Fall 2012

To the best of your knowledge, please indicate whether your local government currently, either on its own or in collaboration with other governments or partners, electronically enables online payment for taxes, services, fees, fines, etc.

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of citizen participation on ad hoc task forces or planning teams for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using citizen participation on ad hoc task forces or planning teams)

Has your jurisdiction's use of technology for citizen engagement been discouraged by lack of "high speed" Internet connections in the community?

To the best of your knowledge, has the demands on jurisdiction's budget increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

Has your jurisdiction's use of technology for citizen engagement been discouraged by issues concerning compliance with the Open Meetings Act and/or the Freedom of Information Act?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that in your jurisdiction's policymaking processes, any citizen who wants to express an opinion has the chance to do so?

 We want to start by getting a very broad sense of citizen engagement with your local government. How would you describe citizen engagement — whatever that means to you — with your jurisdiction? Overall, citizens in your jurisdiction are...

To what extent do you agree or disagree that important decisions facing your jurisdiction typically have already been made prior to most public meetings?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses public comment opportunities at jurisdiction's main governing Council/Board meetings to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

Overall, thinking about relationships between people in your community and the tone of discussions that take place around local policy issues, how would you describe the state of public discourse between public officials and citizens within your jurisdiction?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses community-wide "Town Hall" meetings to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

One way of thinking about the proper role for citizen engagement in local policymaking is along a spectrum. At one end, citizen engagement would focus only on keeping citizens informed about issues. At the other end, citizens would actually make decisions for the jurisdiction. In between would be increasing levels of citizen input in the decisions made by the jurisdiction. While it might differ depending on the topic, in general, what do you personally believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of electronic/email newsletters or notices for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using electronic/email newsletters or notices)

Overall, how satisfied do you believe your citizens are with their engagement in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations today?

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of internet discussion forums or online input/feedback forms for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using internet discussion forums or online input/feedback forms)

To the best of your knowledge, please indicate whether your local government currently, either on its own or in collaboration with other governments or partners, electronically enables citizens to participate in a poll or survey.

To the best of your knowledge, has the amount of information available to local officials for decision-making increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

Has your jurisdiction's use of technology for citizen engagement been discouraged by lack of technical skills among your citizens?

As far as you know, is it likely that your jurisdiction will either reduce or expand its citizen engagement efforts within the next 12 months?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that some of your best engagement with citizens happens informally around the community (such as at the grocery store or in a restaurant, etc.)?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses hard copy newsletters or notices to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

To what extent do you agree or disagree that your jurisdiction's decision-making is transparent to your citizens?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses social media accounts for your jurisdiction (e.g., Facebook or Twitter) to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

Thinking in general about how things have changed in your jurisdiction over the last ten years or so — if at all — are citizens more or less engaged in your jurisdiction's work?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses neighborhood-specific committees/teams to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

Would access to regional efforts or leadership be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of cable TV broadcasts and/or online streaming of government meetings for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using cable TV broadcasts and/or online streaming of government meetings)

Thinking about your jurisdiction's website, please indicate whether you agree or disagree that the information on your website is generally kept up-to-date. (Among jurisdictions that reported having an official website)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of neighborhood meetings for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using neighborhood meetings)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of strategic-planning or "visioning" sessions for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using strategic-planning or "visioning" sessions)