Effective Communication and Citizen Involvement
Contents
- Introduction
- Selected Statutes
- Guides and Toolboxes
- Effective Approaches for Informing Citizens
- Approaches for Obtaining Citizen Feedback
- Comprehensive Citizen Involvement and Public Relations Programs
- Involving Citizens in Community Improvement
- Communicating About Government Spending (What We Get for our Dollar)
- Communicating About Government Services (What's in it for You?)
- National/State Opinion Polls about Government Performance
- Related MRSC Pages
- Links to Other Organizations with Useful Resources
Introduction
Opinion polls and a growing docket of initiatives signal that citizens do not feel that local officials listen to them, or that citizens have significant influence on community decisions. Government officials may need new tools for better gauging and understanding the preferences and needs of constituents in increasingly diverse communities. Polls also indicate that the average citizen is acutely aware of government shortcomings, but far less conscious of the day-to-day benefits government provides. The message about government failures has been more vigorously promoted than the story of its successes and the services offered by government. Cities and counties need to be more vocal about the value of government and the mutual responsibility of all citizens to make it work.
This webpage presents ideas and examples of successful communication tools that local governments can use to (1) keep citizens informed about community issues and services, (2) to obtain feedback about citizen concerns and, (3) to engage citizens in shaping community direction, improvement programs and services. It also presents information and techniques for better communicating what local government is and what it does for us. This webpage emphasizes communication approaches that deliver a clear, focused, honest message in convenient, comfortable settings. The lists of examples are annotated to help you find approaches that best fit your community's needs.
If you have information to share, or are aware of other sites we should link to, please contact Sue Enger, Planning Consultant at senger@mrsc.org, or call at (206) 625-1300.
Selected Statutes
- RCW 36.70A.140 - Comprehensive plans - Ensure public participation
- RCW 36.70A.035 - Public participation - Notice provisions
- WAC 365-196-600 - Public participation
Guides and Toolboxes
- Guides and Toolboxes for Citizen Participation
Effective Approaches for Informing Citizens
- Introduction
- Variations on the Public Meeting Theme
- Speaker's Bureaus and Presentations to Existing Groups
- Reaching Citizens through Technology
- Reaching Citizens through Web sites
- Citizen Guides, Brochures and Orientations
- Newsletters, Columns, and Flyers
- Civic Education for Youth
- Citizen Education
- Staff Training
- Recommended Articles
Approaches for Obtaining Citizen Feedback
- Introduction
- Variations on the Public Meeting Theme
- Effective Meetings
- Citizen Participation in Developing a Vision
- Community Image/Visual Preference Surveys
- Citizen Surveys
- Charrettes
- Using Technology to Facilitate Feedback
- Recommended Articles
Comprehensive Citizen Involvement and Public Relations Programs
- Introduction
- Public Involvement/Public Relations Plans and Guides
- Coordinated Programs with Help of Public Information Officer or Team
Involving Citizens in Community Improvement
- Introduction
- Neighborhood Improvement Programs
- Recommended Articles
- Volunteer Programs - Separate Page
Communicating About Government Spending (What We Get for our Dollar)
- Introduction
- Examples - Simple, Effective, Visual Explanations About Tax Dollar Spending
- Budget-in-Brief Examples
- Budget/Capital Improvements Program Citizen Involvement Process
- Budget Guides and Tax Information
- Annual Reports/Report Cards
- Recommended Articles
Communicating About Government Services (What's in it for You?)
- Introduction
- Quick Find Guides and Directories to Government Services
- Citizen Service Web Request Forms
- Citizen Service Disruption Web Alerts
- Intergovernmental Cooperation to Stretch Tax Dollar in Providing Services
- Ombudsman Programs
- Citizen Satisfaction with Services Surveys
National/State Opinion Polls about Government Performance
Related MRSC Pages
- Appearance of Fairness Doctrine
- Advisory Boards, Commissions, and Committees
- Citizen Academies
- E-Government and E-Commerce
- Local Government Broadcasting of Public Meetings
- Online Citizen Surveys
- Open Public Meetings Act
- Public Records Disclosure
- Public Hearings: When and How to Hold Them
- Public Involvement in Transportation Planning
- Using Information Technology to Increase Citizen Participation
- Youth Participation in Local Government
- Social Media
Links to Other Organizations with Useful Resources
- International Association for Public Participation
- The Civic Practices Network - Practical methods of public problem solving; includes tools, manuals, articles, and case studies by state