Agenda - Council - 05/28/1985 - Laserfiche WebLink

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I I I :1 I I I I I I I I I I I USE OF NEW CITIZEN PARTICIPAT]Ofl TECI. IN]QUES The Council needs to develo~ additional citizen participation techniques to int'er'ac{ with new a~d different constiE~encies. The more traditional techniquesI (e.g., public meetinlgs, publ'ic hearings and citizen advisory comtttees) tend to reach the same people and result in the same types of input. The Council needs to recognize that different types of issues require different citizen participation strategies. Outside groqps need to assist the Council in qevistng and ,USltn~ new 'techniques for Citizen input, The increase in co-sponsOrship suggests a real potential for outside groups to take an active part in new types of Council citizen participation activities. GOALS~ OBJECTIVES AND STRATEGIES FOR CITIZ.EN PARTICIPATION The goal, objectives and strategies for citizen participation presented below are intended to give sharper focus to the Metropolitan Council's citizen participation effort and to provide a basis for its evaluation. They are based on the Council's current policies on citizen partici- pation, and on the issues identified in the previous section. GOAL: Increase participation of local governments, individual citizens, special comunities and organized groups in the planning and policy- making processes of the Metropolitan Council. This goal speaks to improving the Council's efforts to increase partici- pation of its individual constituencies in Council activities. Each of the following objectives addresses a particlar constituency and presents strategies the Council will use to increase its participation. In addition, the Council will work to foster close cooperation between and among all constituencies in solving regional probl~s. OBJECTIVE 1: Strengthen the working relationship between the Metro- politan Council and local governments to give them more opportunities to participate in setting regional policies and solving regional problems. STRATEGIES: Provide more opportunities for early input on policy plan revisions and emerging regional issues and proposals via informal discussions with policymakers and staffs. Prepare discussion papers on policy plan revisions and emerging issues and proposals, describing the issue or proposal, and presenting and evaluating alternative solutions. Hold forums or other public meetings to gain input on emerging issues and proposals as a means of obtaining local reaction to discussion papers. Notify local governments directly of Council actions that have an impact on them by official written notice to a designated "key contact person.' 8