+ Steeped in Civic Strength Planning to create active, vibrant, - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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Steeped in Civic Strength

Planning to create active, vibrant, and connected communities. Daniel Bennett Rural Civic Health Program Manager E: daniel.bennett@civicnebraska.org P: (402) 904-5191

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Working to create a more modern and robust democracy for all Nebraskans.

Youth Civic Leadership Civic Health Programs

Nonpartisan Voting Rights Advocacy

+A tale of two cities…

City A City B Population 850 + Agricultural economic base + 20 miles from Micropolitan City + Not a county seat + 1997 Comprehensive Plan _____________________________ Population 850 + Agricultural economic base + 20 miles from Micropolitan City + Not a county seat + 2010 Comprehensive Plan _____________________________

Active, Thriving town Stagnant, spins wheels

+Shrink-Smart: What improving towns have in common

Link: Iowa State Shrink-Smart

+Iowa State Shrink-Smart study:

Not correlated to improvement:

n Population gain n Being near major highways n Natural amenities n County Seat n Local government (just didn’t

get in the way) Correlated to improvement:

n Investment in local quality of

life projects

n Active and engaged elders n Full-time, full-year, good

paying jobs

n Social infrastructure: many

groups and volunteers, open to new leaders and ideas, etc.

+Transfer of leadership

Common theme in three communities to generating successful new waves of leadership:

n A small group with a hopeful vision AND grit to persevere; willing

to get eaten up for their cause

n This small group then does something that creates creative

contagious hope

n This small group then ASKS others to being involved Research by Dr. Lindsay Hastings, Associate Professor, Agricultural Leadership, Education, & Communication, University of Nebraska- Lincoln

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+Towards the fabled ‘living document’…

Blair, NE Seward, NE Ord, NE Lincoln County The Comprehensive Plan is most effective when it’s a living document that is continually reflective of the community and its vision. The plan is a living document that should be consulted often, used as a tool for collaboration, and provide guidance to many user groups. This plan is a living guidance document meant to reflect the current and future vision of the community as it evolves. The Comprehensive Development Plan is not a static document; it should evolve as in the land- use, population

• r local economy
• ccur during the

planning period.

IT’S ALIVE!! Comprehensive Plan

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What does a civically strong community look like?

SHARED VISION SOCIALLY CONNECTED CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLITICALLY INVOLVED

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

+ Know the ends of your means:

Know and share your vision

+ Know the ends of your means:

Know the WHY behind what you do

+ Know the ends of your means: Invest in

quality of life, places of connection

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

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Rooted in the community: Build

relationships before you need them

n Assess the strengths and weaknesses in your community’s

social connections

n Across ages, newcomers and established residents, service

groups, ethnicities, professions, location in town

n Relationships are the roads and rails of getting things done

+ Rooted in the community:

Know your stakeholders

Important Player- Consult (Low Interest + High Power) Key Player- Collaborate (High Interest + High Power) Other Player- Inform (Low Interest + Low Power) Affected Player- Involve (High Interest + Low Power)

+ Rooted in the community:

Use your networks

n Don’t just “see who shows up”

n Most people show up because they were asked by

someone they respect

n Delegate to people and organizations who have

energy and expertise and better connections

n See who’s done it before, regional and state

connections

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

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Trustworthy Institutions: Which institutions are your assets?

n Which institutions have strong public confidence? n Important for:

n With whom you partner n Information sharing and dissemination n Meeting locations

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Trustworthy Institutions: Assess your own trustworthiness

nAccessible information and meetings nImpartial to all applicants nDecisions are fair and consistent nTransparency of reasoning for decisions nTracking and communicating progress nPerception that you are working for the

common good

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Trustworthy Institutions: Careful to avoid these ethical pitfalls

n Abstain from ‘ex parte’ interactions

n Information from interested parties n Discussing official matter with other commissioners n Using information outside the public forum to ‘make

up your mind’ before the meeting

n Recuse yourself from matters with true conflicts of

interest

n Disclose potential biases

n Everyone has the right to an unbiased decision-

maker

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

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Build Engagement on Assets: A few principles

nFun comes first. nDon’t go it alone- find co-leaders nEveryone thinks and participates

differently, multiple options are better than

• ne

nInvite early, and be generous with your

invitations

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Build Engagement on Assets: Use your neighbors’ gifts

nUnderstand what people are good at, and

wanting to do

nNever miss an opportunity to build habits of

engagement

nPartner with existing groups that are on the

move

nPartner with local philanthropy

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Surveys

Strength: Reach out to a large number of people, general pulse, context Weakness: Not usually statistically representative, not everyone will fill out a hard copy or go

• nline

Focus Groups

Strengths: Depth of conversation, hear from important but lesser heard groups Weakness: Time intensive, small number of people

Town Hall

Strengths: Consensus, selecting options, disseminating information, neighborhood action planning Weakness: Will always miss people, difficult to facilitate, little meaningful new info

Public Hearing:

Strength: Legally required, direct contact with officials Weakness: Little room for problem solving, ax grinding time

Build Engagement on Assets: Typical types of outreach

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Hearings and Notices: Example Process (Neb. Statutes 19-904-19-905)

Take up the issue of zone change from an applicant Notice of hearing published once- at least 10 days prior to hearing

Counties: notice also given to municipalities within 3 miles of property

Public hearing for planning commission recommendation Notice of hearing published for legislative body (council, commission or board) sign posting on property; 10 days prior to hearing Public hearing for legislating body Three readings for municipalities Vote

+ Public Hearing Format

Open Public Hearing

n Staff Report n Applicant Statement n Public Comment

Close Public Hearing

n Discussion and Motion n Vote

Stakeholder Content Action

+ Tips for effective meetings

n Set expectations and ground rules n Have specific, actionable items; options help n Provide multiple ways to engage: Privately, small

group, large group

n Make what’s said and decisions visible as you go n Sound system and visual, special accommodations

+Civic Strength and Planning

Know the ends of your means

Rooted in the community Trustworthy Institutions

Build Engagement

• n Assets

Involvement in Leadership and Politics Enjoy the Process

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Involvement in Leadership and Politics: Build local boards

n Planning Commission, CRA, Business Improvement

District, Board of Adjustments, Elected Officials

n Know expectations (what you want, what you don’t

want) of members; job description

n Build the ‘pipeline’; diversity of mentors and new

members

n Look beyond the ‘usual suspects’ n Nebraska has many leadership and board training

• pportunities; build capacity to make good

decisions

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Involvement in Leadership and Politics: Strong Elections

n Encourage good people to run for local office; many

uncontested elections

n Encourage all eligible residents to vote

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Involvement in Leadership and Politics: Civics Education

nLocal government field day- education

about roles, functions, job opportunities

nLeadership education, after school

programs, mentorships

nOpportunities to discuss issues, practicing

civil discourse at a local level and in everyday meetings

Enjoy the process!

+ What we’re doing at Civic Nebraska

n Nebraska Civic Health Index- 2020

update

n Rural Civic Action Project (RCAP)

Connects high school and college class to complete service learning project.

n Rural Civic Health Initiative

Strengthening civic health through community engagement.

n Afterschool Youth Civic Leadership n Government in Action Days n Hemingford Civic Health Field Day

pilot in April

n Law Day in Grand Island n Capitol Experience Day n Civil Discourse Adult Learning Course

(Lincoln)

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“Plans are worthless, but planning is everything."

President Dwight D. Eisenhower November 14, 1957

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“You must keep yourself steeped in the character of the problem you will one day be called upon to solve."

What does it look like for planners to be “steeped in the character of the the problems” we are called upon to solve?

+Upcoming trainings:

+Resources for Participation

n Regional Entities: PADD, Panhandle Public Health District,

Natural Resource District, Neb. Extension, Dept. of Econ. Development

n National/online resources:

n International Association for Public Participation (iap2) n Community Heart and Soul n Human Centered Design

n Digital Tools:

n Balancing Act: Participatory Budgeting

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Civic health is something we all

• wn together.

Daniel Bennett Rural Civic Health Program Manager E: daniel.bennett@civicnebraska.org P: (402) 904-5191 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CivicNebraska Twitter: @CivicNE