Keep Northern South Park Steering Committee Meetings Public

January 4, 2021

RE: Northern South Park Steering Committee Transparency

Dear Chair Macker and Commissioners,

Thank you for your continued diligence throughout the ongoing planning process for Northern South Park (NSP). We applaud your decision to forego the initial application for development in favor of completing a holistic Neighborhood Plan for the entire area. 

As the Neighborhood Plan process unfolds, it is of the utmost importance that the public has the opportunity to participate. We are disappointed to discover that there has already been at least one Steering Committee meeting that was not publicized.

We need to preserve the original intent of desired transparency and accountability throughout the Neighborhood Plan. With increased tension already surrounding NSP we cannot afford to lose the public’s trust in this process. The Neighborhood Plan was incorporated by the public, for the public. It is intentionally designed to be a collective undertaking and needs to be treated as such. All aspects of the plan must be open and available for the public, and Steering Committee meetings are no exception. 

We call on you to publicize meeting times and corresponding links so that interested community members can attend the Steering Committee meetings if they so desire. We need to show our community that the Neighborhood Plan is not a mere facade for what happens behind closed doors. The public has a right to at least observe how public resources are being spent while discussing public interests. This lack of transparency simply undermines public trust in the entire process.

We look forward to a successful new neighborhood that will house the entire spectrum of community members in Jackson Hole.

Sincerely,

ShelterJH

Clare Stumpf – Coordinator
Mary Erickson, Elizabeth Hutchings, Mike Welch, Ryan Nourai, Christine Walker, Skye Schell, Ash Hermanowski – Board of Directors