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

Susan Stuart ClarkCommon Knowledgessclark@ckgroup.org

www.ckgroup.orgckgroup.org/resources/publications/