1. Ed Everett1 MLGMA Conference Civic Engagement: Our Public as Partners Civic Engagement: Our Public as Partners

2. Ed Everett2 Definition of Civic Engagement Civic Engagement Definition Harwood Institute Civic Engagement Definition Harwood Institute

3. Ed Everett3 Civic Engagement is not…  Selling the public on….  Getting votes for….  Convincing the public to….  A meeting to complain/find fault  Having the same old discussion  A process where staff controls the outcome  Doesn’t happen at council meetings  Selling the public on….  Getting votes for….  Convincing the public to….  A meeting to complain/find fault  Having the same old discussion  A process where staff controls the outcome  Doesn’t happen at council meetings

4. Ed Everett4 Why Civic Engagement? 1.How successful is your present interaction with your citizens? 2.Do you like being yelled at and criticized? 3.Does it make sense to continue the same old ineffective interaction with the public? 1.How successful is your present interaction with your citizens? 2.Do you like being yelled at and criticized? 3.Does it make sense to continue the same old ineffective interaction with the public?

5. Ed Everett5 Benefits of Civic Engagement  Create involved citizens  Build community  Engender trust  Provide cover  Develop better ideas  Implement programs faster and easier  Share responsibility  Improve job satisfaction  Create involved citizens  Build community  Engender trust  Provide cover  Develop better ideas  Implement programs faster and easier  Share responsibility  Improve job satisfaction

6. Ed Everett6 Why Civic Engagement is hard  Distrust  New set of skills  Citizens v. Customers  Behavioral and attitudinal changes  Perceived lost of control  Distrust  New set of skills  Citizens v. Customers  Behavioral and attitudinal changes  Perceived lost of control

7. Ed Everett7 Spectrum of Activities  Public Education  Public Deliberation  Public Dialogue  Public Education  Public Deliberation  Public Dialogue

8. Ed Everett8 Historical Evolution Time PeriodGovernmental Form Public Involvement Early HistoryTown HallCommunity Minded/Involved 1800’s to 1930’s Political BossesControlled by Bosses 1940’s, 50’s, 60’sCity FathersPassive Acceptance 1970 to 2009Vending MachineCustomer 2010 to futureCommunity as Partner Citizen accountability

9. Ed Everett9 Customer Characteristics  Give away power  Allow other to define their needs  Consume not create  Think in terms of “I”  Feel entitled  Give away power  Allow other to define their needs  Consume not create  Think in terms of “I”  Feel entitled

10. Ed Everett10 Citizen Characteristics  Accountable  Committed  Determines the future  Exercises power  Acknowledges change thru citizens  Accountable  Committed  Determines the future  Exercises power  Acknowledges change thru citizens

11. Ed Everett11 Needed Changes  The view of ourselves and our community  Our discussions  Our assumptions and behaviors  The view of ourselves and our community  Our discussions  Our assumptions and behaviors

12. Ed Everett12 Partnership Wheel (Govt in center) 12 Local Government Volunteers Business Non-Profits Grant Associations Faith Community Stakeholders Property Owners Citizens You Education

13. Ed Everett13 Partnership Wheel (Topic in center) 13 a Topic Volunteers Business Non-Profits Grant Associations Faith Community City Government Property Owners Citizens You Education Partnership Wheel

14. Ed Everett14 Before beginning a Civic Engagement process  Are we ready?  Is it an significant issue?  Are we willing to not control the outcome?  Is the timing correct?  Do we have the resources?  How will we use the results?  Are we ready?  Is it an significant issue?  Are we willing to not control the outcome?  Is the timing correct?  Do we have the resources?  How will we use the results?

15. Ed Everett15 Attitudinal Changes Staff and council must change the way they perceive and engage the public. Staff and council must change the way they perceive and engage the public.

16. Ed Everett16 Staff behavior changes 1.Partner/consultant 2.Open to alternative ideas 3.Understand the importance of citizen values 4.Let go of being in control 5.Listen, listen, listen. 1.Partner/consultant 2.Open to alternative ideas 3.Understand the importance of citizen values 4.Let go of being in control 5.Listen, listen, listen.

17. Ed Everett17 Council behavior changes 1.Don’t have to know all the answers 2.Don’t always be at the head of the room 3.Don’t have to control the outcome 4.Listen 5.Be open to new ideas 6.Know when to follow 7.Understand the power of the process (Redwood City example--Recycled Water) 1.Don’t have to know all the answers 2.Don’t always be at the head of the room 3.Don’t have to control the outcome 4.Listen 5.Be open to new ideas 6.Know when to follow 7.Understand the power of the process (Redwood City example--Recycled Water)

18. Ed Everett18 Citizen behavior changes 1.Be citizens not customers 2.Accept responsibility and accountability 3.Give up the “blame game” 4.Move from “I” to “Us” 5.Be open to new ideas 6.Understand the issues (Redwood City example--Traffic) 1.Be citizens not customers 2.Accept responsibility and accountability 3.Give up the “blame game” 4.Move from “I” to “Us” 5.Be open to new ideas 6.Understand the issues (Redwood City example--Traffic)

19. Ed Everett19 Lessons Learned 1.People will participate if the process has integrity. 2.Build relationships first. 3.Start civic engagement early. 4.City Manager and Council must be supportive. 5.Civic engagement takes time and money. 6. There will be setbacks. 1.People will participate if the process has integrity. 2.Build relationships first. 3.Start civic engagement early. 4.City Manager and Council must be supportive. 5.Civic engagement takes time and money. 6. There will be setbacks.

20. Ed Everett20 Lesson Learned 7.Staff and Council need certain skills (i.e. designing and facilitating the process) 8.Staff training is crucial. 9.All parties need to change behaviors. 10.Have a different discussion. 11.Invitation, place, layout, etc 7.Staff and Council need certain skills (i.e. designing and facilitating the process) 8.Staff training is crucial. 9.All parties need to change behaviors. 10.Have a different discussion. 11.Invitation, place, layout, etc