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 posts meeting agendas online.

To the best of your knowledge, has the quality of decision-making by local officials 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 interest among citizens?

Recently, has there been one (or more) particular issue(s) facing your jurisdiction that generated a significant increase in citizen engagement with your local government?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that citizens in your jurisdiction want access to information about the government's performance?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses local government performance dashboards or reports to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

Thinking about controversial issues in your community, in general, who do you think should have the final say on your jurisdiction's most controversial decisions — citizens or public officials?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses open houses or "coffee with officials" 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 think the majority of your jurisdiction's employees believe is the proper role for citizen engagement in local governance?

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

Would access to financial assistance for citizen engagement efforts be valuable to help foster citizen engagement?

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

Thinking about your jurisdiction's website, please indicate whether you agree or disagree that your website is sufficient for your citizens' needs. (Among jurisdictions that reported having an official website)

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)

Has your jurisdiction's use of technology for citizen engagement been discouraged by lack of funding?

To the best of your knowledge, has the officials' control over 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 concerns that unrepresentative people or groups would dominate citizen input?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that you make opportunities for engagement available, but your citizens rarely take advantage of them?

To what extent do you feel your jurisdiction offers opportunities to citizens for engagement with your jurisdiction in its policymaking and/or operations?

To what extent do you agree or disagree that most citizens you hear from are more interested in complaining than in finding solutions?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses public comment opportunities at other jurisdictional meetings (e.g., planning commissions, etc.) 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 citizens themselves within your jurisdiction?

Please indicate whether your jurisdiction uses focus groups conducted by or for your jurisdiction to engage its citizens in your government's policymaking and/or operations.

Have any of your jurisdiction's personnel had formal training in promoting or managing citizen engagement?

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

To what extent would you say your jurisdiction tries to engage its citizens through technology (possibly including things such as email, websites, cable TV broadcasts, social media, mobile phone apps, etc.)?

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

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 requests for services that your jurisdiction is responsible for delivering.

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of citizen participation on formal government boards or commissions for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using citizen participation on formal government boards or commissions)

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