1. Public Participation for Executives and Decision Makers
What, Why and How to Involve Others in your Decisions

2. Course Goals How Public Participation ties into your Decision-Making
When and Why the Public should take part in your Decisions … and when NOT
Your unique Role and Commitment
Key Concepts that must be Considered to be Effective when Involving Others
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3. Course Goals How Public Participation ties into your Decision-Making
When and Why the Public should take part in your Decisions … and when NOT
Your unique Role and Commitment
Key Concepts that must be Considered to be Effective when Involving Others
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4. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public.
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary
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5. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary
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6. What is Public Participation?
Public Participation DOES NOT mean giving up control or authority

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8. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary
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9. Why Involve the Public? It’s Required You’re Frustrated or Desperate
There’s Value in Doing so
It’s to Your Advantage
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10. Why Involve the Public?
It’s Required
It’s the Law
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11. Why Involve the Public? You’re Frustrated or Desperate
Public opposition
Lawsuits
Controversy is Expensive and Time-Consuming
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12. Why Involve the Public?
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13. Why Involve the Public? What are the risks of NOT doing so?
Public sentiment before a proposal
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14. Why Involve the Public? What are the risks of NOT doing so?
Public sentiment with specific proposal
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15. Why Involve the Public? What are the risks of NOT doing so?
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16. Why Involve the Public? There’s Value in Doing So
Avoids controversy and public veto
Improves processes and decisions:
Early warning system
Better understanding of the task
More information and more perspectives
Mutual understanding
Feedback on potential impacts
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17. Why Involve the Public? It’s to Your Advantage
Helps Manage Single-Issue Views
Motivated Advocates
Free Consultants
Builds Relationships
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18. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary

19. When Not to Involve the Public
When you won’t/can’t consider their opinion
If you can only keep people informed, don’t promise more
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20. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary

21. Critical Components and Considerations
Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
Understand Who Needs to Be Involved
Determine the Level of Public Participation
Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
Ensure Your Public Participation Process Reflects Values and Resources, is Aligned with the Decision Process, and is Driven by the Public Participation Objectives
Evaluate and Adapt – Continuously
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22. Critical Components and Considerations
Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
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23. Critical Components and Considerations
Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
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24. Critical Components and Considerations
Understand Who Needs to Be Involved
Orbits of participation
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26. Critical Components and Considerations
Determine the Level of Public Participation
Consider:
Level of Controversy?
Level of Trust/Distrust?
Impact on the Public?
Can the Public Influence the Decision?
Complexity and Difficulty
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27. Critical Components and Considerations
Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
The public should have a say in decisions about actions that could affect their lives
Public participation includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence the decision
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28. Critical Components and Considerations
Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
The public participation process promotes sustainable decisions by recognizing and communicating the needs and interests of all participants, including decision makers
The public participation process seeks out and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision
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29. Critical Components and Considerations
Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
The public participation process seeks input from participants in designing how they participate
The public participation process provides participants with the information they need to participate in a meaningful way
The public participation process communicates to participants how their input affected the decision
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30. Critical Components and Considerations
Ensure Your Public Participation Process Reflects Values and Resources, is Aligned with the Decision Process, and is Driven by the Public Participation Objectives
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31. Critical Components and Considerations
Evaluate and Adapt – Continuously
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32. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary

33. Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Consider the Input
Be Clear about the Process and Public’s Role
Be Clear about Non-Negotiable Items
Don’t Make Promises you Cannot Keep
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34. Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Keep Your Promises
Honor the Core Values
Provide the Time and Resources
You’re Responsible for the Process Integrity
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35. Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Other roles and commitments
Other roles and commitments
Relationships
Content
Process
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36. Agenda What is Public Participation? Why Involve the Public?
When Not to Involve the Public
Critical Components and Considerations
The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
Summary

37. Summary Public Participation The Public Needs Improves Decisions
Brings new Views and Knowledge
Makes Projects More Effective
The Public Needs
Your Commitment
Clarity on the Decision, Public’s Role, your Objectives
Access
A Good Process
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38. “Never underestimate the will or resourcefulness of people who are snowed in half the year.”
— Steve Lopez, on the efforts of Wisconsin residents to block Perrier’s proposed bottling plant