Engagement Objectives
With the input of the Citizen Advisory committee, and reflecting a strong emphasis on citizen engagement, the update of Victoria’s Official Community Plan has set a target to involve 5,000 people in a discussion about Victoria’s future.
Guiding principles for citizen involvement:
- Openness: Be open, clear and proactive in communicating expectations and impacts of engagement activities and project realities, such as the budget and resource implications of activities
- Tell the whole story: Present all factors holistically
- Inclusive: Develop an understanding of the range of views in the community, and use a diversity of approaches to connect to various segments of the community
- Informed discussion: Provide timely information and analysis to help inform discussions
- Innovation: Use creative engagement approaches, including meeting people where they are, to build interest and address consultation fatigue
- Address controversy: Address issues that are controversial and explore the implications of different choices and trade-offs
- Clarity / Candor: Use plain language to be clear in communication and encourage all parties to say what they really think
- Passion: Encourage participants to share their ideas, feelings and passions for Victoria in engagement activities
- Mix methods of engagement: use both shallow/broad and deep/narrow engagement tools to ensure a diversity of input
Following these principles, and keeping the target of 5,000 participants in mind, the OCP update has the following engagement sub-objectives:
- Reach a broad range of stakeholders and community members
- Emphasize youth engagement
- Use strongly engaged citizens as a resource
- Use tools and methods to connect with “hard to reach” groups
- Provide clear, accessible, and exciting Communication Materials
- Integrate neighbourhood planning engagement
- Engage regional stakeholders in the conversation
- “Close the Loop” with participants
