BREAKING THROUGH BARRIERS TO MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
WHO WE ARE AND WHAT WE DO
Planners
Teachers
Facilitators
Community Members
Creative Problem Solvers
WHAT COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT LOOKS LIKE TODAY…
HOW
WE GOT
HERE
AND WHO IS TO BLAME?
Citizens
Planners
Jane Jacobs
HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHO IS TO BLAME?
Citizens
Planners
Jane Jacobs
Expectation that customer is always right.
HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHO IS TO BLAME?
Citizens
Planners
Jane Jacobs
Expectation that customer is always right.
Comfortable in our silos.
HOW WE GOT HERE AND WHO IS TO BLAME?
Citizens
Planners
Jane Jacobs
Expectation that customer is always right.
Comfortable in our silos.
Legacy of advocacy in housing.
HOW DO WE GET TO MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
1. TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
2. IDENTIFY THE BARRIERS
3. TRY A NEW APPROACH
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION The Usual Suspects
NIMBYs & YIMBYs ARMCHAIR EXPERTS SAVIORS
NOT HERE
“I WAS NOT TOLD ABOUT THIS MEETING”
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Info Sources Media Presence
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Notifications Info Sources Media Presence
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Notifications
Info Sources
Media Presence
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
High Value Placed on Public Participation in Planning Decisions
What Rights does the Public Have?
BUT HAVE WE GONE TOO FAR?
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Origins of Zoning in the U.S. in Nuisances Laws
Noise
Pollution Odor
Renters
Density
Traffic
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
The Origins of Zoning in the U.S. in Nuisances Laws
Noise
Pollution
Renters
Density
Odor
Traffic
and Squirrels?
THE DILEMMA OF PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
LEAN IN
TEAM UP STEP OUT
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
Broad and Diverse Stakeholder Representation
Discussions Centered around Community Benefit
Based on Facts, Not Anecdotes Trust between Staff, Decision Makers, & Community
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
Representation
Arnstein’s (1969) Ladder of Citizen Participation
New Voices
Empower more than the loudest voices
Activate sleeper organizations!
Defend the public interest, not just those at the meeting
Update Communications
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT?
Community Benefit
Confront Biased Viewpoints
Change the Conversation
Ask “How will that affect…?”
(Most people don’t want to be caught acting selfish)
Ask about future generations…
(Makes it personal, but challenges assumptions)
Present trade-offs
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? Facts
Everyone has a personal story: “I’ve lived here 30 years…”
Planning recommendations are objective, take the anecdotes out of the conversation
Thoughtful recommendations backed by findings, studies, data
WHAT IS MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT? Trust
MEANINGFUL COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STRATEGIES
REPRESENTATION COMMUNITY BENEFIT FACTS TRUST
Empower more than the loudest voices.
Confront biased viewpoints.
Change how we communicate (notifications) and where we engage (in the community).
Ask questions: “How will that affect…?”
(Most people don’t want to be caught acting selfish.)
Communicate that everyone has a story (it’s personal to everyone!).
Leverage relationships with trusted community leaders
Defend the public interest and those not present at the public hearing.
Ask about future generations.
Take anecdotes out of the conversation.
You are a community member too! Make it known.
Present trade-offs.
Make objective recommendations backed by experience (not just theory).
Don’t let people start a negative rhetoric about a class of individuals (like renters!).
LET’S STAY ENGAGED!
Devan Leavins
