Long-term and area-wide planning for the delivery and combining of these services become critical in the task of maintaining services by improving the efficiency of delivery and cost-effectiveness through economies of scale. Regional entities are prime venues for discussing, planning, and implementing such areawide solutions. The following list outlines some of these solutions in more detail: RPCs have a strong, direct public and fiscal accountability to local governments due to the presence of local elected officials who serve on the RPCs.
Because of their size, structure, and diverse areas of responsibility, RPCs are able to address local government issues in a comprehensive, yet efficient and cost-effective manner. RPCs also recognize that communities are very different from one another, each with its own unique set of challenges and opportunities. Although RPCs may not be able to address every land use challenge facing member local governments, the benefits afforded the region by the existence of RPCs is unmatched by any other governmental entity.
RPCs provide a forum and mechanism by which local governments can avoid or resolve inter-jurisdictional conflicts and by which local governments and property owners are able to address growth management issues and search out joint solutions. This forum assures collaborative efforts and cooperation among all affected parties—a process that has a higher success rate than a process of state directives.
RPCs serve as a bridge between the levels and units of government. It also means that RPCs are often proactive in facilitating agreement. RPCs provide a staff of professionals with technical and programmatic expertise.
Governments of all sizes and types share the technical expertise of RPC staff, providing for a high degree of cost-effectiveness. For these local governments, RPCs serve as a link to state agencies and other organizations, as well as facilitating intra-regional communication.
Most regional planning commissions in the state cover large rural areas where RPCs fill the gap in planning that cannot be met by small governmental units. Public safety is one of the most significant areas in which our City is exploring cooperative partnerships. Currently, the Newport News Fire Department has in place mutual aid agreements with all other Peninsula localities for cases of extreme need. This means no matter where a call originates, the closest and most appropriate response unit in Hampton or Newport News would deploy to address the issue.
This has the potential to decrease response times for service calls in areas which are close to the Newport News-Hampton border. This could result in significant savings, as each locality could minimize the amount of reserve equipment it keeps in stock.
Additionally, through purchasing larger quantities of goods, we could possibly obtain lower equipment prices with vendors. While partnering with Hampton in regard to public safety is a major regional effort, it is by no means the only initiative our City is exploring.
We are also in discussions with the City of Hampton on ways to partner our efforts in library services. While there is potential for cost savings in this area as well, the main driver is to improve functionality and service to citizens. You may have also seen in the local news that our City is exploring the possibility of a regional animal shelter with York County, Poquoson, and Hampton.
As Hampton Roads communities continue to explore, study, and develop regional initiatives, we do so with the goal of making our communities great places to live, work, and play for those who are fortunate enough to call Hampton Roads home.
What's New. PDC in The News. Environmental Education News. View More News ». Press Room. General News. Press Releases. To be successful we have to continue to grow participation from others in our region and provide the framework to let this conversation translate into action. So that said, just what is regionalism and why should it matter to you? Who cares and so what? In very simple terms regionalism can be defined in two words…working together. Putting this into practice, working together to achieve common goals and improving quality of life is what regionalism is all about.
I like to think of the analogy that a rising tide lifts all boats. Most all budgets, both personal and municipal are constrained in some shape, form or fashion, and the efficient use of resources becomes even more important.
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