CLEAR Plan 2030 Community Engagement Plan Prepared for: East Alabama Partnership for Livable Communities Prepared by: CLEAR Plan 2030 Community Engagement Livability Resource Team HUD Acknowledgement The work that provided the basis for this publication was supported by funding under an award with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. The substance and findings of the work are dedicated to the public. The author and publisher are solely responsible for the accuracy of the statements and interpretations contained in this publication. Such interpretations do not necessarily reflect the views of the Government. 2 TABLE OF CONTENTS HUD Acknowledgement ................................................................................................... 2 Introduction ....................................................................................................................... 4 Goals and Principles of Community Engagement ........................................................ 5 Identifying the Community, Partners and Stakeholders ............................................. 7 Data Collection .................................................................................................................. 8 Outreach and Education .................................................................................................. 8 Communication and Input ............................................................................................... 9 Assessment and Modification ........................................................................................ 10 Community Engagement beyond the Grant Period of Performance ...................... 11 Appendices Appendix A – Community Engagement LRT members ............................................. 12 Appendix B – Action Items ............................................................................................ 13 Appendix C – Media Contacts ....................................................................................... 14 Appendix D – Traditionally Marginalized Populations ............................................... 16 Lessons Learned ............................................................................................................. 27 3 Introduction The Community Livability for the East Alabama Region Plan 2030 (CLEAR Plan 2030) is supported by funding under an award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant. The East Alabama Area Agency on Aging became aware of the Sustainable Communities Initiative funding opportunity and through both interdepartmental and interagency discussions formed a consortium of local entities to promote livable communities. This Consortium consists of: Alabama Network of Family Resource Centers Alabama Power Calhoun Area Metropolitan Planning Organization Community Action Agency of Talladega, Clay, Randolph, Calhoun, and Cleburne Counties Community Foundation of Northeast Alabama Coosa Valley Resource Conservation and Development Council East Alabama Mayors Association Gadsden/Etowah County Metropolitan Planning Organization Jacksonville State University Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement United Way of East Central Alabama These entities have partnered together to promote many elements of livability throughout the region. In addition to the previously mentioned entities, departments internal to the East Alabama Regional Planning and Development Commission have been identified as assets to this process via their missions. Entities such as the Rural Planning Organization of East Alabama, Region 5 Workforce Development Council and East Alabama Area Agency on Aging have also partnered to provide resources because of the intimate working relationships and operations already in-place throughout the region. Livability has many facets. The 2010 Notice of Funding Availability for the Sustainable Communities Regional Planning Grant Program defines livability as “a measure of integration of the housing, transportation, environmental and employment amenities accessible to residents. A livable community is one with multiple modes of transportation, different types of housing, and destinations located within an easy distance (20 minutes by transit, 15 minutes by bike or foot, 10 minutes by car) of homes”. Realizing there is much more than these elements to a truly livable community, the Consortium has suggested the CLEAR Plan 2030 contain six Livability Resource Teams (LRTs): 4 Community Engagement Transportation Housing Education Economic Competitiveness Health For the purpose of promoting the flow of information, these teams are chaired by Consortium members and consist of residents, professionals respective to each team’s topic, local elected officials, and municipal planning commission members. These teams are open to any resident who wishes to participate, regardless of race, color, religion, age, gender, socio-economic status, disability status, national origin, or veteran status. Each LRT is tasked with specific goals and objectives; among these are collection of data relative to their area of expertise, identifying needs throughout the region, and promoting and expanding participation in each LRT. The Community Engagement LRT is no different. The Community Engagement LRT is tasked with conducting a broad based, region-wide community engagement program to build awareness, promote resident involvement in and build consensus around the livability principles and actions. Additionally, the Community Engagement LRT should prioritize ways to engage communities traditionally marginalized from planning processes, such as low-income individuals and families, limited English speakers, persons with disabilities and the elderly. Goals and Principles of Community Engagement Meaningful community engagement usually results in new ideas being brought to a project, minimizations of conflict and delays and the establishment of relationships throughout the community that can benefit current and future projects. It can limit the number of surprises that occur during a project because all the parties share information openly and consistently. Community engagement is not a one-size-fits-all endeavor. It involves working with the appropriate parties to determine how they want to be involved. The following table (adapted from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)) shows the spectrum of community engagement, including goals associated with each level and the implicit promise to the public associated with the level of engagement. 5 Spectrum of Community Engagement Level of Engagement Goal of Engagement Sponsor’s Promise to the Public Inform To provide the public with We will keep you informed. balanced and objective information to assist them in understanding the problems, alternatives and solutions. Consult To obtain public feedback on We will keep you informed, analysis, alternatives and listen to and acknowledge decisions, concerns, and provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision. Involve To work directly with the We will work with you to public throughout the process ensure that your concerns and to ensure that their issues and issues are directly reflected in concerns are consistently the alternatives developed and understood and considered. provide feedback on how public input influenced the decision. Collaborate To partner with the public in We will look to you for direct each aspect of the decision, advice and innovation in including development if formulating solutions and alternatives and identification incorporate your advice and of the preferred solution or recommendations into the action. decision to the maximum extent possible. Empower To place the final decision We will implement what you making in the hands of the decide. public. Before seeking input, the LRT should identify the aspects of the project on which it is seeking input and those aspects that are not open for comment or discussion. Prior to community engagement activities, the community should understand that the LRTs have made great progress in this project and that there will be components that are not negotiable, while on others the LRT is open to suggestions and improvements. It is a goal of the Community Engagement LRT to, at a minimum, involve residents throughout the East Alabama Region in this planning process. Ideally, all members of the community will be empowered and provide well reasoned, feasible strategies to address needs and shortcomings they (the community) have identified. Additional goals of the Community Engagement LRT are to: 6 Educate the public and build support for the CLEAR Plan 2030 initiative as well as the benefits of grant money in the region now and for future planning. Foster strong relationships with local stakeholders, community leaders, and elected officials making them informed ambassadors for CLEAR Plan 2030. Identify key audiences, use creative communication techniques to develop increased awareness, knowledge and involvement with CLEAR Plan 2030. Build project awareness in communities so they understand and engage in present and future efforts. Identifying the Community, Partners and Stakeholders Identifying and reaching out to the community, partners and stakeholders will help the LRT obtain the support, resources and input to advance the project. The development of key messages and outreach materials will help to educate and inform that community about the project, opening up the channels of