Meaningful Citizen Engagement

1. Meaningful Citizen Engagement Tim Woods March, 2009

2. Old School… “Neither starting-place nor appointed destination… and where the enterprise is to keep afloat on an even keel.” Michael Oakeshott

3. Today… “We seem to be moving towards a different kind of system in which working directly with the public may be just as important as representing their interests.” Steve Burkholder, Mayor of Lakewood, California

4. Challenge: • How to integrate public opinion and public input into the decision making process.

5. Two Kinds of Leadership 1. Decide, Advocate, Defend • Leader reviews options & champions the ‘right policy’ 2. Inclusive, Dialogic, Genuine process • Leader champions the ‘right process’ – to harvest energy, creativity and wisdom of the whole community

6. Citizens….Ignore Them at your Peril • Government is a service sector…and expectations are high and getting higher • Being consulted is one of the metrics of modern ‘service’ • Satisfaction with government service translates into legitimacy for government

7. Use Citizen Power… Citizens hold progressive values… that can sustain progressive policies and politicians.

8. Purpose of Public Participation • Public preference plays a part in decisions • Adds local knowledge to decision-making • Fairness and Justice • Lends legitimacy for policy decisions • Legal Requirement

9. Public Hearings: Nobody Listens, Nobody Cares • Only the protagonists/antagonists participate • Format promotes confrontational politics • Battleground rhetoric, media coverage • Format is all about power relationships • Undermines faith in governance • Propels elected officials to adopt ‘decide + sell’ strategy

10. Citizenship 2.0 Citizens are: • Highly Educated • Informed, Access to Expertise • On-line • Connected at home and at work • Self-organizing • Blogs, twitter, social networking

11. Public Participation 2.0….Collaborative Participation • ‘Return on Participation’ • Transparency of process and purpose • Search for solutions • Dialogue that is constructive and reshapes perspectives • Builds trust among stakeholders • Develops networks among participants • Decisions that are understood and respected

12. One Way Talk… Elite or Self-selected… Reactive/Controversial… Knowledge Transfer… …Dialogue …Diverse Participants …Ongoing Exchange …Knowledge Exchange So What’s the Difference??? VS.

13. Davis, California….yes we can • Voters reject a tax increase…leaving multi-million dollar deficit to repair • City council appoints Citizen Budget Commission – with representation from ‘tax hike, service cuts champions along with city staff, other representative community voices • Commission learns about budget, programs, services • Result: unanimous agreement, and ratified by voters

14. Blockages Along the Way • Sharing influence with citizens perceived as a threat • Lack of collaborative skills, officials, public • Busy citizens have limited time • Cost of designing, staffing more genuine efforts • Partisanship is embedded • A more legitimate voice for citizens is not in the comfort zone of the political right

15. Methodologies at a Glance • Deliberative Polling • Appreciative Inquiry • Choice Work • Sustained Dialogue

16. Home page – “Have Your Say” Mandate – what’s up? Process overview … how process fits into decision-making Timelines Meetings…format, timing, location Publications …research, consultation process, access to submissions Participation …by email, in person, submissions Contact information Your City’s Website:Open for Citizen Input?

17. Useful Links • www.deliberate.ca The Deliberation Network. Find case histories, links to dialogue methodologies • www.c2d2.ca Canadian Community for Dialolgue & Deliberation • www.thataway.org US-based equivalent to c2d2 with enormous resource library • Coming to Public Judgment, Daniel Yankelovich

18. Tim Woods, Partner timwoods@deliberate.ca www.deliberate.ca Tel: 250 388-4915 Fax: 250 388-4916 Cell: 250 480-6668