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The Question
• Declining public trust of all levels of government
• Mandated public processes having mixed results
• What are local officials’ attitudes about public engagement?
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%
Testing the Waters, May 2013 report with findings from 900 California local officials.
2013 Research with CA Public Officials City County
Have staff with primary focus of increasing public participation in decision making
38% 45%
Use community-based organizations and their networks to facilitate communications with the public:
A little or a lot 80% 91%
A lot 31% 45%
Individual Perspectives
I want less public input right now. It feels like we’re just opening the pipe for venting even further.
City Council Member
My headcount was just cut 20%. I can’t add another function to the workload. County Department Head
There are so many things happening in the public engagement field, it’s like drinking out of a firehouse.
City Council Member
Association Level
Most local managers are not conversant with the field of public engagement. By and large, they see it as something you have to “get through” that gets in the way of delivering services in the best way. Former City Manager
Even though we talk a lot about collaboration, there are a lot of separate worlds that do not necessarily
communicate with each other. Association Consultant
One of the biggest priorities is helping develop the skills to move conversations from self-interest to the common interest. Association Executive
Board / Council
Planning Commission Staff
Directly A
“Professional” Citizens
Advocates
“Quiet” Public
Directly Affected Residents
ExpertsApplicants
County Board / City Council
Planning Commission Other Boards & Commissions
Directly Affected Residents “Professional” Citizens
Advocates
Service Providers
“Quiet” Public
Staff
Experts
Structural Context
Few staff have PE as primary responsibility; lower priority, reactive PE to fit mandates
Local government performance based on technical skills, not PE – until reach senior level
Very limited capacity; results in performance anxiety OR overestimation of skills
PE champions can run into internal resistance and external criticism
Episodic PE more common than sustained
Some initial suggestions
Develop clarity about the full range of decision-makers involved
Consider enhancing existing public processes as well as introducing new ones
If multiple jurisdictions involved, do not assume that they currently collaborate
Pay equal attention to information content as well as process
Aim for concrete wins and reflect on progress made