April 3, 2017
Active citizen interaction characterizes current month
MURPHY (April 3, 2017) Citizen engagement could very well be the catchphrase in Murphy during April as the month brims with opportunities for residents to interact with the City.
“The first day of the month was filled with dozens of residents coming to the City Hall complex to participate in the Clean & Green event and the Great American Clean-up,” says City Manager Mike Castro. “Then, we have two opportunities for citizens to share their ideas and gain information. The new Parks Master Plan is taking shape with citizen input, and the Capital Projects Advisory Committee is also asking residents to share their ideas.”
On April 1, the Clean & Green event converted the City Hall driveways into a drive-up, drop-off route for citizens with bulky trash and recyclables that were not suitable for curbside pickup. The flow of traffic was steady all morning, as residents dropped off a myriad of materials. At the same time, many volunteers policed the area in and around Central Park as part of the annual Great American Clean-up. Youngsters were in great supply as they donned their free T-shirts, and proceeded to pick up litter from the park area, the shores of the pond, and in the areas immediately adjacent to the park.
“Both events were a great show of public/private cooperation that resulted in a cleaner, safer and more attractive environment,” added Castro.
Two more opportunities for citizen participation appear on the April calendar.
On April 10, the Parks Department and the Parks Board are hosting a public hearing on the development of the next iteration of the Murphy Parks Master Plan. The open forum is set for the Community Room, on the south end of City Hall, 206 North Murphy Road, starting at 6:30 p.m. The plan’s developers are seeking input from residents on what they would like to see included in the plan. Once the input is received, a draft of the plan will be developed and discussed prior to adoption.
Finally, the Capital Projects Advisory Committee is holding two identical Town Hall meetings to share information on the work the members have been conducting in anticipation of a bond election set for November.
The Town Hall meetings are set for Saturday, April 22 starting at 9:30 a.m. and Tuesday, April 25 starting at 6:30 p.m. Both meetings are scheduled for the City Council Chambers. The first half-hour of the meetings will provide opportunities for residents to interact with staff and CPAC members in an informal exhibit format.
Plans call for tables, personnel and exhibits to be set up in the City Hall entry lobby highlighting the five areas of concentration for the proposed bonds. These include: Public Safety, Parks and Recreation, Sustainment and Technological Initiatives, Infrastructure, and Roads.
The 30-minute exhibit period will be followed by a presentation by the Committee inside the Council Chambers, and conclude with a question and answer session. During the presentation, a review of how citizens can communicate with the CPAC will be shared.
“We’re always looking for ways to interact with citizens, and this month has been especially fruitful,” said Castro.
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