Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness TAL BERMAN, IZHAK SCHNELL Department of Geography and Human Environment Tel-Aviv University Israel

Public Participation Goals Methods' Effectiveness Public Participation Goals Public participation goals are to extract residents’ local knowledge and enable its incorporation into the planning decision-making processes, in order to improve the planning products

What is local knowledge ? Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness What is local knowledge ? Individual and communal knowledge of inhabitants; Represents the perspective of local people who could be affected by plans Based on dynamic everyday life experience; Rooted in a specific locale(s); Reflects the particular circumstances of the time and culture Related to a broad conceptual system, includes beliefs, thoughts, perceptions, opinions; as well as cultural norms, spatial conducts, everyday scenarios - all of which are rooted in the locals’ everyday reality.

The importance of local knowledge Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness The importance of local knowledge Enables planning the locals’ living environments in such a way as to suit their everyday reality and improve their quality of life Its integration into the planning processes produces planning deliverales that suit community needs and preferences

The assumption and the question ASSUMPTION Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness The assumption and the question ASSUMPTION Local knowledge's significance is vital for generating better planning decision-making processes QUESTION To what extent do public participation various methods enable extracting of local knowledge and incorporating it into planning deliverables ?

Public participation methods Effectiveness Public participation methods Parameter Unilateral method Collaborative method Motivator Jurisdictional authorities Not-for-profit organizations; Grassroots coalitions Configuration Top down Buttom up Procedures Public hearings; SWOT analysis; Structured questionnaire Ongoing deliberation; Collaborative dialogue Stakeholders Two stakeholders: the jurisdiction and the individual citizen Various stakeholders: local communities and environmentalists 6

Scope of local knowledge Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Scope of local knowledge Parameter Unilateral method Collaborative method Motivator Jurisdictional authorities Grassroots coalitions of local residents Motive Formal provisions and professional norms Environmental nuisances Procedures Rigid framework of two types of pre-set tools Flexible framework of various procedures and tools Local knowledge flow Limited flow; one time session, time constrained event Ongoing, unconstrained by time, free and contineous Scope of local knowledge extracted Limited extraction of few specific types chosen in advance Many and varied types of mass of local knowledge 7

Types of local knowledge Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Types of local knowledge Parameter Unilateral method Collaborative method Communication direction One-way, unidirectional Two-ways, dealetical, descursive, deliberated Communication between participants Restricted Interactive, network configuration Promotion of social capital No Yes Types of local knowledge extracted Superficial aspect: momentary opinion, random statements,lone words, impulsive, intuitive, contradictory, inconsistent, inexplicit Well-argued, collaborated, detailed, consolidated, consistent, ripe, reliable, genuine 8

Participatory deliverables Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Participatory deliverables Parameter Unilateral Method Collaborative method Communicative interaction between lay people and professionals No Yes Advancing consensus Manipulation of the community Participatory deliverables (processed local knowledge) Raw local knowledge items recorded in the form of lists, diagrams, tables or drawings Professional recommendations, operative planning knowledge, plans 9

Incorporation of local knowledge into planning Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Incorporation of local knowledge into planning Parameter Unilateral Method Collaborative method Amass political power No Yes Enlist stakeholders, both jurisdictional and enterpreneurs Negotiation with stakeholders Incorporation of local knowledge (participatory deliverables) into statotury deliverables Few aspects, random and not intential, deliberate by city personnel (manipulated) Significant portion, through mediation and compromises 10

Conclusions Conclusions Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Conclusions Conclusions The relationships between the main criteria: motives > motivators > Procedures > communication > social capital > local knowledge quality > amassing operative knowledge > reaching consensus > Incorporating local knowledge into participatory deliverables > political power > Enlisting stakeholders (negotiations) > Incorporating local knowledge into statutory deliverables.

Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Conclusions Conclusions While the unilateral method tends to trivialize exposure and incorporation of resident's genuine needs and priorities, collaborative public participation processes incorporate local knowledge into planning

Public Participation Methods' Effectiveness Conclusions Conclusions Encouraging collaborative processes, and event favoring collaborative procedures, can be confidently recommended: enable ongoing deliberation between various stakeholders in the framework of an open network wherein members alongside professional residents take an active part in and lead processes of facilitation and knowledge development.