Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Public Participation Plan topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
MPO committee approves public participation plan with shorter review window for TIP and UPWP
Summary
The MPO committee voted unanimously to recommend adoption of a revised Public Participation Plan that sets minimum public review periods and updates terminology; the committee directed staff to track agreed edits and to apply a four-year review cycle for the TIP.
The MPO technical committee voted unanimously to recommend adoption of a revised Public Participation Plan, including a minimum 14-day public review period for the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) and the Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) and a change to the TIP review cycle from annually to every four years.
The vote followed a staff presentation and a lengthy discussion about how much time the public needs to review technical documents and how much time staff needs to incorporate comments. The committee’s recommendation will move the plan forward to the policy committee for final action.
The plan is intended to formalize how the MPO notifies the public and solicits comment across planning documents. Jeff, an MPO staff presenter, said the document is "a framework for meaningful engagement" and noted staff had incorporated comments from previous committee review and state reviewers. Jeff also summarized draft review windows: 30 days for some products, and a 45-day required posting for the public participation plan itself.
Members debated shortening review windows for highly technical documents to avoid operational delays. John Howell moved the recommendation as amended and Sunshine seconded. Committee member Sean O'Callaghan said he preferred a longer period but could accept language that sets a minimum, noting "my preference would still be 21 days, but I can support it saying a minimum of 14." Chair Ross emphasized leaving discretion to extend review periods if public interest warrants it.
Marcy, the committee clerk, called the roll. The motion passed with recorded "ayes" from Nicholas Ross; Anne Marie Yulee; Shawn O'Callaghan (recorded as a “reluctant aye”); Levi Ewing; Beth Clarkson; Brandon Jones; Chad Ross; Brandon Twentler; and John Howe. The committee announced the vote as "9-0."
The committee also directed staff to: (1) revise the TIP frequency in the document text to every four years instead of annually; (2) correct a title for Belgrade’s representative to "director of public works" in the membership list; and (3) track the committee’s recommended edits for the final draft before policy review.
Committee members and staff emphasized two operational points: include an explicit public comment closing date on posted notices and allow one to two weeks after a comment period closes for staff to incorporate substantive changes before the committee’s technical review. Jeff said the plan will be brought back with the tracked changes and the agreed modifications for formal recommendation to the policy committee.
No members of the public offered comment during the item.
What happens next: Staff will prepare a final draft implementing the committee’s edits and present it to the policy committee (TPCC) for final action.
