ELGL – Road Map to Citizen EngagementJUNE 9, 2016

REBECCA OLSON – CITY OF SHOREVIEW, MINNESOTA

Today’s Agenda

Introduction To ELGL (10 minutes) Engagement – What is it? (10 minutes) Challenges Local Governments Face (15 minutes) Improving Local Government Engagement (15

minutes) Examples of Successful Local Government

Engagement Stories (10 minutes)

Big Tent OrganizationNo ONE path to leadershipWelcomes cross-departmental membersIndividuals & OrganizationsMaking a positive difference in local gov’t

What we do & How we do it

Connect• Provide

opportunities to make meaningful professional connections

Communicate• Believe sharing

stories about people, ideas, trends & approaches is best way to make positive difference in local government

Educate• Provide relevant,

passionate, & exciting development opportunities both online and in-person

Passion

Support

Creativity

Response

Relevant

Fun

Diverse

What Sets ELGL Apart?

Innovating through Connecting

Community Engagement

Do you know what that means?

Family Road Trip

Engagement

VS.Meaningful

Engagement

Typical Government Citizen Engagement

Engagement is both a Verb & Noun

Verb (Process) Two-Way Process Incorporate Needs, Concerns, Values

of Citizens/Community Incorporated into

Policy Development Planning Decision Making Service Delivery

Engagement Triangle

Noun (Outcome Means different things to different

departments Planners – Process Communications – Marketing Public Services – Services meet

needs Public Safety – Relationship building Councils – Persuasion/Explanation

http://bangthetable.com/what-is-community-engagement/#sidr-right

Bang the Table

http://bangthetable.com/what-is-community-engagement/#sidr-right

Relationship Development

Capacity Building

Decision Making

Engagement Triangle

Challenges for Local

Governments

Challenges for Local GovernmentsCheck Box

Mentality Lack of Purpose Weak Foundation

Challenges (continued)

Fear of Repeating History

No Training Participation Fatigue

Improving Meaningful

Engagement

Create a Foundation for Engagement

Lay the Foundation in your Organization Create Buy In Set Up Training Opportunities Outline the Motivation or Purpose for Engagement

Four Simple Solutions

Make it Easy

Make it Attracti

veMake it Social

Make it Timely

(http://bangthetable.com/2015/10/12/four-ways-behavioural-insights-can-improve-citizen-engagement-practice/)

Successful Local Government Engagement

Strategies

Greensboro, North CarolinaParticipatory Budgeting

Democratic process in which community members directly decide how to spend $500,000 ($100,000 per district)

More than 1,100 Greensboro residents age 14 and older voted

Included a total of 43 projects based on ideas submitted by residents

Raymore, MissouriRe-Imagine Raymore Strategic Vision

Invited residents to give input on Strategic Plan Three Community Conversations Invited as many people as possible Focus groups beforehand Seeded questions on social media prior to meetings to

create excitement About 300 people per meeting

Broke into groups of 8-10 with facilitators (KU Public Management Center)

Real time note taking Over 900 residents participated (population 20,000)

Brooklyn Park, Minnesota

6th largest city in Minnesota with highly diverse population Goodwill Ambassadors – represent city at community events and

spread the word that it is a thriving community and inspiring pride Ages 9-20 1 year commitment Brooklyn Park 2025

Share ideas online open forum Community café events

Shoreview, MinnesotaCitizens’ Leadership Academy

Annually 20 residents participate Overview of local government operations,

police/fire Promotes understanding Fosters future community leaders Develops relationships Free 7 week program