+ 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
Youth Civic Leadership Civic Health Programs + Nonpartisan Working to create a more modern and Voting Rights robust democracy for all Nebraskans. Advocacy
+ A tale of two cities… City A City B Population 850 Population 850 + + Agricultural economic base Agricultural economic base + + 20 miles from Micropolitan City 20 miles from Micropolitan City + + Not a county seat Not a county seat + + 1997 Comprehensive Plan 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: Correlated to improvement: n Population gain n Investment in local quality of life projects n Being near major highways n Active and engaged elders n Natural amenities n Full-time, full-year, good n County Seat paying jobs n Local government (just didn’t n Social infrastructure: many get in the way) 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 The plan is a This plan is a The Comprehensive living document living guidance Comprehensive Plan is most that should be document meant Development effective when consulted often, to reflect the Plan is not a it’s a living used as a tool for current and static document; document that is collaboration, future vision of it should evolve continually and provide the community as in the land- reflective of the guidance to as it evolves. use, population community and many user or local economy its vision. groups. occur during the planning period.
IT’S ALIVE!! Comprehensive Plan
+ SHARED VISION What does a civically strong SOCIALLY CONNECTED community look like? CONFIDENCE IN INSTITUTIONS COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT POLITICALLY INVOLVED
+ Civic Strength and Planning Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ Civic Strength and Planning Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ 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 Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ 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 Key Player- Collaborate (High Interest + High Power) 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 Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ 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
+ Trustworthy Institutions: Assess your own trustworthiness n Accessible information and meetings n Impartial to all applicants n Decisions are fair and consistent n Transparency of reasoning for decisions n Tracking and communicating progress n Perception that you are working for the common good
+ 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 Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ Build Engagement on Assets: A few principles n Fun comes first. n Don’t go it alone- find co-leaders n Everyone thinks and participates differently, multiple options are better than one n Invite early, and be generous with your invitations
+ Build Engagement on Assets: Use your neighbors’ gifts n Understand what people are good at, and wanting to do n Never miss an opportunity to build habits of engagement n Partner with existing groups that are on the move n Partner with local philanthropy
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+ Build Engagement on Assets: Typical types of outreach Surveys Town Hall Public Hearing: Focus Groups Strength: Reach out to Strengths: Consensus, Strength: Legally Strengths: Depth of a large number of selecting options, required, direct conversation, hear people, general disseminating contact with officials from important but pulse, context information, lesser heard groups neighborhood action planning Weakness: Not Weakness: Time Weakness: Little room Weakness: Will usually statistically for problem solving, intensive, small always miss people, representative, not ax grinding time number of people difficult to facilitate, everyone will fill out a little meaningful new hard copy or go info online
+ 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 Counties: notice also given to municipalities within 3 miles of property least 10 days prior to hearing 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 Stakeholder Content n Public Comment Close Public Hearing n Discussion and Motion Action n Vote
+ 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 Rooted in the Trustworthy Know the ends of community Institutions your means Involvement in Build Engagement Leadership and Enjoy the Process on Assets Politics
+ 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 opportunities; build capacity to make good decisions
+ Involvement in Leadership and Politics: Strong Elections n Encoura ge good people to run for local office; many uncontested elections n Encourage all eligible residents to vote
+ Involvement in Leadership and Politics: Civics Education n Local government field day- education about roles, functions, job opportunities n Leadership education, after school programs, mentorships n Opportunities to discuss issues, practicing civil discourse at a local level and in everyday meetings
Enjoy the process!
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