Public Participation
for Executives
and Decision Makers
What, Why and How to Involve
Others in your Decisions
Course Goals
• How Public Participation ties into your DecisionMaking
• When and Why the Public should take part
in your Decisions … and when NOT
• Your unique Role and Commitment
• Key Concepts that must be Considered
to be Effective when Involving Others
Course Goals
• How Public Participation ties into your DecisionMaking
• When and Why the Public should take part
in your Decisions … and when NOT
• Your unique Role and Commitment
• Key Concepts that must be Considered
to be Effective when Involving Others
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public.
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
What is Public Participation?
• Public Participation DOES NOT mean giving
up control or authority
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
Why Involve the Public?
1. It’s Required
2. You’re Frustrated or Desperate
3. There’s Value in Doing so
4. It’s to Your Advantage
Why Involve the Public?
1. It’s Required
• It’s the Law
Why Involve the Public?
2. You’re Frustrated or Desperate
• Public opposition
• Lawsuits
• Controversy is Expensive
and Time-Consuming
Why Involve the Public?
Why Involve the Public?
• What are the risks of NOT doing so?
Public
sentiment
before a
proposal
Why Involve the Public?
• What are the risks of NOT doing so?
Public
sentiment
with specific
proposal
Why Involve the Public?
• What are the risks of NOT doing so?
Why Involve the Public?
3. There’s Value in Doing So
• Avoids controversy and public veto
• Improves processes and decisions:
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Early warning system
Better understanding of the task
More information and more perspectives
Mutual understanding
Feedback on potential impacts
Why Involve the Public?
4. It’s to Your Advantage
• Helps Manage Single-Issue Views
• Motivated Advocates
• Free Consultants
• Builds Relationships
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
When Not to Involve the Public
• When you won’t/can’t consider
their opinion
• If you can only keep people informed, don’t
promise more
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
Critical Components and Considerations
1. Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
2. Understand Who Needs to Be Involved
3. Determine the Level of Public Participation
4. Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
5. Ensure Your Public Participation Process Reflects Values
and Resources, is Aligned with the Decision Process, and
is Driven by the Public Participation Objectives
6. Evaluate and Adapt – Continuously
Critical Components and Considerations
1. Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
Critical Components and Considerations
1. Clarify the Decision and Decision-Making Process
Critical Components and Considerations
2. Understand Who Needs to Be Involved
Orbits of
participation
Critical Components and Considerations
3. Determine the Level of Public Participation
• Consider:
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Level of Controversy?
Level of Trust/Distrust?
Impact on the Public?
Can the Public Influence the Decision?
Complexity and Difficulty
Critical Components and Considerations
4. Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
• The public should have a say in decisions about
actions that could affect their lives
• Public participation includes the promise that the
public’s contribution will influence the decision
Critical Components and Considerations
4. Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
• The public participation process promotes sustainable
decisions by recognizing and communicating the
needs and interests of all participants, including
decision makers
• The public participation process seeks out and
facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected
by or interested in a decision
Critical Components and Considerations
4. Embrace the Core Values of Public Participation
• The public participation process seeks input from
participants in designing how they participate
• The public participation process provides participants
with the information they need to participate in a
meaningful way
• The public participation process communicates to
participants how their input affected the decision
Critical Components and Considerations
5. Ensure Your Public Participation Process Reflects
Values and Resources, is Aligned with the
Decision Process, and is Driven by the Public
Participation Objectives
Critical Components and Considerations
6. Evaluate and Adapt – Continuously
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Consider the Input
• Be Clear about the Process and Public’s Role
• Be Clear about Non-Negotiable Items
• Don’t Make Promises you Cannot Keep
Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Keep Your Promises
• Honor the Core Values
• Provide the Time and Resources
• You’re Responsible for the Process Integrity
Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Other roles and commitments
Content
Relationships
Process
Agenda
• What is Public Participation?
• Why Involve the Public?
• When Not to Involve the Public
• Critical Components and Considerations
• The Decision-Maker’s and Leader’s Role
• Summary
Summary
• Public Participation
– Improves Decisions
– Brings new Views and Knowledge
– Makes Projects More Effective
• The Public Needs
–
–
–
–
Your Commitment
Clarity on the Decision, Public’s Role, your Objectives
Access
A Good Process
“Never underestimate the will
or resourcefulness of people
who are snowed in half the year.”
— Steve Lopez,
on the efforts of Wisconsin residents
to block Perrier’s proposed bottling plant