1. Overview of Present Tasks
Portage County Farmland Preservation Ad-Hoc Steering Committee
Feb. 23, 2016
Prepared by Nathan Sandwick, Portage County UW-Extension

2. PLAN REVIEW Learning as we go
VISION IDEAS
thinking
ISSUES & CONCLUSIONS
course of action
GOALS & POLICIES
results
SITUATION
TRENDS
OBSERVATIONS

3. Guiding Principle and Preliminary Goals for Agriculture…
(adopted by the Rural Area Steering Committee)
Guiding Principle for Agriculture: Sustain an economically viable agricultural industry.
Agriculture Preliminary Goals:
The agricultural community is economically viable.
Agricultural practices are unencumbered by development.
Educate the public about the operations and activities of the agricultural community.
Develop a process where the general public shares in the cost of protecting agricultural resources.
Utilize agricultural practices that are environmentally sensitive and protect air, soil, water and wildlife resources.
Preserve productive agricultural land county-wide.

4. GENERAL LAND USE GOALS (1-5)
Preserve productive agricultural land in Portage County. [Ag] Preserve productive agricultural land county-wide.
Maintain a viable agricultural economy in the County. [Ag] The agricultural community is economically viable. [Ag] Develop a process where the general public shares in the cost of protecting agricultural resources.
Avoid conflicts between agricultural land uses and nonagricultural uses such as nonfarm housing. [Ag] Agricultural practices are unencumbered by development.
Encourage sound soil conservation. [Ag] Utilize agricultural practices that are environmentally sensitive and protect air, soil, water and wildlife resources.
Better utilize the opportunities afforded by rural villages to accommodate certain commercial, industrial, and residential developments.

5. GENERAL LAND USE GOALS (6-9)
Protect the quality and quantity of the surface and groundwater resources of Portage County. [Ag] Utilize agricultural practices that are environmentally sensitive and protect air, soil, water and wildlife resources.
Conserve significant environmental, cultural, and historic areas and resources, consistent with agricultural needs.
Encourage orderly, planned urban growth which is consistent with the efficient use of tax dollars.
Encourage public participation and citizen input in the development of this Plan.

6. Discussion in Small Group - for each Goal:
Now in light of recent trends which we have reviewed and discussed:
1.) Review ADOPTED policy recommendations (adopted 2006)
Were they followed? Are they effective? Complete? Relevant?
2.) Review the ADOPTED issues/needs & conclusions
This thinking gives weight to the recommendations.
Are we focused on the right questions (issues and conclusions)? Reasonable assumptions? Supported by evidence? Honed by several perspectives?
3.) Consider the PROPOSED issues & conclusions
Tying loose ends - issues that that weren’t concluded yet
Which do we need to spend more time on? (Learning, and more options to consider)