideas for local strategies," the press release indicated.

The presentation is at 7 p.m. in the second-floor theater of the KM Building in Kalispell.

This is the kickoff event for Citizens' 15th annual meeting.

Everyone is invited to stay for refreshments and socializing from 8:30 to 10 p.m., including "party games, guest appearances from spirits past, and opportunities to record wishes and dreams for a time capsule that will tell our children's children what we desired and worked to leave as a legacy for them to enjoy."

Several smaller workshops also will be held earlier in the day for people who want to learn more about the Cascade Agenda and the land-use tools that are making that vision possible.

Call 756-8993 for more information or to register.