Engagement Corner

The update to the comprehensive plan rests on a comprehensive, coordinated, and consistent community engagement strategy that acknowledges the timeless principles for gathering a community while incorporating new technologies for increasing outreach and participation. Our approach to effective engagement for the new comprehensive plan starts with defining targets, namely engaged citizens’ wants and needs:

1. to be asked to participate;
2. to be provided multiple, convenient ways to engage;
3. to find safe, convenient places to gather;
4. to connect with people on something meaningful; and
5. to believe their involvement will create change they can witness.

The project team also believes strongly everyone in the planning area should have an opportunity to engage, which means options are tailored and targeted to the convenience of the audience ― including both high-tech and low-tech tools and activities.

The comprehensive planning process schedules outreach activities and regular communication throughout the planning process to create feedback loops for building widespread support critical to recommending new ideas and solutions for the planning area. The planning process will evolve throughout the project as new challenges and opportunities present themselves. New events may be scheduled “on-the-fly” to meet project needs. Nonetheless, the strategy for communication will always be focused on using tools to inform, tools to collaborate, tools to evaluate, and tools to obtain feedback at key milestones in the planning process.

NEXT ENGAGEMENT OPPORTUNITY

Draft Recommendations Workshop Series