Advancing Online Public Consultation Metro VancouverAugust 2012

Refresher - the Problem

Timeline - what a short trip it's been

CoV CMT March 2011 - Concept

May - August - Prototype Pilots

September - VSB sectoral review

Fall - additional case studies

Jan 2012 - Urban Futures survey - expansion

April 2012 - re-engineered platform

Now - expansion into other areas

API - standardization & systemization

Citizen-centred - Network Effect

Lifeguards

Maritime Museum

Planetarium/Museum

Henry Hudson School

Squamish Develop-ment

Billy Bishop Patio License

Coast Guard

Development Permit application

Bike LanesKitsilano to Jericho Seawall

Artist's Residence

Boathouse Patio

Fires on beach

Traffic Circle

Parking Restrictions

Imagine~

• You can be notified online of consultations relevant to where you live, work and play.

• You choose by distance and subject what topics you're interested in hearing about.o e.g. anything to do with housing within 1 KM or anything

to do with transportation within 5 KM

• Notifications can come from many sources including the City, TransLink, developers, utilities, schools, parks, emergency services, and community organizations

• You register and confirm your identity and location and carry those credentials with you everywhere

• You can influence outcomes because your verified input enables evidence-based decision-making

Open Data & Public Consultation

Open Data Standards

Each time a new consultation topic is initiated a standardized listing is created:

1.Title

2.Abstract (140 characters, incl. keywords)

3.URL (link to originating web site/page)

4.Contact Email (notifies responsible staff)

5.Address (site location under review)

6.Date (public meeting, open house)

Generates XML or JSON file into the Open Data Catalogue http://data.vancouver.ca/

Setting up a Topic

An email is sent to the contact person asking them to activate the topic and decide whether to choose:

1.API (PS Connect) or;

2.PlaceSpeak page containing feedback tools:

• Discussion Forum(s)

• Survey(s)

• Poll(s)

• Notice Board, social media

Mapping of Topic Area

The Responsible staff person maps out the area (polygons) of interest:

• Manually

(e.g. 2 block radius)

• Importing KML file

(eg. 26 local areas)

Residents will be notified within affected area.

Reporting will be segmented by polygon boundary.

Public Notification

Residents are notified according to their preferences:

Distance - eg. 1 km - 100 km

Keyword - eg. housing, parks,

transportation

Residents determine their privacy

• visible publicly (yes/no)

Note: connected participants identities are always visible to the proponent (although not their street address).

In the beginning: Registration

Network Effect requires verification of participants:

• email

• home phone (audio pin)

• cell phone (sms pin)

• mailer pin

• othero property assessment rollo credit card minimum $0.02

• Privacy - separating 'church from state'.

• authentication = transparency

• FIOPPA

Citizen user (participant) feedback

Once notified, residents determine whether or not to engage. Select consultation features:

• Discussion forums

• Polls

• Surveys

• Notice Board

• Social Media

To participate, residents must CONNECT with the Topic which requires registration and verification within the boundaries defined in the map polygon.

How to build Awareness and Adoption?

Coordinated Offline and Online Strategies:

Offline:

• Posters

• Mailers

• Handouts

• Traditional advertising, media

Online:

• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)

• Wider reach

• Email, newsletters

Reporting and Analytics

All feedback received:

• Quantitative (polls & surveys)

• Qualitative (discussion, notice board)

Reports include: x # of participants responded with y area(s) with z responses.

Reports segment data spatially by polygons: i.e. show how responses vary by area.

Outcomes

Core principle: Evidence-based decision-making and public policy development

• After conclusion of consultation, outcomes must be communicated to participants.

• Important that participants observe that their input has had an impact on the outcome.

• Process is open, accessible, dynamic, transparent and defensible.

Recommendations

Open Data - standardize

Add a public consultation category to the City's Open Data Catalogue and standardize

Inform/Notify

Implement an online notification system that ties digital identity to physical address

Consult/Feedback

Ensure accessible online and place-based

Report/Analytics

Require defensible evidence to inform decision-making and public policy development