Fall 2012

Overall, thinking about relationships between people in your community and the tone of discussions that take place around local policy issues, how would you describe the state of public discourse between public officials and citizens within your jurisdiction?

Has your jurisdiction's use of technology for citizen engagement been discouraged by lack of funding?

Would access to training programs for citizens/external stakeholders be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

Would access to training programs for jurisdiction personnel be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

Would access to regional efforts or leadership be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

Would access to information about best practices be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

Have any of your jurisdiction's personnel had formal training in promoting or managing citizen engagement?

One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum. At one end, citizen engagement would focus only on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the other end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. In between would be increasing levels of citizen input in the decisions made by the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the topic, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum. At one end, citizen engagement would focus only on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the other end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. In between would be increasing levels of citizen input in the decisions made by the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the topic, in general, what do you think the majority of your jurisdiction's citizens believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum. At one end, citizen engagement would focus only on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the other end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. In between would be increasing levels of citizen input in the decisions made by the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the topic, in general, what do you think the majority of your jurisdiction's employees believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum. At one end, citizen engagement would focus only on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the other end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. In between would be increasing levels of citizen input in the decisions made by the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the topic, in general, what do you think the majority of your jurisdiction's Council/Board believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

Thinking in general about how things have changed in your jurisdiction over the last ten years or so — if at all — is political discourse about local issues more or less civil?

Thinking in general about how things have changed in your jurisdiction over the last ten years or so — if at all — are citizens more or less engaged in your jurisdiction's work?

Thinking in general about how things have changed in your jurisdiction over the last ten years or so — if at all — are citizens more or less informed about your jurisdiction's work?

Overall, thinking about relationships between people in your community and the tone of discussions that take place around local policy issues, how would you describe the state of public discourse between citizens themselves within your jurisdiction?

Would access to financial assistance for citizen engagement efforts be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

Overall, thinking about relationships between people in your community and the tone of discussions that take place around local policy issues, how would you describe the state of public discourse between public officials themselves within your jurisdiction?

Thinking about controversial issues in your community, in general, who do you think should have the final say on your jurisdiction's most controversial decisions — citizens or public officials?

Would you say that most citizens who are engaged in your jurisdiction's policymaking processes are generally looking out only for themselves or that they want decisions made for the benefit of the community overall?

Citizens are often asked on opinion surveys how much trust they have in their government. Now we'd like to ask you, as a local official, about trust you have in your jurisdiction's citizens. In terms of their engagement in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations, how much time do you think you can trust the citizens in your community to be responsible participants?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's decision-making is transparent to your citizens?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's engagement efforts mostly attract the same people over and over?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens you hear from are more interested in complaining than in finding solutions?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that important decisions facing your jurisdiction typically have already been made prior to most public meetings?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens aren't willing to take the time to become well-informed on issues facing the jurisdiction?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that citizens in your jurisdiction want access to information about the government's performance?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction should pursue engagement with a broader range of citizens?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your meetings run too long because too many citizens want to speak?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that some of your best engagement with citizens happens informally around the community (such as at the grocery store or in a restaurant, etc.)?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you don't need formal engagement efforts because your local officials already know what citizens want?