How do you find out what people want for their city? Sometimes, you just ask them.

John Lewis is the president of Intelligent Futures and Communications Coordinator of Imagine Calgary. Imagine Calgary asked citizens four key questions to find out what Calgarians sought for the future of their city. The discussion took place in person, online, and more than 18,000 residents contributed their ideas. The result is a 100 year vision for Calgary.

Based on Calgary's success, Portland, Ore., adopted a similar idea. Through the office of Mayor Tom Potter, Liesl Wendt helped create Vision PDX to help shape the future of Portland.

This week on Smart City we'll speak with John and Liesl to learn how looking into the long future, the 100-year future, is not an impossible reach for cities.