Comprehensive Citizen Involvement / Public Relations Programs
Cities and counties should consciously develop comprehensive programs for involving citizens and "telling the story" about what local government offers. The best programs will include staff training (for staff from all departments) to assure that daily contacts with citizens are positive. Local governments may further benefit from creating an office or team to ensure a coordinated effort. Local governments can and should make use of techniques from the marketing world but must focus on delivering an honest message. Efforts to manipulate or co-op citizen support, without addressing priority citizen needs, will only increase distrust in government.
Public Involvement/Public Relations Policies, Plans, and Guides to Guide Government Officials and Staff
- Vancouver, BC, CA Public Process Guide, and Public Involvement Principles - Includes public involvement principles and guide to help City staff carry out effective public processes.
- City of Bellingham (WA) Public Involvement Needs Assessment, Prepared for the City of Bellingham, Final Report December 2006. Includes study results and consultant recommendations.
- Tacoma Public Relations Plan - Plan for an information campaign to "tell Tacoma's story".
- Spokane, WA Community Development Citizen Participation Plan, 2008.
- Walla Walla, WA Communications Program (
) - (Resolution 93-39)() Work program launches comprehensive, multi-department effort to improve communications; includes objectives, steps, measures.
- Public Involvement Planning Guide, Portland (OR) Metro - Guide for departments to develop public involvement plans including forms that aid staff in thinking through an involvement plan.
- Corvallis (OR) Comprehensive Communications Plan, 2004 - appendices include a listing and evaluation of effectiveness of approaches, and a 3-year action plan
- Minneapolis, MN Community Engagement (CE) Process Model Guidebook, 2006 - Encourages departments to develop more meaningful, efficient and cost-effective community engagement activities, and to evaluate the effectiveness of their efforts
- Communications Action Plan, City of Mankato, MN and Mankato Area Public Schools, 2002. The city and school district develop a joint plan and share a public information director. (note that pages are scrambled, if read online, because of book format).
Coordinated Programs with Help of Public Information Office or Team
- Pierce County, WA Department of Communications – Including department role description, media policy, sample ad campaigns, 24-hour access line.
- Richland, WA Community Information, Public Information Office - Including community newsletter, CityView Cable TV, school and community education program, speakers’ bureau and city facility tours.
- Snohomish County, WA Communications & Public Involvement - Communications office within Public Works Department.
- Clark County, WA Public Information & Outreach – Contact point for information, neighborhood outreach program, speakers’ bureau.
- Clark County, NV Office of Public Communications - Description of communication office services and responsibilities.
- Orange County, FL Public Participation Team for comprehensive plan commenting process (National Association of Counties Model Program).
- Corvallis, OR Public Outreach - Communications plan and descriptions of programs to share information with citizens, including newsletter, Council Comment Corner, annual citizen attitude survey, 24-hour City Hall, neighborhood meetings and city service guide.
- Corvallis (OR) Citizen Involvement Committee - Committee formed to facilitate citizen involvement in all phases of land use planning and decision making.
- Metro Committee for Citizen Involvement - Portland (OR) Metro - Advisory committee advises on improving citizen involvement efforts.
- Minneapolis, MN Communications Department