CSC’s Executive Director, Pete Peterson, has just had his essay, “The Citizen Returns” published in the latest issue of the National Civic Review - the journal of the National Civic League. In it, he briefly tells the history of Common Sense California, using it as a lens through which to look at the field of public engagement and why it is becoming an increasingly important civic leadership skill.
An important local issue in the Los Angeles suburb of Palos Verdes, the future plans for the landfill area in the Rolling Hills Estates section will be informed through an intentionally public process. The Daily Breeze reports that beginning with nine-member Citizens’ Advisory Committee the process will engage the public at large. Robert Ferrante, an official from the Sanitation Districts of Los Angeles County, describes the campaign: “It’s simply to promote a two-way dialogue with the community, to keep them informed.”
This would seem to indicate a straightforward, “outbound” communication effort on the part of the Sanitation Districts, but the Advisory Committee will be convening public meetings this month to receive ideas and opinions regarding next steps for the landfill.
Auburn City (pop. 79,000) in the Australian state of New South Wales has just launched its “I Love Auburn City Because I Can Have My Say” website on the Bang the Table platform. The site uses Bang the Table’s “EngagementHQ” to solicit ideas and survey participants as the city heads towards development of its Strategic Plan (similar to General Plans in the US). Questions range from demographic to specific policy suggestions.
Auburn City’s overall engagement strategy is to use this online participation to frame face-to-face deliberations, which have been scheduled following the conclusion of the online engagement period.