Guest view of Mike Smith
As this year comes to a close, we reflect on what was said, what
was accomplished and begin to look ahead to the goals ahead of us
as a community in 2007. In my view, there is a natural convergence
of public/private partnerships on the horizon that could define
growth and quality of life in San Benito County in the 21st
Ccentury.
Guest view of Mike Smith
As this year comes to a close, we reflect on what was said, what was accomplished and begin to look ahead to the goals ahead of us as a community in 2007. In my view, there is a natural convergence of public/private partnerships on the horizon that could define growth and quality of life in San Benito County in the 21st Ccentury. We need leaders and elected officials to not only shape a common vision but to execute a workable strategy to develop our county into a functional, modern community. Many communities look to public/private partnerships to improve efficiencies and supplant traditional social services. Having expressed that, here are a few ideas that merit consideration.
Public/Private Partnership Concept No. 1: Help Develop A New Plan. Invite developers, public officials and interested citizens to come together and revise the county general plan. Some developers, such as DMB El Rancho San Benito, have the tools, resources and experience to build a master planned community. Why not share the expertise with the county? I’m not a financial expert, but I submit that a fund could be established into which the development community could contribute money with which to help pay for a revised county general plan contracted to a professional third party. There would be no strings attached to the government and no sense of entitlement to contributors. The expected outcome would be increased efficiencies in building the type of community the public wants. As such, the outreach/contribution becomes a better investment for the development community than a failed project rejected by voters.
Public/Private Partnership Concept #2: Master Planned Education. With the general plan comes a renewed commitment to support the development of higher education in San Benito County. Create a partnership with the unilateral goal of building a first class college campus based on the Gavilan College plan. This new community college campus becomes the crown jewel around which the county and the city of Hollister plan for future business and residential development. The partnership will establish a ground zero focal point for community investment in a college campus. With a centralized framework in place, both the county and the city can plan their respective infrastructures around a commonwealth centerpiece. Crowing about economic development is futile without creating the opportunity and shared paradigm of an educated workforce.
Public/Private Partnership Concept #3: Produce Better Water. There has never been more cooperation amongst government agencies with respect to water/wastewater infrastructure issues in San Benito County. Yet, there are still unresolved concerns about the future of water quality and quantity and no proposed solution for the future of our watershed. Perhaps we should look to the private sector to help plan for the future of the watershed with the proviso that agriculture is our biggest economic linchpin in the county. We can have a great general plan with the smartest workforce on earth, but without good water, we’ll have nothing but an arid desert.Good luck to the recently elected representatives who will take on these challenges with scarce resources in the near future. Our community leaders will have to become more resourceful based on the dwindling tax revenues that provide public services. In times like these, leaders tend to consider libertarian, market-based solutions to make ends meet. Those who fail to become creative political entrepreneurs usually fail to persuade voters to support their campaign for reelection at the next opportunity. As a community, we need to define the goal of prosperity, create our own blueprint for success, provide quality higher educational opportunities in a centrally located, commonwealth facility and provide for the infrastructure that will improve our local economy; by building better roads and water/wastewater treatment plants and conveyances. Absent public funding from a tax-weary populace, our leaders should consider public/private partnerships as a vehicle with which to plan our future, build our college campus and improve water quality into the 21st century in San Benito County.
