Laserfiche WebLink
-Identify volunteers in the community to empower them to share information about the <br />Comprehensive Plan planning process. The city is a relationship-based place, with many <br />residents having wide networks. This could be structured like a volunteer cohort. <br />-Hold focus groups that invite select residents to participate in a feedback session in a variety of <br />locations, such as a specific apartment complex, or a gathering center frequented by many <br />people in the area. <br />City Manager Yunker mentioned that the City will inevitably receive input from the public which is <br />outside of the Met Council requirements scope. Is there desire to ask the consultant to help manage <br />that additional input? Or is it preferred to stick closely to the Met Council scope? <br />-Comments emphasize that the City should not shut down input from people as it is a once-in-a- <br />decade opportunity. Transparency is key to making it known on the front end that not every <br />piece of feedback received will be part of the plan, and the development process will help <br />manage out-of-scope comments and input. <br />What should digital engagement look like for the 2050 Plan? What types of engagement (surveys, <br />interactive mapping, etc)? <br />Staff posed the question on whether the consultant should prioritize in-person engagement? (As in, <br />digital engagement is for the purpose of directing people to visit/attend other forums.) <br />There is a desire to have both online and in-person methods to provide feedback. Digital engagement is <br />viewed as a supplement to in-person engagement, not a replacement. <br />A mapping activity should be available online. In person, this can look like large map of the City and <br />residents are given color-coded stickers to indicate destinations, areas they would like to see improved, <br />etc. <br />Consider combining non-digital communication with digital platforms, such as sending mailings to every <br />address and household (i.e. Village Notes mailing list) directing and inviting engagement with an online <br />map. <br />Ideally, avoid introducing new apps to participate in providing feedback since this can be a huge barrier <br />for accessibility/usability. An example is that no one in this group knew what “MySidewalk” from the <br />2040 Plan engagement is/was or looks like, maybe this platform has improved or there is a better <br />platform available. <br />It is also nice to have direct links or QR codes to online platforms, making it easier to promote and share. <br />Additional questions raised by attendees <br />What percentage of residents know about the Met Council and what they do? How do we talk to the <br />public about this to raise awareness of important of the Comp Plan? <br />-Regardless of whether residents understand who the Met Council is and their role, we still want <br />to hear from people. This is where the local context for the plan comes from. Input is helpful <br />even if they won’t be reading the plan cover to cover. <br />-Keep identifying opportunities to get information out to the public about this process, such as in <br />Village Notes. Can also work through volunteers who talk to neighbors and other community <br />members to get the word out to a wider audience. <br />11