Fall 2012

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?

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?

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 the best of your knowledge, has the citizens' trust in your jurisdiction's government increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

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?

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?

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

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?

To the best of your knowledge, has the officials' understanding of citizens' views increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

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?

 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 the best of your knowledge, has the amount of citizen participation increased, decreased, or not changed measurably due to your citizen engagement efforts?

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)

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)

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

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)

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

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

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 open houses or "coffee with officials" for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using open houses or "coffee with officials")

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)

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)

How would you rate the overall effectiveness (whatever "effectiveness" means to you) of social media accounts for your jurisdiction (e.g., Facebook or Twitter) for engaging citizens in your jurisdiction's policymaking and/or operations? (Among jurisdictions that reported using social media accounts for their jurisdiction (e.g., Facebook or Twitter))

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)