Arizona Daily Star

Remember Proposition 200, the attempt to limit growth in Tucson by restricting water connections. It failed.

And even though our community probably has been talking about water and who controls it since the Hohokam Indians inhabited the area, the initiative galvanized the belief that "something" has to be done about growth and the intertwined issue of water management.

Some creative ideas began bubbling to the surface. We hope those and other ideas are fully vetted and combined into a unified vision — one created not by an individual or group, but by the community.

With that purpose, the Star will sponsor an open forum on March 14 to better frame the growth debate around facts and careful analysis.

Since we announced our intention to convene such a gathering several weeks ago, our readers have had many questions. We think that level of engagement is encouraging. Moreover, hundreds of you have told us that you want to be in the audience and are eager to participate.

The morning will include three nationally recognized experts in economics, growth and public policy who will frame the principle issues and objectives. The topics and speakers include:

● "Economics of Growth" by Joseph P. Kalt, professor of political economy at the John F. Kennedy School of Politics at Harvard University and an adjunct professor at the University of Arizona.

● "Understanding Land Use and Planning" by William Fulton, president of Solimar Research, a land use policy analysis firm, and editor of the California Planning and Development Report.

● "Growth: Creating a Positive Agenda" by John Landis, professor of city and regional planning at the University of Pennsylvania.

Isn't this a bunch of outsiders who know nothing about our community telling us what to do?

No. The speakers will not walk in cold and speak in hypotheticals. They will receive briefing books on the region's many growth issues and initiatives, including Star news stories and background materials, such as a summary of Arizona water laws.

Solimar Research has done in-depth land-use and growth research in Arizona for more than a decade. Kalt is a native Tucsonan and resides here.

Importantly, the results of the "Growth: The Choices We Make" online survey, announced today on Page A1, will give the speakers insight into attitudes and concerns of area residents. The results of this survey will be published in the Star before the forum and will be available to participants.

Immediately after the presentations, the speakers will join a dozen or so panelists from the region for candid discussions with audience members. The panel discussions will be interactive and involve questions, answers and, importantly, challenges to those answers.

With such a large group, it will be impossible to create a growth plan on the spot. We understand that and don't see the value in rushing to judgment. However, the forum will provide the insight, perspectives and community discussion appropriate to outline a growth plan. We anticipate that this forum will build on existing momentum.

Participants at the forum will have the opportunity to fill out a questionnaire to ensure that all perspectives are acknowledged.

It is our desire that a series of recommendations from discussions could form the framework for good public policy. We'll watchdog the process along the way.

Frankly, the Star doesn't have the internal structure to coordinate such an important community event. Since a successful program is a priority, we sought the help of The Communications Institute based in Los Angeles.

The Star and the institute have been partners on previous public discussions and we know the institute can effectively attract and coordinate the speakers, registration and other event details. We also wanted a professional group that did not have a local agenda to coordinate the specifics.

Why is the newspaper convening the forum?

With a daily readership of about 223,000 and Sunday readership of 358,700, we have the audience and desire to play the important role as conveners. The forum is a way we can help build community involvement by providing information and a collegial way to assess the choices that face our region. The forum will not advocate for or favor a particular position.

The Star's publisher's office and editorial department are leading this effort at our newspaper. Our news coverage of growth, water and related issues will not be influenced by the forum or its outcomes. We expect our news department to report on the forum, leaving commentary to the Editorial Page.

Anyone and everyone interested in our community's growth policy is encouraged to attend.

What: "Tucson Growth: Decision at the Crossroads," a forum on understanding growth in the Tucson region.

When: 7:15 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Friday, March 14

Where: Grand Ballroom in the University of Arizona's Student Union Memorial Center

Cost: Free

Registration: www.communications institute.org

Who's involved? The Arizona Daily Star is convening the forum with the University of Arizona and The Communications Institute, with funding from the Thomas R. Brown Foundations.