MPPS Fall 2012 data tables

Summary tables for questionnaire items from the Fall 2012 Wave of the MPPS Broken down by jurisdiction type, population size, and region of the state:

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Levels of Engagement

2. How engaged are citizens in your jurisdiction?
3. Extent of citizen engagement opportunities in your jurisdiction

Approaches Used by Jurisdiction

4. 1. Use of notices in newspapers
   2. Use of hard copy newsletters or notices
   3. Use of electronic/email newsletters or notices
   4. Use of local government websites
   5. Use of local government performance dashboards or reports
   6. Use of cable TV broadcasts and/or online streaming of government meetings
   7. Use of public comment opportunities at jurisdiction's main governing Council/Board meetings
   8. Use of public comment opportunities at other jurisdictional meetings
   9. Use of citizen surveys
   10. Use of social media accounts
   11. Use of internet discussion forums or online input/feedback forms
   12. Use of informal one-on-one discussions with citizens
   13. Use of open houses or "coffee with officials"
   14. Use of neighborhood meetings
   15. Use of community-wide "Town Hall" meetings
   16. Use of focus groups
   17. Use of strategic-planning or "visioning" sessions
   18. Use of neighborhood-specific committees/teams
   19. Use of citizen participation on ad hoc task forces or planning teams
   20. Use of citizen participation on formal government boards or commissions

Effectiveness of Approaches

5. 1. Effectiveness of notices in newspapers
   2. Effectiveness of hard copy newsletters or notices
   3. Effectiveness of electronic/email newsletters or notices
   4. Effectiveness of local government websites
   5. Effectiveness of local government performance dashboards or reports
   6. Effectiveness of cable TV broadcasts and/or online streaming of government meetings
   7. Effectiveness of public comment opportunities at jurisdiction's main governing Council/Board meetings
   8. Effectiveness of public comment opportunities at other jurisdictional meetings
   9. Effectiveness of citizen surveys
   10. Effectiveness of social media accounts
   11. Effectiveness of internet discussion forums or online input/feedback forms
   12. Effectiveness of informal one-on-one discussions with citizens
   13. Effectiveness of open houses or "coffee with officials"
   14. Effectiveness of neighborhood meetings
   15. Effectiveness of community-wide "Town Hall" meetings
   16. Effectiveness of focus groups
   17. Effectiveness of strategic-planning or "visioning" sessions
   18. Effectiveness of neighborhood-specific committees/teams
   19. Effectiveness of citizen participation on ad hoc task forces or planning teams
   20. Effectiveness of citizen participation on formal government boards or commissions

Results of Engagement

7. 1. Change in amount of citizen participation
   2. Change in amount of information available to local officials
   3. Change in quality of information available to local officials
   4. Change in officials' understanding of citizens' views
   5. Change in quality of decision-making by local officials
   6. Change in workload or time demands on jurisdiction's personnel
   7. Change in demands on jurisdiction's budget
   8. Change in officials' control over decision-making
   9. Change in citizens' trust in jurisdiction's government

Recent and Future Activity

General Attitudes about Citizen Engagement

8. Likelihood jurisdiction will reduce or expand engagement efforts in the next 12 months
10. 1. Have particular issue(s) facing jurisdiction generated a significant increase in citizen engagement this year?
    2. Have particular issue(s) facing jurisdiction generated a significant increase in citizen engagement a few years ago?
    3. No particular issue(s) facing jurisdiction have generated a significant increase in citizen engagement
12. Does jurisdiction reach out to any groups that typically might not engage?
14. 1. Agree or disagree that any citizen who wants to express an opinion has a chance
    2. Agree or disagree that jurisdiction makes opportunities for engagement available, but citizens rarely take advantage of them
    3. Agree or disagree that jurisdiction does not need formal engagement efforts because local officials already know what citizens want
    4. Agree or disagree that some of the best engagement with citizens happens informally around the community
    5. Agree or disagree that meetings run too long because too many citizens want to speak
    6. Agree or disagree that the jurisdiction should pursue engagement with a broader range of citizens
    7. Agree or disagree that citizens want access to information about the government's performance
    8. Agree or disagree that most citizens aren't willing to take the time to become well-informed on issues
    9. Agree or disagree that important decisions facing our jurisdiction typically have already been made prior to most public meetings
    10. Agree or disagree that most citizens the jurisdiction hears from are more interested in complaining than in finding solutions
    11. Agree or disagree that the jurisdiction's engagement efforts mostly attract the same people over and over
    12. Agree or disagree that the jurisdiction's decision-making is transparent to its citizens

State of Engagement

15. Official's trust in citizens to be responsible participants
16. Are citizens looking out only for themselves or for the benefit of the community overall?
17. Who should have the final say in controversial decisions- citizens or public officials?
18. 1. State of public discourse between public officials
    2. State of public discourse between public officials and citizens
    3. State of public discourse between citizens
19. 1. Are citizens more or less informed than in the past?
    2. Are citizens more or less engaged than in the past?
    3. Is political discourse about local issues more or less civil than in the past?

The Role of Citizen Engagement

20. 1. Jurisdiction's Council/Board believes the role of citizen engagement should be...
    2. Jurisdiction's employees believe the role of citizen engagement should be...
    3. Jurisdiction's citizens believe the role of citizen engagement should be...
    4. Respondent believes the role of citizen engagement should be...

Training

21. Have any of the jurisdiction's personnel had formal training in citizen engagement?

Assistance or Resources

22. 1. Information about best practices
    2. Regional efforts or leadership
    3. Training programs for jurisdiction personnel
    4. Training programs for citizens/external stakeholders
    5. Financial assistance for citizen engagement efforts

Overall Satisfaction Regarding Citizen Engagement

23. Respondent satisfaction regarding citizen engagement in jurisdiction's policymaking
24. Citizen satisfaction regarding citizen engagement in jurisdiction's policymaking

Technology

25. Extent of technology use for citizen engagement
26. Does jurisdiction have an official website?
27. 1. Agree or disagree that information on the website is kept up-to-date
    2. Agree or disagree that the website makes it is easy for citizens to find information
    3. Agree or disagree that citizens make considerable use of website's information and resources
    4. Agree or disagree that the website is sufficient for citizens' needs
    5. Agree or disagree that the jurisdiction does not have the resources to adequately maintain its website
28. 1. Jurisdiction enables online payment for taxes, services, fees, fines, etc.
    2. Jurisdiction enables online requests for services
    3. Jurisdiction enables citizens to email local officials directly
    4. Jurisdiction enables citizens to participate in a poll or survey
    5. Jurisdiction enables citizens to post comments online
    6. Jurisdiction streams/posts video of jurisdiction hearings or meetings
    7. Jurisdiction posts meeting agendas online
    8. Jurisdiction posts meeting minutes and decisions online

What Factors Discourage the Use of Technology

29. 1. Lack of "high speed" Internet connections
    2. Lack of funding
    3. Lack of technical expertise among jurisdiction personnel
    4. Lack of technical skills among citizens
    5. No particular leaders among jurisdiction personnel pushing for adoption
    6. Resistance among jurisdiction personnel
    7. Lack of interest among citizens
    8. Issues of privacy/security
    9. Issues concerning compliance with the Open Meetings Act and/or the Freedom of Information Act
    10. Concerns that unrepresentative people or groups would dominate citizen input

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