Action Plan/Outline

The Citizen Participation Plan is a required element of the 2030 Comprehensive Plan. This plan seeks to continue or create methods of communication and participation that will strengthen the relationship between the public and the City.  The goal is to complete the plan by January for adoption at the 2010 Annual Update in March.

Mission Statement

The Citizen Participation Plan seeks to establish and coordinate procedures for the City to: effectively and efficiently communicate relevant information and it’s effects to the public, proactively and reactively solicit feedback, improve community outreach, and provide opportunities for public participation in the City’s decision-making process.

Advisory Group

The Citizen Participation Plan Advisory Group’s charge is to provide information to staff regarding current methods of communication/outreach/participation opportunities and desired methods to allow better two-way communication and encourage participation in the future.  In addition, the advisory group may help facilitate public meetings with general public, guide and review proposed the ultimate plan’s goals, policies, and implementation strategies, and give their blessing to the plan before hearings at Planning and Zoning Commission and City Council. 

Staff estimates that the advisory group will have 3 or 4  meetings with staff. There will be 2 lrager public meetings: one to gather information and one additional meeting at the end to present the final plan. 

Elements of the Plan

• Executive Summary
• Background and Legal Requirements
• Existing Efforts
• SWOT Analysis
• Future Goals and Strategies
• Implementation

Structure and Timeline:

• Staff Committee established – Communication Team and sub-group
• Committee creates outline, goals, timelines
• Public involvement – Advisory Group meetings, etc.
• Formulate goals and policies
• Implementation Strategies
• Adoption

Elements

Background:

Demographics, history of growth in Georgetown, past public participation efforts, historical communication efforts, changing circumstances in the present and future, etc.

Legal:

State requirements for notifications, ethics, open meetings, agendas, public hearings, etc.

Existing Efforts:

Present communication efforts with citizens, involvement efforts like task forces, etc., available information (websites, etc.) direct links to citizen groups, citizen surveys.

SWOT Analysis:

Examine strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats (SWOT) for present and future citizen participation efforts

Future Goals and Overall Strategy:

Set City-wide goals for 5-year and 10-year plans, plus ongoing efforts to further communication and encourage participation among GT citizens.  Set strategy for coordination among departments, elected officials, citizen groups, etc. that could further the goals of this plan. 

Implementation Strategies

How to get there from here.