Community Participation Program for the 2028 Comprehensive Plan Columbus Consolidated Government November 2007 In partnership with and This page is intentionally left blank for two-sided printing. Table of Contents 1 Introduction.......................................................................................................................2 1.1 Purpose.............................................................................................................................................................2 1.2 Scope.................................................................................................................................................................2 1.3 Goals.................................................................................................................................................................2 2 Stakeholders.......................................................................................................................3 3 Participation Techniques..................................................................................................8 3.1 Project Oversight............................................................................................................................................8 3.1.1 Stakeholder Interviews..................................................................................................................................................8 3.1.2 Technical Review Committee.........................................................................................................................................8 3.1.3 Citizens Stakeholder Committee....................................................................................................................................8 3.2 Public Hearings...............................................................................................................................................9 3.3 Tools...............................................................................................................................................................10 3.3.1 Keypad Voting...........................................................................................................................................................10 3.3.2 Maps.........................................................................................................................................................................10 3.3.3 Comment Forms.........................................................................................................................................................10 3.3.4 Survey/Questionnaires................................................................................................................................................10 3.4 Interactive Community Meetings...............................................................................................................11 3.4.1 Visioning Workshops.................................................................................................................................................11 3.4.2 Strategic Framework Workshop..................................................................................................................................11 3.4.3 Open Houses..............................................................................................................................................................13 3.5 Communications Outreach Strategies.......................................................................................................13 3.5.1 Website......................................................................................................................................................................13 3.5.2 Flyers/Newsletters......................................................................................................................................................13 3.5.3 Progress Reports.........................................................................................................................................................14 3.5.4 Press Releases.............................................................................................................................................................14 3.5.4 Government Access Channel.......................................................................................................................................14 4 Schedule for Completion of the Comprehensive Plan.....................................................15 1 Introduction Communities that have a high level of public involvement during the Comprehensive Planning process will reach a better understanding of the values and desires of community members. Capturing this vision is a critical element to designing a comprehensive plan that meets the needs of the Columbus community. With a clear understanding of what is needed and expected from the community, the most appropriate resources, policies, and programs can be established and pursued by the best means possible. This plan ensures that a cross-section of citizens as well as a diverse group of community stakeholders are actively involved in the process of defining these critical policies and tools for the community’s future growth. 1.1 Purpose The purpose of this Community Participation Program is two-fold: 1. To meet the Local Planning Requirements for the state of Georgia. 2. To establish the stakeholders, participation techniques, and schedule for completion of the Columbus Consolidated Government Community Agenda. By fully outlining this approach in advance, the most inclusive tactics can be prepared and established by identifying key elements at the start of the planning process. 1.2 Scope The Community Participation Program discusses three critical elements of the community involvement process: stakeholders, participation techniques, and a schedule for completion of the Community Agenda. These elements are interrelated and the adequate preparation of each will have an impact on the successful implementation of the entire plan: • Key community stakeholders must be identified and engaged in the planning process to ensure that the participation techniques are effective. • Similarly, identifying and developing an appropriate timeline with project milestones is necessary to ensuring community involvement and providing for appropriate public participation opportunities. 1.3 Goals The goals of the Community Participation Program are to outline a community involvement process that is reflective of the community, provides effective input for ensuring the relevancy of the plan, and builds a sense of ownership by the community that will ensure that the plan will be adopted and implemented. The program is centered upon the objective of inclusiveness and effectiveness. Limited time and resources require that an efficient and effective process be established from the start. Within this mind frame, public awareness of plan milestones and opportunities is a foremost concern. As is discussed under participation techniques, creative communications outreach strategies have been developed. The Community Participation Program is designed to meet the following objectives: • Identify Stakeholders • Identify participation techniques • Inform the community about growth and the planning process • Begin consensus building to maintain community support for the plan. • Publicize the project schedule and opportunities for citizen input. 2 Stakeholders Within the comprehensive planning process, stakeholders are considered those people or organizations that have a vested interest in the future of the community. In fact, stakeholders could be construed to include every member of the Columbus/Muscogee community. Naming all community members would be time-consuming and unnecessary. A compromise is to develop a list of key stakeholders and organizations that, at a minimum, should be involved in the planning process. These community agencies and leaders will provide checks and balances to the planning process and their active involvement and buy-in of the plan will help see-through the eventual implementation the plan. The following group of stakeholders is amalgamated to list key stakeholders in the community ranging from elected city officials to members of the planning commission and local agencies. Other agencies and individuals will likely be identified through the planning process. City officials and City management will play an active role in the planning process, particularly during the development of the Community Agenda. Mayor Jim Wetherington City Council Members District 1, Jerry “Pops” Barnes District 2, Glenn Davis District 3, Julius Hunter, Jr. District 4, Evelyn Turner-Pugh District 5, Mike Baker District 6, R. Gary Allen District 7, Evelyn “Mimi” Woodson District 8, C.E. “Red” McDaniel District 9 At Large, Wayne Anthony District 10 At Large, Berry “Skip” Henderson City Management City Manager, Isaiah Hugley Deputy City Manager, Lisa Goodwin Deputy City Manager, David Arrington Columbus Consolidated Government Department Heads Accounting Division, Jody Davis Airport, Mark Oropeza City Attorney’s Office, Clifton Fay City Manager’s Office, Isaiah Hugley Columbus Convention & Visitors Bureau, Peter Bowden Community Reinvestment, Joe Riddle Convention and Trade Center, Larry Campbell Emergency Management, Riley Land Engineering, Donna Newman Council Districts by Area Source: City of