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Encouraging Positive Public Involvement
June 26, 2013
Call in number: 1-800-309-2350Pass Code: 2369526#
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Your Cooperation is Needed
Please mute your phone *6
To ask questions and open your line *6
This will help all of our friends!
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PSAB’s Blended Training
WebinarsTraditional Classroom Sessions
One-on-One Assistance
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Upcoming Training
Webinars
The Workers & Community Right to Know Act June 27
Workplace Harassment July 10Tort Liability July 11COSTARS* July 17Accessibility for All – Larson Design Group* July 18
* Free to PSAB members
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Upcoming Classroom Training
The Course in Community Planning The Course in Zoning
The Course in Subdivision & Land Development Review Municipal Officials Training & Update The Course in Zoning Administration
Basic Municipal BudgetingConfined Space Training
Police Civil Service
2013 Pennsylvania Municipal Legal Update Conference
August 13 & 14, 2013www.classes.boroughs.org/
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Effective Public Involvementa Tool for Successful Governance
Elected officials and business leaders recognize that earning support for controversial initiatives can be the
difference between successful implementation and loss of their job.
Gil Longwell County Planner
Township Community Development Director
PSATS Special Projects Director
Local Government Trainer
Public Speaker
Chem Nuclear Local Government Involvement Manager
Consultant
102 years of service to Pennsylvania’s Boroughs
Borough Officials and their citizens.
Pennsylvania State Associationof Boroughs
www.dep.state.pa.us/dep/subject/advcoun/llrw/depsumry.pdf
Sewage Management Ordinance
Sewer Line Extension
Mandatory Sewer Hook-up
Establish/Abolish Local Police
Bill filed to repeal Floridaseptic tank inspection law
The citizen[s] were outraged ....
"It is simply beyond the pale that the DCNR would withhold this information during the public comment period and
only release it after a decision had been made…"
SEC charges Harrisburg with securities fraud.
The Mayor and the SEC announce a
settlement…made in secret…during the investigation. Mayor escapes penalty –
promises to fraud no more.
May 7, 2013 . . .
Our Goals – We Will
Define Public Policy Issues
Define Public Involvement
Explain the Public Involvement Process
Link: Ignorance – Fear – Opposition
Identify & Pick Up Rocks
Examine A Case Study
Recap Media Relations
Public Policy
Addresses a “Public” Purpose or Benefit
To Achieve What Individuals Cannot
Great Cost
Broad Scope
“Horsepower” a/k/a Clout
“Trickle-Down” – The Parental Role
What is Public Involvement?
It Is A PROCESS
PI Starts – When?
PI Stops – When?
Project Specific
Community Specific
Dynamic – Adjustable
What Public Involvement Is NOT
One Way
Talking Heads
One Size Fits All
Nonnegotiable
Announce & Defend
Training
PI – The ProcessProject Analysis –
“Rocks” – - What Are They???
What Do You Present??
How Do You Present It???
What Is “Dressing the Set”???
PI – The Process
ANALYSIS – • Understanding Project At Hand• How to Understand Points of Controversy?
PI – The Process
ANALYSIS• Understanding Project At Hand• Understanding Points of Controversy• Listen to “Rumblings” IN ADVANCE• Listening @ the meeting can be too late
The Pulse…
The Pulse…
PI – The Process
Listening Identifies “Rocks”• Pointed Questions – Legitimate & Otherwise
• Fears – Real and Imagined
Rock Removal Strategies• Answer Before It Is Asked •Crafting the Venue
Leave Some Rocks Behind
PI – The Process
Craft Your Message• What You’ll Say• How You’ll Say It
Must It Be Said??
vs.
Must You Say It??
• Where It Is Said• Who (& How) It Will be Said
What does this mean?
Use pictures and handouts
to convey information
PI – The PlayersWho Are The Players?• Elected/Appointed Officials• Landowners & Residents• Business Community• Special Interests – Formal• Special Interests - Other
•Nimby, Nope, Nimtoo
• The Purposefully Absent• The Media
The Agenda Controls the Flow Legitimate Owner = Convener
Multiple Agenda’s = Yes!Competing Agenda’s = Yes
THE UNKNOWN• IGNORANCE ≠ stupidity• FEAR of the Unknown = FEAR of Change • FEAT TRIGGERS OPPOSITION • KNOWLEDGE ERASES IGNORANCE• KNOWLEDGE EASES FEAR• Absence of Fear ≠ Support
SEMMELWEIS REFLEX
The Semmelweis Reflex is the action of dismissing or rejecting out of hand any information, automatically and without
thought, inspection, or experiment.
The
Public Policy
Many Sources Create PP•“Higher” Level of Government • The Citizenry – The Governed
• The Governing Body – YOU
“Resistance Is (often) Futile”
- Seven-of-Nine
Public Policy
Many Sources Create PP• “Higher” Level of Government • The Citizenry (the Governed)
• The Governing Body - YOU!!
“Resistance Is –always
oftenusually –
Futile”- Seven-of-Nine
Essential Components of PI
Honest
Forthright
Clear
Articulate
NO WEASEL WORDS
Things get ugly whey you try to be cute
Vocablurry
If you must explain the word do not use it.
Use Common Words
Avoid Jargon - Code Words - Acronyms
Examples???
WHAT IS A STRINGER???
This is an informative, insightful, aspedestic presentation!
Vocablurry
SIMPLE WORDS WORK BEST
DIMINISH CHANCE FOR MISUNDERSTANDING
AVOID WORDS/PHRASES
WITH DOUBLE MEANINGS
LISTEN TO YOURSELF
LEGITIMATE EXPECTATIONS• Fair & Balanced• Informative• Accurate
NEVER EVER EVERJUDGEMENTAL
Different Opportunities/Hurdles
• Print• Radio• Television
UNIVERSAL TRUTH
NOTHING
IS EVER
OFF THE RECORD
Become Proactive
Media Relations Plan• Implement Before Crisis Event• Introductions & Validation• Become Their Subject-Matter Expert• Periodic Contact
Your Secret Life Line
“I don’t know. I will find out and have the answer by (time) on (date).
The land of theSelf-Proclaimed Self-Important
A Case Study
1 TopicMany PublicsMany Positions & Agendas
• Landowners• Service Providers• Local Officials –• Elected• Appointed
• Regulators• Treatment Plants
Focus GroupsIdentify Issues
Newsletters pick up rocks
Venue For Policy Setting
Who Owns/Defends the Plan?
Venue for Public Meeting
Stage Dressing
MYTHSEveryone gets a sandmoundEvery property will be seweredThis will cost ME!!! thousands Each Year
FactsAll are affected equallyYou pick inspector & pumperNo government personnel on your propertyProperty values preservedCheaper than sewersSoils determine repair strategy
“Gauntlet of Truth”
Managing the environment w/ flow & choke points.
Structured Submittal
• Advanced Submittal• Any Topic• Post on Wall
Structured Response• Posted First• Only On-Subject answered• Count Down
Measuring Success
• 100% compliance• 0 Prosecutions• Finding & Fixing Problems• System History Archive• DEP Satisfied!!!• Elected Officials Reelected!
Recap Public Involvement
• Is a Process• Is MULTI-Directional• Deals with a Variety of Publics• Must be Flexible• Must be Self-Evaluating• Is a Tool for Public Policy Attainment• IS ALL ABOUT COMMUNICATIONS• Does Not Guarantee Success
Recap
Seven Words of DOOMYour Secret Life Line (Words of GOLD)
Did we meet all your goals?
Recap
THANK YOU!
Download a PDF ofthis presentation…
Visit “onsiteinstitute.com”
http://www.onsiteinstitute.com/on-the-road
Gil Longwell Meeting With Success! LLC
4902 Carlisle Pike • #269
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
717-730-9300
