Civic ideas and needs

I believe local government has the greatest impact on people’s lives. Helping Oklahoma City residents and City employees improve their community is at the foundation of why I have been a public servant for more than 17 years. 

A concept garden of random ideas to improve services, neighborhoods and communities.
The catalog of random thoughts below are ideas or concepts that could spark a solution to a problem or improve a service. Some are good, some are meh and most need some more brainstorming. They are pulled from places I’ve visited, ideas that have woken me up at night or things I’ve read about and thought, hey, this might work for something. 

• Reaching disenfranchised communities is difficult. There are trust, accessibility and language barriers. It is common for municipalities to have staffed facilities throughout the city – an example is parks’ community centers. Cities sometimes must go to people to build trust. This is proven in engagement and outreach efforts to collect public sentiment or ideas. A concept to reach these communities that could be beneficial is creating pop-up city services facilities. A prototype could be created using a commercial space that isn’t being used, partnering with the library system or setup a temporary mobile center like a trailer. It could be staffed with people who are in those communities to build trust and include services like permitting, utility payment and event permits. Staff could have the ability to video-call other service representatives and translate it relates to tickets, courts or other services that aren’t included at the location.  This is a similar concept used in recruiting for jobs and educating people about programs or services.

• Replacing or fixing sidewalks is costly but necessary for a walkable and thriving community. For sidewalks that have been damaged by erosion or tree roots, an idea could be to overlay a heavy-duty rubber mat to reduce trip hazards and easily allow wheeled devices such as strollers to use the sidewalk until it can be replaced. 

• Proper lighting increases safety in neighborhoods. There are a few ideas to increase lighting and create safer places for pedestrians,  cyclists, motorists and people living in the area.

• In-betweener lighting. Most cities have a standard of public lighting in neighborhoods. A standard safety light might be too much, but there could be a smaller lighting option that can be installed between.

• Remember in the late 60s and 70s when properties had a small pole light in the front yard? Let’s bring that fad and design back. Not only does it follow best practices of safety by environmental design, but it also supplements public lighting in neighborhoods.

• Porch light campaign. Provide LED lights to reduce energy consumption and encourage people living in homes to turn their porch lights on at night.

• A crazy one is using glow-in-the-dark chemicals for concrete, sidewalks or curbs.

• Adopting a streetlight. Have people adopt a streetlight or a stretch of them and be responsible for alerting the responsible party when they are out. 

• Dual lighting poles. Increase the number of public lighting that has two lights on the pole – one higher and a lower one to illuminate the sidewalks.

• Wind-powered lights. There have been prototypes of wind-powered streetlights launched in Germany. 

• Could a city like OKC scale the concept of zoo lights across the city? In winter, each year, the city could host a festival of lights. 

• Using data from partner agencies and public utilities to proactively intervene and prevent a person from experiencing homelessness. Would it be possible to know when bills haven’t been paid for utilities? How could we use connections and their data to increase the possibility of someone not being evicted?

• Creating service equity. Some municipalities are reactive when it comes to infrastructure repairs like potholes. A person needs to know who to call to report a problem they see or experience. Some people may not have the time or resources to prioritize this interaction with the government. They likely don’t know it is even possible. That means sometimes the issue doesn’t get fixed or worsens. The neighborhoods that are informed and have the time to report the problem have an increased likelihood for their community to be improved. 

• Education and outreach on how to report.

• Change in service approach for a more proactive way of finding problems.

• New technology or way for people to report.  

• Low cost, high-quality transit. 

• A mobile city services outreach vehicle. This is similar to the concept launched many years ago in Boston, but the idea could be used for cities to use for recruiting, special event seminars, outreach for programs like historic preservation. The vehicle could be checked out by departments and used by staff to connect to residents and communities by going where people are rather than waiting for them to come to us.

• Trees, trees and more trees. When traveling and walking, the best streets and areas are the ones with shade. Trees in parks are obviously great, but shade connecting districts and neighborhoods are even better IMO.

• Reduction in minimum parking requirements for certain uses.

• To encourage and create more uses for districts, specifically downtown areas, create scheduled closures of street(s) for pedestrian zones. This could increase the likelihood of success of local retail, restaurants and bars to occupy frontages and improve the quality of life and experiences for people living or coming downtown. Berlin’s Obernstrasse experiment is a good example to research.

• Apathy is a word that oftentimes gets thrown around when you talk about young people and politics. Frustration though is the better word. They are frustrated with the institution of politics. They are frustrated with inaction when it comes to environmental and social issues. They are frustrated about their voices not being heard or discounted. Because of this they are turning to new spaces and methods to create and make a change. We have to have a better understanding of these methods and create an inclusive space that allows them to participate in the formal process. In doing this we must be prepared to listen and truly take into consideration their ideas, needs and concerns, allowing them to be real stakeholders and decision-makers.

• Creating youth commissions or boards to budget or provide insights on issues.

• Partner with school districts for civic education.

• Partner with school districts and other youth organizations for regular listening sessions.

• Kids ’ budget. Setting aside x amount of annual budget for projects prioritized by children. 

• Regardless of age, civic education is key to the foundation of a healthy and strong government. People need to have an understanding of how their governments work, how to participate and why it matters. There is no better place than inside classrooms to do this. Cities have a unique opportunity to partner with school districts and teachers to show democracy in action as well as engage young people on topics and issues that matter to them.

• Democracy vouchers.

• “I need to know my voice matters and is heard.” To be a strong, inclusive city, we must acknowledge the past as we work towards the future. “Operationalizing democracy and embedding equity and inclusion in local government’s day-to-day operations is critical to our shared success, and learning from each other is essential for creating the society to which we aspire,” said Julie Nelson, GMF Cities Visiting Fellows. Inclusion is a key part of the delivery of equitable services. Creating belonging and inclusion and building a diverse and dynamic community requires reflection on all aspects It takes consistent and sometimes difficult conversations and reflection. It requires listening and showing up where we didn’t before.

• Value the importance of language that captures the complexities of equity and inclusion

• Recognize different forms of democratic practice that might be useful in advancing inclusive, multicultural, diverse and equitable cities

• Compare efforts that cities have undertaken to expand democracy and increase equity and inclusion

• Assess through quantitative and qualitative data how we can expand democracy and increase equity and inclusion

• There isn’t much explaining needed when talking about the divide in the United States—politics, covid, insurrection, elections, education, media and social issues. A lot more could be added to that list. It has become difficult to speak to each other and subjects that are essential to our democracy and communities. So how do we bring people together to have conversations, find compromise and a baseline of facts and when they discount data when it doesn’t align with their beliefs. One of the most important things is to keep trying. We can find stories and common life experiences that allow us to connect. We can reach out to the silent parts of our communities that have been left out because of the loud voices on each side of the debate. We can talk about improvements rather than change. Change oftentimes scares people, but we all, hopefully, want to make some improvements. We can go to places where people are rather than waiting for them to come to us. We can work to combat disinformation while focusing on education. This topic is a difficult one, but we can work together, outside our silos, to try to understand the root causes. We have to try, especially at the local level, or our success with compromise and working together will erode, which will lead to a reduction in trust and confidence and will widen the divide even more.

• The media landscape looks different than it did decades ago. Actually, it looks different than it did five years ago. Scratch that. Here in Oklahoma City, it looks different than it did just a few years ago. The largest newspaper isn’t locally owned. Budgets have been cut, shrinking newsrooms. Some content is now behind paywalls as owners look to find ways to profit outside the traditional advertising streams. We have non-profit news organizations. Independent journalism online sites. Fewer beat reporters. We have live tweeting of council meetings, live streaming from residents, Facebook posts from your uncle and shared stories from your friend from high school. Young people search TikTok for news. Some people still turn to Twitter. There is a rise in independent Black media after the murder of George Floyd. A lot of smaller newspapers have closed and many others don’t know if they will survive the next deadline. Whether it is from their church, a friend, a digital platform or a traditional method, how and where we get our news has changed is changing. Despite the new ways, there are news deserts that have popped up for many communities and that isn’t good for them or democracy. When local people lose local news, they are not as likely to engage with their local government. This not only can lead to fewer voters, it can also mean fewer candidates on the ballot. It can lead to a reduction in civic engagement and education. Yes, cities can attempt to fill the void with information. However, journalism is essential to the Fourth Estate and good governance. Through our public information offices across city departments, we have to work to provide journalists the information they need, build relationships, create new ways to connect people with information and provide basic information needs to our residents.

• Media literacy education.

• Partnership with library system for not only education but highlighting free access to news and information using a library card.

• Digital tools like our website, Facebook, Twitter, Nextdoor, YouTube and newsletter subscription tool have expanded our ability to connect with our residents, however, as our city grows and becomes more diverse, we will need to find new ways to listen better and work together to meet their needs. Co-creating with residents and creating collaboration opportunities between departments, will allow us to understand our community better, build relationships and confidence. Cities have had success in “thin” engagement through social media and traditional outreach, but expectations have changed and the demand for a more tailored approach to connecting with all people is increasing. This isn’t new for our organization. It is something a lot of employees do quite well, especially those in planning departments. However, it is a mindset that must be scaled across local govs.

• Data service standards. 

• Removing barriers and unnecessary processes and requirements for various permits and improving UI for digital platforms.  

• Improving or maintaining current housing stock, especially older properties in rural areas, and reducing the odds a property might become dilapidated and/or abandoned.

• Probate education. A lot of properties end up in a void of ownership because plans weren’t established if a person dies. 

• Access to low-to-no-cost legal services. 

• On-the-spot citations vs mailed.

• Reducing barriers to receiving assistance.

• Stronger tenant rights and rental rehab.

• Negotiations vs legal tools.

• Family conflict resolution education access.

• Proactive engagements.

• A flag to rally around. To help connect and create a larger sense of community, consider designing a simple flag for your municipality. This would be similar to the crowd-sourced and strategic efforts of  Tulsa residents.

• Creating digital third spaces for people that aren’t tied to profits. 

• Transparency and engagement.

• Redesigning and rethinking municipal websites to reduce the number of pages and focus on the most used service and information pages. Consider gaps in information.

• What replaces social media engagement that took place on social media sites like Twitter? 

• Mapping submitted permits and including related material.

• Creating geo alerts for submitted permits or zoning changes. 

• Expanding native translation for documents and online information.

• Focus on hyper-local information and engagement between residents and elected officials, departments and programs.

• Public notices - from newspapers of record to websites.

• More SMS and traditional mailers?

• Community message boards.

• Sustainability and climate.

• Installing solar on gov buildings.

• Changing the mindset of what residential landscapes are to reduce water consumption.

• Recycling to multi-family units.

• Water conservation program rewards.

• Trees, trees, trees.

• Municipal-owned and operated electric vehicle charging stations in public garages and properties.

• Solar farms or gardens at the top of parking garages.

• Sustainability purchasing policies. A small example is asking if you need that case of styrofoam cups for the break room.

• Implementing ways to prepare and mitigate disasters related to changing weather patterns and drought. 

• Clothes lines and drying racks.

• Recycling and repurposing programs for used clothing items.

• Encouraging small-scale food production on vacant properties.

• Transit opportunities.

• Economic and other money-related things 

• Provide equity in funding opportunities and incentives for locally owned businesses.

• Ghost stores and kitchens that don’t provide community connections and creates gaps in an urban or downtown landscape.

• Promote benefits and create opportunities for third spaces in neighborhoods.

• For those Oklahoma cities, let’s take a run at diversifying funding streams where we aren’t reliant on sales tax for operations.

• Minimum wage conversation.

• Tipping and service workers.

• Municipal procurement – changes, opportunities and improvements. 

• Create equity.

• Efficient, inviting and transparent.

• Crowdsourcing

• Tools and electric lawn mowers.

• Adopting storm drains.

• Information network.

• Stronger relationships and communication channels with neighborhood associations, HOAs and apartment managers.

• Adopting street lights.

• Participatory budgeting.

• Gathering input and ideas prior to the preparation of budgets.

• Brainstorm and co-design projects with the community.

• Funding allocation digital platform.

• Public ranking through voting.

• Youth budget. Listening and providing funding tools for youth priorities and projects.

• Education process about funding and civic process.

• Infrastructure needs.

• Creating understanding and strengthening community through neighborhood relationships and communications. 

• Gathering around a table for dinner and conversation.

• Porch meetups and “sits.”

• Driveway or common spaces picnics.

• Texting chains or messaging apps.

• Gamifying community gatherings. 

• Disaster preparedness and situational awareness.

• Promoting safety through environmental design partnerships at the neighborhood level.

• Alerting users of issues with trails. Ex. Gravel or runoff on the trail near x street, beware. 

• A work in progress; check back for other ideas or concepts.

Engagement ideas and concepts

Local government is closest to the people we serve. Because of that, we have an opportunity to involve people in not only the decision-making process but also how services are built, look and function.

Engagement is listening and working with, not just for, the people who we serve. It is important because it gives people a say in things that directly affect them. It also builds trust and legitimacy between the City and our residents. 

Engagement can help:

• Make better decisions. When people are involved in the decision-making process, they are more likely to understand the issues and to come up with solutions that work for everyone.

• Build trust and legitimacy. When people feel like they have a say in the decisions that affect their lives, they are more likely to trust their government and believe it is working in their best interests.

• Solve problems creatively. Including people in problem-solving processes can lead to new and creative ideas. Residents might have unique insights or different ways of thinking that City staff haven’t considered. This benefits both the community and the City by bringing innovative approaches to challenges.

• Create more engaged and informed communities. When people are involved in the decision-making process, they are more likely to stay informed about the issues and to participate in civic life.

• Inclusive perspectives. When local government includes people from different backgrounds, incomes and viewpoints, it makes sure that everyone’s needs and concerns are heard and considered. This helps prevent specific communities from being left out or ignored, promoting a fairer and more inclusive way of making decisions.

• Foster a sense of community. When people work together to solve problems, they build relationships and a sense of community.

Engagement Mindsets

• Engagement starts with an understanding of the people who will be affected by a decision or solution. This includes understanding their needs, experiences, and perspectives.

• Engagement involves collaboration between different stakeholders. This includes staff, stakeholders, community members, and experts.

• Engagement is an iterative process. This means that solutions are developed and refined through a process of testing and feedback.

• Engaging people requires empathy. This means being able to understand and appreciate the perspectives of others. 

Engagement ideas

• Forms and surveys

• Town halls

• Social media

• Tabletop focus groups

• Cold calls

• Person-on-the-street interviews

• In the classroom

• Attending community events 

• Websites

• Mobile apps

• Newsletters

• Email feedback

• Text messaging

• Interactive maps

• Community boards

• At parks, community centers

• Miro, Jamboard or similar online platforms

• Listening sessions

• Gamify engagement 

• Creating ideas based on current or future technology

• Porch discussions in neighborhoods

• Connecting with people living in multi-family housing

• Interactive notes, comments or stickies on document or plan

• Building ideas or concepts with diverse participants

• Sentiment scrapping - public meetings, social, complaints

• Using data and feedback sent to call centers.

• Gathering insights through direct observations.

• Photo submissions

• QR codes

• Internal data

• Partnerships with non-profits, universities, businesses and churches.

• Paper, pencil and a quick drawing.

A few free tools for engagement

Most tech below has free tiers. If you need more features, you can always upgrade

Video conferencing

• Zoom (40 min limit - plenty of time)

• Google Meet (60 min limit and 100 participants)

• Skype 

Texting

Finding new ways to stay connected to our residents is important. It is the reason we launched a mobile app, redesigned our website and engage on social media. It only made sense that the Action Center should adopt one of the most preferred ways for people to communicate - text messaging. Some of the barriers though were the cost, being able to accept photos and integrating a platform that could be used by all of our Action Center reps. After brainstorming options, we leveraged the Google platform and created a Google voice number. This was at no cost to the City. Free. Not only did it save the City money, but it allowed us to pilot the program to see if it would be successful. The number of people who text the City has grown over the past six years. 

Online whiteboard collaboration

• Miro

• Google Jamboard

• Microsoft Whiteboard

• Apple’s Freeform

Document collaboration

• Google Docs

Forms and Surveys

• Google Forms

• Typeform

Online platforms and social media

• Twitter

• Facebook

• Nextdoor

• YouTube

• Message boards

• Reddit

• The comment section

Locations for engagement

• Neighborhoods

• Parks

• Malls

• Community events like fairs, festivals and celebrations

• Schools 

• Community centers

• Senior centers

• Churches

• Universities and community colleges

• Partner agency events

• Phone calls

• Grocery store parking lots

• Gas stations

• Coffee shops

• Public meetings

• Libraries

• Bars

• Apartments

• Playgrounds

• Trails

• Sidewalks

Don’t forget

• Camera or phone for videos and photos. 

• Notebook and pencil - take notes, get names and contact for other opportunities. Don’t rely on an audio recorder. It only adds time to process.

• A partner. One person to talk, the other to take notes.

• Of course, sticky notes and a board or wall to stick them to.