Political Environment Scan

1. Political Environment Scan The following is a sample Policy Environment Scan for a hypothetical local public works department. The purpose of the scan is to identify the ways in which the agency can increase its political capital to achieve the desired policy outcomes. Strategic Policy Concepts 1

2. Presentation Overview Slide One – Describes how to solve the Paradox of Public Services Slide Two – Represents the political/policy environment in which the water department operates Slide Three – Summarizes the political Strengths, Weakness and Threats (SWOT) of the department Slide Four – Provides a ‘Political Balance Sheet’ for the department including the positive (Political Revenue) and negative (Political Expenditures) sides of the ledger: Attributes = positive things about the department Influence = who is directly affected by those attributes Strategy = how can the department use those attributes and the people they influence to grow its political capital Actions = specific steps the department can take to grow its political capital Slide Five – Compares the value of the three primary ways to grow political capital Slide Six – Demonstrates why it is critical to primarily grow political capital from the community/consumer level Slide Seven – Outlines an example of how the department can grow political capital at the community level while accomplishing other important goals Strategic Policy Concepts 2

3. Solving the Paradox of Public Services The Facts • Provide top-quality services • Ensure services perform exactly as expected 100% of the time • Provide services seamlessly and invisibly • Cost as little as possible • Never ask consumers to do with less The Paradox • A single mistake will call into question the efficacy of the entire service • The services provided are usually so invisible, they are unappreciated by the community • Even if the service’s costs are lower than in comparable cities, they are still too high for consumers • Budget constraints dictate consumers of public services must do with less and pay more for it The Solution • Education – if consumers readily understand the complexity and challenges inherent in providing the service as well as the constraints on public resources they will more easily tolerate either an increase in fees, reduction in services, or even a rare, albeit temporary, interruption in service • Options – if possible, give consumers the option between paying more for additional services or paying less for fewer services • Empowerment – provide the consumer with the information and tools to do their part to reduce the cost of public services without sacrificing efficiency or quality Strategic Policy Concepts 3

4. The Political Landscape • Federal • Federal Regulatory Agencies • Federal Funding Agencies • Congress • State Congressional Delegation • State • State Regulatory Agencies • State Funding Agencies • Assembly • Long Beach Assembly Delegation City Council • Neighboring States • Colorado • Arizona • Nevada • New Mexico Mayor Board of Water Commissioners Water Department • Water and • Sewer Users • Residential • Commercial • Industrial • Local • Neighborhood Associations • NGO Advocates • Business Groups • Other municipal agencies • Regional • Metropolitan Water District • Contiguous watersheds and basins Strategic Policy Concepts 4

5. Political SWOT Analysis Strengths Weaknesses • Water department is one of the most reliable, safe, and efficient • providers of municipal water and sewer services in the country • Infrastructure is being updated, new technologies are being • created, state and federal funds are flowing to the department, • and rates remain reasonable • Water department is responsive to consumer problems and • consistently exceeds state and federal drinking water standards • Water department is fiscally healthy, transparent and well- • managed • Low visibility in the community • Lack of positive media coverage • Not enough focus on touting success to maximize political gain • The need to connect the dots publicly between water and sewer • system reliability and economic development, housing • construction, public health, and overall quality of life. Threats Opportunities • Harmful policy or regulatory changes at the state and federal • level • State and federal budget constraints • Corruption charges leveled at neighboring water districts • Ongoing water-rights disputes with other states • Diminishing water supply due to drought • Supply reliability • Desalination project and more federal funding • Reclamation project and further development • Continuing upgrade and replacement of infrastructure • Further involvement of citizens and community groups • Creating conservation and pollution-prevention initiatives and • capitalizing on the PR value Strategic Policy Concepts 5

6. The Political Balance Sheet Political RevenuePolitical Expenditures AttributesInfluence Strategy Actions Quality Education Facility tours, internet, public service announcements Safety Customers Visibility Presence at community events, department brand Reliability Customer Service Employee training Price Promotion Bottled water, water department icon Healthy and Reward success Employee awards, merit increases safe working Employees Empowerment Solicit feedback and input, employee surveys environment Personalize Profiles on web site, encourage community work Effective Commissioners Communication Early warning, seek input, proactively provide info Management Mayor Responsiveness Systematize rapid response to constituent concerns (internal) City Council Joint district outreach Partner to host district meetings on water issues Effective Citizen Groups Public education Co-sponsor conservation awareness programs Management Local Advocates Coalition-building Partner with lobby groups on common issues (external) Special Interests Systematic input Establish industry advisory board on water issues Public image Media Press education Build relationships, tout successes, connect the dots and perception Transparency Provide access, be responsive and forthcoming Overall Assembly and Targeted Outreach Build relationships, make them look good Performance Congr. delegations Big picture Articulate department concerns in political context Bottom Line: Increase Political Capital Strategic Policy Concepts 6

7. Maximizing State and Local Political Capital Key Political outreach Media outreach Community outreach Active Community Support Positive Media Coverage Political Capital Allied Elected Officials Time and Effort Strategic Policy Concepts 7

8. The Headwaters of Political Power The key is using the local political base to build relationships with the ‘official carriers’ of political power at each level. This requires engagement, education, and mobilization of the local political base, i.e. the consumers. Unofficial carriers, such as associations and professional powerbrokers, should also be used, but as a supplement, not a substitute Federal and Inter-State President Federal Agencies Congress Congressional Delegation Tertiary Governor State & Regional State Agencies State Assembly Assembly Delegation Secondary Growth of Political Capital Mayor Municipal City Councilors Commissioners Community/Consumers Primary basis of all political capital Strategic Policy Concepts 8

9. Growing Political Capital - Local Outreach Example Community Conservation Initiative • Establish neighborhood water conservation committees to develop their own goals for conservation (with technical assistance from the water department). Committees will develop tailored outreach programs with small grants. • Increase the interactivity of the department web site to provide a ‘community tools’ section where groups can get conservation ideas, outreach strategies, and facts and figures about water consumption and the need for conservation. Each community group can have their own web page for disseminating information. • The department web site can also encourage greater interaction between the community and Commissioners, department staff, and among one another. They can share best practices for water conservation, for example. • It will encourage further community involvement and awareness about conservation and the important work of the department as well as provide a unique vehicle to promote conservation technologies (low-usage shower heads and toilets) available through the department. • School children can be involved in the design of their neighborhood outreach material around a poster or web site competition. • Local businesses, particularly those that are heavy users of department services, can be solicited to contribute to a special fund to also help pay for the community groups’ expenses in exchange for a good PR opportunity. • The initiative can partner with other providers of municipal services interested in user conservation such as the electric utilities. • The initiative provides an opportunity to engage local environmental groups since conservation is a common goal, which increases the effectiveness of the effort and builds good will between environmentalists and the department. • The department and partner groups and agencies can give an award to the most successful and innovative neighborhood conservation programs. • The initiative empowers members of the community to get involved in water conservation and helps them assume some of the burden for conserving water. • The department can produce Public Service Announcements (PSAs) regarding the initiative and obtain approval from local television stations to air them at no cost. • If successful, the initiative would be an opportunity to gain positive media coverage for the department and further raise awareness about the importance of water conservation. Strategic Policy Concepts 9