Public Engagement

Overview August 31, 2012

Public Engagement

The Institute offers a variety of publications to help local officials more effectively apply public engagement processes and strategies.

Post October 3, 2011

Language Access Laws and Legal Issues: A Local Official’s Guide

The Language Access Guide explains the laws that require language access to ensure that limited English-proficient residents have access to public services and an opportunity to participate in public life.

Language Access Laws and Legal Issues: A Local Official's Guide

The Language Access Checklists are a companion to the guide, which include: tips on providing language access; conducting a self-assessment; implementing an ordinance; implementing best practices with no ordinance and addressing common challenges.

Language Access Checklists

Post June 10, 2010

Working Effectively with Public Engagement Consultants: Tips for Local Officials

This tip sheet offers recommendations to help guide local officials in the best use of public engagement consultants.

Working with Public Engagement Consultants: Tips for Local Officals

Post April 26, 2010

Legal Issues Associated with Social Media

What legal issues do public agencies face when they use social media? This paper offers “dos and don’ts” advice for reaping the benefits of social media while minimizing the pitfalls.

Post July 13, 2009

Dealing with Emotional Audiences

This article provides strategies that leaders can employ to maximize the likelihood that public meetings on controversial issues will involve constructive exchanges that contribute to the best decision being made.

Dealing with Emotional Audiences

Additionally, a piece from the Orange County Human Relations Commission is available, “Free Speech vs Hate Speech: Practical Guidelines for Managing Public Forums.”

Free Speech vs. Hate Speech - Orange County Human Relations Commission

Post April 2, 2009

Beyond the Usuals: Ideas to Encourage Broader Public Involvement in Your Community

Local officials often find that only a relatively small number of community members actually take part in public conversations and forums. A failure to involve a cross-section of residents limits the effectiveness of these public engagement efforts and negatively impacts the breadth and quality of ideas contributed. It can also reduce community support for the final decisions. This publication provides ten essential strategies to extend participation and increase the views and voices in a community’s public engagement activities.

Beyond the Usuals: Ideas to Encourage Broader Public Involvement in Your Community

Post March 17, 2009

Dealing with the Blogosphere
Taking the Bite Out of Blogs

This award-winning paper, Taking the Bite Out of Blogs: Ethics in Cyberspace, provides clear policy and ethics guidelines. Also watch a short video interview with a county supervisor who shares some perspective on managing online public comments.

Post May 17, 2013

Beyond Business as Usual: Leaders of California’s Civic Organizations Seek New Ways to Engage the Public in Local Governance

Post May 17, 2013

Testing the Waters: California’s Local Officials Experiment with New Ways to Engage the Public

Post August 16, 2010

A Local Official’s Guide to Working with Clergy and Congregations

This publication offers practical recommendations for making partnerships with clergy and congregations successful, while noting the necessary boundaries between public and religion sector institutions.

A Local Official's Guide to Working with Clergy and Congregations

Post July 21, 2009

A Local Official’s Guide to Immigrant Civic Engagement

This publication provides insights and examples to help ensure greater public involvement of immigrant residents. This publication provides insights and examples to help ensure greater public involvement of immigrant residents.

A Local Official's Guide to Immigrant Civic Engagement

Post November 19, 2013

A Local Official’s Guide to Public Engagement in Budgeting

This publication describes five general approaches that local agencies use, often in strategic combination, to involve residents in the budget process. Chapters include:

Introduction: Involving the Public in Local Budgeting
Approaches to Public Engagement in Local Budgeting
Thinking Strategically About the Purposes of Public Engagement
A Dozen Lessons to Guide Public Engagement in Budgeting
Resources for Engaging the Public in Local Budgeting

A Local Official's Guide to Public Engagement in Budgeting

Post November 19, 2013

Public Engagement in Budgeting

This short four page publication provides an overview and a basic understanding of public engagement and budgeting plus links to more detailed information.