Paul Barnes being recognized for his long-time support of Phoenix neighborhoods by Mayor Greg Stanton, Councilman Michael Johnson, and Councilman Daniel Valenzuela.

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I attended last night's surprise retirement party for long-time neighborhood activist, Paul Barnes. Paul believed attendees were there to hear him speak about the ins and outs of the city's often-byzantine planning process and how citizens can and must get engaged in the process. He brought stacks of handouts for people to pick up and several thick binders demonstrating the complexity of the process.

Okay, now to the idea (which was suggested later during the surprise party's dessert time by Richard D. Fox, another long-time neighborhood activist): Write and publish a citizens guide to Phoenix city planning. Take all of the information that is spread out in numerous different places online and in print and compile it into one easy-to-read, easy-to-understand, easy-to-update document, handbook, brochure, PDF, wiki, webpage, or whatever...

What a fine legacy to honor Paul, who has worked so hard for so many years to educate the public and policymakers alike on the impact, positive and negative, of planning decisions on the lives of neighbors and neighborhoods.