ck. today’s tech tuesday discussion 1.some context about local governments adopting online...
TRANSCRIPT
CKUsing Technology to Broaden Public Participation In Local Government Decision-Making
NCDD Tech TuesdayAugust 26, 2014
Susan Stuart Clark
Today’s Tech Tuesday Discussion
1. Some context about local governments adopting online engagement
2. Look across digital engagement tools for principles of how to choose and use
3. What are the opportunities for online tools to enhance public participation?
2013 Research with CA Public Officials
City County
Public meetings are dominated by people with narrow agendas.
76% 77%
Community members have become more angry and mistrustful.
68% 78%
Have staff with primary focus of increasing public participation in decision making 38% 45%
Testing the Waters, May 2013 report with findings from 900 California local officials.
County Board / City Council
Planning Commission Other Boards & Commissions
Directly Affected Residents “Professional” Citizens
Advocates
Service Providers
Allegedly “Apathetic” Public
Staff
Experts
Benefits of Digital Engagement
More diverse residents & more
perspectives
More informed participation;
customized experience
Concrete data for reporting and
evaluation
Develop more continuous
engagement
Choosing Online Engagement Tools
Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower
Web pages
E-notify
Videos/podcasts
Simulations
Survey/poll
Invite feedback
E-comment (& comment on others’ comments)
Ideation
Trade-offs
Mapping
Online forum
Interactive community planning
Hackathon
Ideajam
Citizens report and use data
Neighbor to neighbor apps
Purposes drive selection of tools:
Adapted from IAP2 Spectrum of Participation
Draft Plan or Issue
Policy Decision(also shared
online)
• Community Meetings & Workshops
• OnlineConsultation
Expand Perspectives/Options
• Public Hearings
• Council Meetings
Shared Understanding
of Key Issues
Revised Plan/
Optionsshared online
and offline
Combining Online and Offline in Local Decision-Making
Review Choices/Trade-offs
Local Government Examples
Planning/Transportation
Strategic Planning/Budg
eting
Specific Policies
Quality of Life
AMBAG Long Range Transportation Plan
Effective Use of Online Engagement
• Define engagement purpose, how input will be used and outcomes shared
1 - Let Purpose Drive Tool(s)
• Clarify needed staff capacities -- plus audience, outreach, information strategy
2- Understand Staffing Needs
• Announce digital interface via multiple platforms/partners; seed the conversation
3 – Outreach Strategy
• Use online setting to provide visual information, tiered for different audiences
4 – Community Oriented Info
Adopt a “learning attitude” for continuous improvement
