Attachment 1: Project Summary N-036 – Community engagement strategy
Project details for developing a consistent community engagement protocol for the Town.
Project Summary
Priority: Strategic
Project Name: Community engagement strategy Project ID: 1-2-05100-615 CC510-22
Submitted by: L. Taylor, Director of Development Services
Executive Summary
At the Council meeting on July 17, 2023, Council passed a motion that the Town of View Royal adopt the International Association of Public Participation’s (IAP2) core values as a general framework upon which to build its community engagement strategy. With Council’s endorsement of IAP2, it helps inform the Community Engagement Strategy project.
A Community Engagement Strategy will help determine when to engage, how we might best connect with the community, and what to do with information gathered is key to the long-term success and community buy in on a range of topics from new playgrounds to housing to infrastructure and asset management.
Business problem and opportunity
The Town does not have consistent engagement protocols and does not always consider how, when and what community engagement might fit into projects and processes. Successful communities and businesses place value on connecting with a range of viewpoints within the community to strengthen decision making and implementation processes.
Proposed project objectives
Using IAP2 as a framework, project objectives are the following:
- Understand what kinds of decisions warrant community engagement
- Understand the different levels of engagement and use appropriate tools and level where warranted
- Establish how to manage community engagement given current level of resources
- Understand what kind of engagement the community prefers and what modes of engagement should we consider using.
Business risks
In a changing community, understanding citizen needs and wants is important. While there are small groups of committed volunteers in the Town on various committees, we do not hear from the vast majority of residents unless something is ‘wrong’. Business as usual, where engagement is an afterthought or poorly executed is a risk for the long-term success and implementation of various town initiatives.
Proposed funding
Casino revenue
Costs and benefits
| Costs | FY1 | FY2 | FY3 | FY4 | FY5 | 5-year Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Capital | 0 | |||||
| Operational | 80,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80,000 |
| Total | 80,000 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 80,000 |
Benefits
- Tangible: Reduce uncertainty, better decisions, community buy in for implementation
- Intangible: Stronger sense of connection to Town and community
Recommendation
THAT the Committee recommend the 2024-2028 Financial Plan include Community Engagement Strategy in 2024 to be funded by Casino revenue.
Additional Information
IAP2 Community Engagement Spectrum
