HomeMy WebLinkAboutIV(b)_Draft Outreach and Engagement PlanAttachment No. 2
Draft Outreach and Engagement Plan
City of Newport Beach General Plan
Update
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH PLAN
DRAFT September 28, 2023
Prepared by Kearns & West, in consultation with Dudek.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 2
Table of Contents
1. Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 3
1.1 Purpose ............................................................................................................................................................................................. 3
1.2 Outreach Objectives ......................................................................................................................................................................... 4
1.3 Role of General Plan Advisory Committee and Outreach Subcommittee ........................................................................................ 5
1.4 Measuring Success ............................................................................................................................................................................ 6
1.5 Demographic Snapshot………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………7
2. Stakeholder Identification.……………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………….9
3. Community Engagement Timeline........................................................................................................................................................ 13
4. Getting the Word Out ........................................................................................................................................................................... 14
4.1 Notification Methods ...................................................................................................................................................................... 14
5. Engagement Methods and Activities .................................................................................................................................................... 19
5.1 Engagement and Outreach Toolkit ................................................................................................................................................. 19
5.2 Alternative Methods of Engagement ............................................................................................................................................. 23
6. Appendix ............................................................................................................................................................................................... 27
Appendix A ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 27
Appendix B ............................................................................................................................................................................................ 28
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 3
1. Introduction
1.1 PURPOSE
After 16 years, the City of Newport Beach (City) embarked on the preparation of a comprehensive General Plan Update (GPU). In
2019, the City focused on preparing the 6th Cycle Housing Element (2021-2029) in tandem with an update of the Circulation
Element. In September and October 2022, the Housing Element was adopted by the City Council and certified by the State
Department of Housing and Community Development. The City Council adopted the update to the Circulation Element in October
2022. Currently, the City is actively processing amendments to the Land Use and Noise Elements to implement several housing
policy actions identified in the certified Housing Element.
The GPU focuses on the other elements of the General Plan, including the Harbor and Bay Element, Historical Resources Element,
Natural Resources Element, Arts and Cultural Element, Recreation Element, and Safety Element. Environmental Justice is a topic to
be included as mandated by the State of California. The GPU is being conducted in a separate but parallel process to the updates for
the Land Use and Noise Element related to implementing the certified Housing Element. Additional non-housing-related changes to
the Land Use, Circulation, and Noise Elements may be considered and changed. Changes to the certified Housing Element are not
being considered. Other emerging and important topics not addressed by the current General Plan may be included as identified.
An integral component of the GPU is the City’s community engagement and outreach. This Community Engagement and Outreach
Plan describes how the City will engage with and gather input from the public throughout the preparation of the GPU. The success of
the GPU relies on the involvement of community members, residents, property owners, and other stakeholders in shaping and
forming the vision, goals, and policies of the General Plan. The City is committed to conducting a transparent, inclusive, and
meaningful planning process. Newport Beach is a diverse community with distinct council districts, neighborhoods, industries, and
attractions that require focused engagement across the spectrum of participation. Outreach will be designed to hear the voices of
those who are often not represented in the projects that shape their community. Outreach will provide meaningful input into
outcomes so that community members can witness how their engagement shaped the process.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 4
The Community Engagement and Outreach Plan should be considered a flexible guide, one that is updated and refined by the
project team as it moves through the planning process. The project team consists of the General Plan Advisory Committee’s (GPAC)
Outreach Subcommittee, City staff, and the consultant team. Specific ideas, events, and details may be modified to better
accommodate goals, budgets, schedules, and other factors associated with the project. The purpose of this Community Engagement
and Outreach Plan is to serve as a guide for the community and stakeholder engagement process of the GPU.
Specific sections of the Community Engagement and Outreach Plan include:
• This Introduction, including the purpose, community engagement objectives, and concurrent related outreach activities;
• Stakeholder Identification, including preliminary identification of stakeholder interests;
• Community Engagement Timeline, including phases of engagement;
• Getting the Word Out, including specific media and materials to engage a broad spectrum of the community;
• Engagement Methods & Activities, including descriptions of specific activities and primary audiences for each activity.
1.2 OUTREACH OBJECTIVES
Outreach objectives are based on a set of values for engagement (see Figure 1). Below are the primary objectives of this Community
Engagement and Outreach Plan and process.
• Conduct an open and transparent process based on the International Association of Public Participation (IAP2) principles (see
Appendix A);
• Engage the full spectrum of Newport Beach community members, including residents, business owners, landowners, and
other stakeholders in the GPU process;
• Use methods that can engage members of the public on issues that are important to them;
• Seek inclusion of diverse community voices; and
• Increase public understanding of the General Plan, its importance to the Newport Beach community, and its role in shaping
the future.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 5
Outreach will engage the community where they are both in a physical (or logistical) sense but also in terms of the community’s
varying relationships with the City. Community members interact with the built environment in fundamental ways without
consideration of a General Plan. They consume municipal services, use public facilities, and interact with the built environment in
a myriad of ways on a fundamentally human level. As a result, communications should use terms the general public understands.
1.3 ROLE OF GENERAL PLAN ADVISORY COMMITTEE AND
OUTREACH SUBCOMMITTEE
The City Council has established a General Plan Update Steering Committee (GPUSC)
and a General Plan Advisory Committee (GPAC). The GPUSC is a three-member Brown
Act Committee appointed by the City Council. The GPUSC reports to the City Council,
sharing recommendations from the GPAC. Appointed on November 15, 2022, the GPAC
includes up to 30 representatives from the Newport Beach community and has nine
subcommittees, which include the Outreach Subcommittee. The role of the GPAC and
its subcommittees is to:
• Ensure sufficient public outreach and stakeholder input regarding the update to
the General Plan;
• Review and provide guidance to City staff and its consultant(s) on changes to
the General Plan goals and/or policies as part of the update process that are
deemed necessary or advisable to reflect the community's vision for the City;
and
• Make recommendations to the GPUSC regarding changes to General Plan goals and/or policies.
The GPAC Outreach Subcommittee plays a unique role in the GPU process in that its members set the stage for the overall project.
Outreach and engagement will begin early and play a key role in shaping the overall process, timeline, and the final General Plan. As
the stewards of the outreach and engagement process, the GPAC Outreach Subcommittee is tasked with the following:
Outreach
Values
Meet the
Community
Where They
Are
Transparency
and Good
Governance
Balancing
Specific
Engagement
Goals
Reach and
Depth of
Engagement
Figure 1. Outreach values for engagement.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 6
• Coordinating with City staff and the consultant team to review the Community Engagement and Outreach Plan to most
effectively connect with the community;
• Recommending the Community Engagement and Outreach Plan for consideration and acceptance by the full GPAC;
• Nimbly working to adjust outreach and engagement strategies as needed; and
• Using networking and individual areas of expertise to help reach a broad audience.
1.4 MEASURING SUCCESS
Community outreach for the GPU will focus on connecting community members to their community – people to place – and draw on
multiple ways to measure success. Engagement is designed to be varied in depth, impact, and reach to allow community members
to participate in the planning process in ways that suit their interest level and availability. Community members will be informed
about engagement opportunities through a spectrum of notification tools, detailed in Section 4, with a goal of informing at least 80%
of the community. Figure 2 uses a pyramid to illustrate the relationship between the depth of engagement and the level of interest
in a particular issue. The variety of outreach and engagement methods is intended to engage members of the public on issues that
are important to them (see Section 5. Engagement Methods and Activities).
Generally speaking, a large number of community members will have low interest in a particular issue and therefore have a lower
depth of engagement, while a smaller number of community members will be highly interested in a particular issue and engage
more deeply in the process. Not all types of engagement are intended to be deeply engaging and early stages of outreach often
require activities with a low depth of engagement. This approach brings stakeholders into the process, so that they may engage in
higher-depth activities as the process moves forward. Figure 3 uses a matrix to show how engagement activities are designed to
engage community members along a spectrum of interest and impact. The engagement pyramid and matrix are intended to
complement one another and help establish desired involvement. Successful outreach will be measured by meeting the established
outreach objectives (see Section 1.2), building relationships with the community, and providing layered opportunities for
engagement. Numbers will be tracked for events hosted, event attendees, emails sent, social media posts, and surveys submitted.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 7
1.5 DEMOGRAPHIC SNAPSHOT
According to the United States Census Bureau data from 2020*, the City of Newport Beach, located in Orange County, has a
population of 86,694, which represents a 1.17% increase from 2019. Below is information about the race, ethnicity, median age, and
income levels throughout the city.
Race
Newport Beach’s population comprises 81.6% White residents, 9.7% Hispanic or Latino residents, 8.1% Asian residents, and 7.2%
residents of two or more races.
Ethnicity
As of 2020, 14.8% of Newport Beach’s population was foreign-born. Of the ethnic groups, White (non-Hispanic) is the largest. There
are about 8.1% Asian (Non-Hispanic) and 9.7% White (Hispanic) residents, the second and third most common ethnic groups. Within
the Newport Beach, Aliso Viejo, and Laguna Hills area, 25.9% of households reported speaking a non-English language at home as
Figure 2. Engagement pyramid. Figure 3. Matrix of example engagement activities.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 8
their primary shared language, which is 4% higher than the national average. The most common non-English languages spoken are
Spanish, Chinese (including Mandarin and Cantonese), and Persian which includes Farsi and Dari.
Age
The median age of a Newport Beach resident is 48 years. There are 71,543 adults, of which around 20,000 (23.6%) are classified as
senior residents. People under the age of 18 make up 16.6% of the population.
Income Levels
According to the 2020 U.S. Census, there are nearly 38,724 households in the Newport Beach area. The median household income in
Newport Beach is about $142,463 a year. The current poverty rate is 6.9%.
*Quickfacts. (2022). Census.gov. Retrieved August 30, 2023, from
https://www.census.gov/quickfacts/fact/table/newportbeachcitycalifornia/EDU685221
*Newport Beach, CA. (2023). DataUSA. Retrieved August 30, 2023, from https://datausa.io/profile/geo/newport-beach-ca/
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 9
2. Stakeholder Identification
This section provides an overview of the stakeholders and interest groups for the project team to engage with throughout the
development of the GPU. Past outreach efforts will be reviewed to identify community and stakeholder groups, including
organizations and other strategic partners who have been previously involved with City projects. The stakeholder and interest
groups database will be assessed for any gaps in representation or equity-based needs to consider. See Table 1 for details about the
types of stakeholder groups and example organizations. The examples are intended to be representative and are not inclusive of all
stakeholders or organizations. This is a preliminary list, and as more stakeholder groups are identified, it will be updated.
Table 1: Stakeholder Identification Types
Stakeholder Type Description Example Organizations
Arts and Culture Arts organizations, cultural and
heritage groups
• Newport Beach Arts Commission
• Newport Beach Arts Foundation
• Balboa Island Museum
• Newport Beach Historical Society
• Sherman Library & Gardens
• Art Therapy OC
• Newport Beach Public Library
• Newport Beach Film Festival
• Peter & Mary Muth Interpretive Center
• Huse Skelly Fine Art Gallery
Building and Development Development organizations,
including housing, urban
design, and planning
(commercial and residential);
property management groups;
realtors
• Building Industry Association of Southern California
• R.D. Olson Development
• McCarthy Building Companies
• Dun & Bradstreet
• Newport Equities
• Irvine Company
• The Picerne Group
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 10
Stakeholder Type Description Example Organizations
Business and Commerce Chambers of commerce, trade
associations, neighborhood
business district groups
• Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce
• Visit Newport Beach
• Balboa Island Merchants Association
• Corona del Mar Chamber of Commerce
• Irvine Company
Community-Based
Organizations and Community
Groups
Nonprofits, grassroots
community groups, issue-
specific groups, and advocates
• Newport Beach Foundation
• Feeding in Motion
• Furnishing Hope
• Serving People in Need OC (SPIN OC)
• Orange County Community Foundation
• Newport Beach Library Foundation
• Newport Beach Police Foundation
• Teen Leadership Foundation
• OASIS Senior Center
Education School districts, K-12 schools,
institutions of higher
education, daycare centers,
private institutions
• Newport-Mesa Unified School District
• Santa Ana Unified School District
• Harbor Day School
• Sage Hill School
• Anderson Elementary School
• Carden Hall School
• Eastbluff Elementary School
• Mariners Elementary School
• Newport Coast Elementary School
• Newport Elementary School
• Newport Harbor High School
• Corona del Mar High School
• Pacifica Christian School
• Coastline Community College
Environment Sustainability, climate, and
environmental groups
• Newport Bay Conservancy
• Irvine Ranch Conservancy
• Environmental Nature Center
• Banning Ranch Conservancy
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 11
Stakeholder Type Description Example Organizations
• Crystal Cove Conservancy
• Surfrider – Newport Beach Chapter
• Still Protecting Our Newport
• Friends of Harbors, Beaches, and Parks
Faith-Based Institutions Worship/faith-based
institutions and coalitions
• Liberty Baptist Church
• Newport Harbor Lutheran Church
• Our Lady Of Mount Carmel
• Our Lady Queen Of Angels
• St. Andrew's Presbyterian
• St. James Episcopal Church
• St. Mark Presbyterian
• St. Matthew's
• Temple Bat Yahm
• Chabad Center for Jewish Life
• Christ Church by the Sea
• St. John Vianney Chapel
Government Agency Local government agencies
that have jurisdiction within
the city
• Mesa Water District
• Irvine Ranch Water District
• Caltrans District 12
• Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA)
Homeowners Associations Homeowner and community
associations of neighborhoods
throughout Newport Beach
• A comprehensive list of HOAs is included in Appendix B.
Public Health Community and public health
organizations
• NewportCare Medical Group
• Hoag Health Center Newport Beach
• Newport Center Urgent Care & COVID
• UCI Health – Newport Beach
• Newport Lido Medical Center
• Newport Center Medical Group
• Mindpath Health
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 12
Stakeholder Type Description Example Organizations
Recreation Maritime/boating, sailing, and
other recreation organizations
• Newport Harbor Yacht Club
• Balboa Yacht Club
• Lido Isle Yacht Club
• Bahia Corinthian Yacht Club
• Windward Sailing Club
• Carefree Boat Club of Southern California – Newport
• Marina Sailing Newport Beach
• The Tennis and Pickleball Club at Newport Beach
• Newport Beach Tennis Club
Other Other stakeholder groups The list above is not exhaustive and can be updated as needed as more
stakeholder groups are identified.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 13
3. Community Engagement Timeline
This section includes a timeline with four phases of community engagement aligned with the elements being updated in the GPU
process (see Figure 4). The organization of elements can be adapted based on the results of Phase 1 visioning. Each phase includes
engagement methods and activities, described in more detail in Section 5. As described in the introduction, additional elements are
being updated on different timelines than the current GPU; these are not included in Figure 4. The Housing Element and Circulation
Element were adopted in October 2022. The Noise Element is currently in the amendment process.
Figure 4: Community Engagement Timeline
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 14
4. Getting the Word Out
4.1 NOTIFICATION METHODS
The project team will use a variety of notification methods to both reach a broad swath of the community and solicit meaningful
feedback. All outreach and notification materials, responsibilities, and timing will be updated through logistics plans for each
engagement and outreach activity. For each notification method in Table 2, the purpose, timing, and description of each notification
strategy are listed. In addition, the estimated cost on a scale of $ – $$$$, the number of people reached, and the level of
engagement is indicated for each notification method. The types of notification methods represent a balance between engagement
strategies, reach, and cost. The diversification of notification methods aligns with the outreach objectives of effective participation,
reaching a variety of community members, and good governance. Additional notification methods can be identified with City staff.
Table 2: Notification Methods
Type Purpose Timing Description Cost Reach Engagement
Social Media (e.g.,
Facebook, Instagram,
Twitter/X, YouTube)
Provide continued
and active
notification for the
broader
Community.
2-3 weeks in
advance of
engagement
activities with
weekly follow-up
reminders until the
day of the event
Notifications using
the City’s pre-
existing Facebook,
Instagram,
Twitter/X, LinkedIn,
and YouTube
accounts. Social
media posts can be
shared by individual
and partner
organizations. Paid
advertising on social
media platforms can
be considered.
$$$ Medium Medium
Mailer Develop direct mail
items to announce
Project initiation Reach residents and
businesses via
$$$ High Medium
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 15
Type Purpose Timing Description Cost Reach Engagement
visioning
workshops and
online surveys.
notifications in their
mail. For example:
water bill inserts,
project dedicated
postcards, and/or
City Manager
newsletter.
Contact Database Maintain and
organize email and
mailing addresses
for people
interested in
receiving project
updates and
announcements.
Ongoing The initial database
will be compiled
using contacts from
the stakeholder
database, City email
lists, and community
organization
contacts. New
contact information
will be collected and
added to the
database
throughout the GPU
process.
N/A N/A N/A
GPU Website
Create easy online
access to GPU
information, online
survey tools,
community
engagement
opportunities, and
meeting input
summaries.
Ongoing – Share
project milestones,
and survey
launches, and
announce
community events
at least 2 weeks
before each event.
The website will
host project
information; online
surveys, polls, and
other input
activities; and in-
person engagement
opportunities. The
website will also
have a sign-up form
$$$ High Medium
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 16
Type Purpose Timing Description Cost Reach Engagement
for people to
provide contact
information to
receive email
announcements.
Newsletter and Email
Blasts
Communicate
process status,
provide
information
regarding
upcoming
meetings, describe
key issues that
have been resolved
and/or are being
raised for
discussion, and
provide
information on
how to participate
in the process.
Weekly The City will
periodically send
email updates and
announcements to
community
members and other
stakeholders
entered in the
contact database
and through the
project website
notification list.
$ High Medium
Flyers and Posters Distribute
information and
announcements
about outreach
events.
Ongoing Printed collateral
will match the
project branding
and QR codes for
additional project
information. Posted
at, but not limited
to, local parks, the
library, recreation
$$ Medium Medium
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 17
Type Purpose Timing Description Cost Reach Engagement
centers, and senior
centers.
Newspaper and Paid
Ads
Communicate big-
picture items
related to the GPU
to the community-
at-large.
As needed at
project milestones
Placement of paid
ads in local
newspapers,
including specialty
publications (e.g.,
The Log, StuNews,
Daily Pilot, Newport
Beach Independent,
the Orange County
Register)
$$ High Medium
GPAC Outreach &
Communication
Share information
about the GPU
with the GPAC
network.
Ongoing The GPAC can share
information on the
GPU, participation
opportunities, and
process updates
with their respective
networks.
$ Medium High
Media Outreach Partner with local
media outlets to
share information
with the
community.
As needed News releases to
local media outlets
$$ High Medium
SMS Text Share information
about the GPU
with the broader
community.
1 week in advance
of engagement
activities and/or at
project milestones
Notification using a
texting platform to
reach the
community about
surveys and
outreach events
$$ High Medium
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 18
Type Purpose Timing Description Cost Reach Engagement
Video Campaigns Share information
about the GPU and
ways to get
involved with the
broader
community over
social media
platforms and
media channels.
Periodically
through the
process, at project
milestones, and/or
in advance of
engagement
activities
Create a series of
short videos
featuring
community
members sharing
their interest in the
GPU, what they love
about Newport
Beach, and
encouraging fellow
residents to get
involved in the GPU
process. Elevating
the community
voice.
$$$$ High High
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 19
5. Engagement Methods and Activities
This section provides detailed information about the engagement activities to be conducted in support of developing the GPU.
Community members can engage at their preferred level while having opportunities to deepen their engagement throughout the
process. Additional details will be included in logistics plans and annotated agendas for each activity.
5.1 ENGAGEMENT AND OUTREACH TOOLKIT
The scoped methods of engagement, including a description, audience, benefits, and considerations are listed in Table 3. The project
team and City will maintain flexibility in implementing and adapting tools and tactics to meet outreach objectives within the
boundaries of the established budget.
Table 3: Methods of Engagement
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations
Digital
Engagement
Survey
The digital engagement
survey will be administered
through an online platform.
The online platform will be
updated throughout the
project with new polls,
forums, and mapping
activities. Online engagement
is not meant to replace in-
person involvement, but
rather to complement in-
person engagement. Surveys
will be administered to
specific entities within the city
to capture targeted input.
Newport
Beach
community
• Allows for in-depth
analysis of findings.
• Easy way for
individuals to provide
input on a process.
• Can be administered
to a wide audience as
well as specific
groups as needed.
• Lack of
personal
outreach,
impersonal.
• Fails to
capture
anecdotal
data.
Go-To Meetings These meetings include
regularly scheduled meetings
Groups
representing
• Create energy and
build interest for the
• May require
planning and
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 20
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations
of local groups, organizations,
and/or houses of worship. By
attending these meetings, the
project team can foster
community enthusiasm and
interest in the GPU process.
Community organizations and
interest groups can include
local churches and parishes,
youth and senior groups,
philanthropic groups, and
sports groups.
specific
interests in
the city
GPU with specific
groups.
• Go to places where
community/groups
congregate.
attending
many
meetings,
which can
strain
resources.
• Engages a
smaller subset
of people.
Open House An Open House invites
members of the public to see
how their input has been
incorporated throughout the
process. This type of event
invites the public to learn
about the GPU as a whole.
These events can occur at the
start or the end of the
engagement process.
Newport
Beach
community
• Creates a platform
for the public to learn
about the GPU
process.
• The public can see
how their input
impacted the GPU
process.
• Often does
not lead to
deep
engagement.
Pop-Up Events Pop-up events take place in
various parts of the city to
engage the community
holistically. Pop-up events can
bring issues that usually stay
at City Hall or in workshops
out on the street thereby
engaging members of the
public who are not aware of
Members of
the public
that are
often hard to
reach or not
engaged
• Include members of
the community that
are often not
engaged in the
planning process.
• Go to places where
the community
congregates.
• May not allow
for deeper
engagement.
• Participants
may be
attending the
event for a
different
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 21
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations
the planning process. Pop-up
workshops utilize tactical
urbanism, a hands-on fun
approach to share
information about projects
using short-term and scalable
activities out in the places
where people gather.
activity and
may not be
interested in
the GPU.
Stakeholder Focus Group
Meetings
Stakeholder focus group
meetings consist of intimate
virtual interviews with invited
stakeholders. These
stakeholders represent
various interests, industries,
and communities throughout
the city to gather a broad
range of perspectives on the
GPU. Outreach is grounded in
meetings with stakeholders
who can provide targeted
input into the process. These
focus groups can quickly get
the word out about the
project, convey the
engagement and outreach
process, and solicit advice on
the best ways to engage the
community.
Examples of stakeholder
groups include:
• Arts & Culture
Identified
stakeholder
groups;
stakeholders
will be
identified in
conjunction
with City
staff.
• Allows for in-depth
engagement with a
focused group of
people.
• Builds trust and
investment in the
GPU from local
entities and groups.
• Can be seen as
exclusive or
exclusionary.
• Requires
significant
prior planning
with the
potential of a
small turnout
in each focus
group.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 22
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations
• Building & Development
• Education
Community Workshops Community workshops are a
way to invite members of the
public to learn about specific
General Plan elements (e.g.,
Land Use and safety) and
provide input through
interactive maps or activities.
These types of workshops are
a great way to educate and
activate community members
about the GPU and gain a
deeper level of engagement
from members of the public.
Newport
Beach
community
• Creates equal
opportunities for all
members of the
community to
engage.
• Allows for deeper
and robust
engagement.
• Can have
lower turnout.
• Often
participants
who attend
are already
the most
engaged and
involved
throughout
the process.
Commission/Committee
Meetings
The City has a variety of
commissions and committees
that play a vital role in
engagement and outreach.
The project team will attend
commission and committee
meetings, invite members to
read and engage with the
materials and provide
comments.
Commission
and
committee
members
• Allows for in-depth
engagement with a
focused group of
people.
• Builds trust and
investment in the
GPU from local
entities and groups.
• Does not
engage the
larger public.
• Can limit
gathering
input from a
diverse array
of
perspectives.
City Council Meetings The City Council plays a vital
role in the GPU process. City
Council meetings,
announcements, and
presentations are great
City Council
members
and
members of
the public
• Utilizes existing
channels to publicize
the outreach process.
• May only
reach
members of
the public who
are already
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 23
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations
methods to get the word out
about the GPU for already
engaged members of the
community.
who are
highly
informed
about the
city.
• Builds relationships
and investment with
City Council
members.
highly
engaged and
informed.
5.2 ALTERNATIVE METHODS OF ENGAGEMENT
In addition to scoped methods of engagement, the items in Table 4 were identified as alternative methods of engagement. To
maintain flexibility throughout GPU engagement and outreach, alternative engagement methods are offered as substitutions to the
scoped items in Table 3. Identification of which methods to use will be done in tandem with City staff. Table 4 includes descriptions
of each method, audience, benefits, considerations, and possible substitution areas.
Table 4: Alternative Methods of Engagement
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations Substitutions
Partnerships
with
Community-
Based
Organizations
Building partnerships
with local
community-based
organizations (CBOs)
allows the City to
network with other
groups with reach.
CBOs can market the
GPU and encourage
members of their
organizations to
participate.
Members of the
public that are
associated with
a CBO
• Allows for in-
depth
engagement
with a
focused
group of
people.
• Builds trust
and
investment in
the GPU from
local CBOs.
• Can be costly
with low return
on investment.
• Can prove
difficult to find
CBOs willing to
do additional
work for
generally
lowered
budgets.
Partnerships with
CBOs can replace
newspaper
advertisements.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 24
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations Substitutions
Workshop in
a Box
Create outreach
packages that
contain information
about the GPU.
Share the “box” with
an interested CBO,
local groups,
organizations,
and/or houses of
worship to share
with their
stakeholders.
Groups
representing
specific interests
in the city
• Allows for in-
depth
engagement
with a
focused
group of
people.
• Builds trust
and
investment in
the GPU from
local groups.
• The
presentation
may contain a
bias from the
presenting
organization.
• May pose a
challenge to
return any
feedback,
questions, or
concerns to the
project group.
(1) Workshop in a
Box can replace (1)
Go-To Meeting.
1-1 SMS Text
Messaging
SMS text messaging
is a way of reaching a
wide range of
community
members. Text
messages can be
used to market
upcoming events or
opportunities for
engagement such as
filling out a survey.
Usually, SMS texting
is used to publicize
The larger public • Can connect
to a wide
audience.
• A user-
friendly way
to engage
many
members of
the public.
• May be
ineffective in
the proposed
goal of
increasing
turnout for an
event or
engagement on
a survey.
• Can have high
costs.
(1) round of SMS
text messaging can
replace (1) round of
mailers.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 25
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations Substitutions
another method of
engagement.
Youth
Engagement
Engage young
(school-aged)
residents in the
planning process.
Examples of youth
engagement can
look like:
• Hosting focus
group
meetings
with the
City’s Teen
Leader
Program &
Mayor’s
Youth Council
• Hosting pop-
ups at a
youth event,
such as a
sports event
• Administering
a survey to
the Mayor’s
Youth Council
Young people in
the community
and people who
work with youth.
• Creates
investment in
the GPU from
a younger
audience.
• Provides
diverse
perspectives
that are often
left out of
planning
processes.
• Can have a
lower level of
engagement.
• Coordination
with school
districts and
school
administration
can present a
challenge.
(1) youth
engagement can
replace (1) Go-to
Meeting or (1) Pop-
Up Event
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 26
Method Description Audience Benefits Considerations Substitutions
and adjacent
entities
• Hosting a
focus group
meeting with
a high school
civics class
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 27
6. Appendix
APPENDIX A
Below is the IAP2 engagement spectrum graphic.
Community Engagement and Outreach Plan Draft 28
APPENDIX B
Below is a robust list of Homeowners Associations (HOAs) the project team hopes to engage as stakeholders throughout the process.