Title
Report on Input from Community Conversation
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a report on the input collected at the April Community Conversations and consider how the input from community members who participated in the Community Conversation can inform the 2018-2019 budget process.
Report
Issue:
Whether to consider the input collected from the Community Conversation on Budget Priorities as part of this year’s budget process.
Staff Contact:
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Administrative Services, 360.753.8046
Presenter(s):
Stacey Ray, Senior Planner, Administrative Services, 360.753.8499
Background and Analysis:
On Saturday, April 14, the City Council Finance Committee hosted a Community Conversation on Budget Priorities. The purpose was to listen to citizen’s perspectives on the top priorities to inform the City’s budget investments over the next two years.
City staff invited participants who collectively reflect a demographically representative sample of Olympia citizens, including citizens who typically do not participate in traditional city outreach and engagement processes.
Thirty-five participants took part in activities designed to host and accommodate community members from a diversity of backgrounds, experiences, and abilities. Input from participants was captured using illustrations, video, individual post-it notes, and group discussion notes.
During the two-hour session, participants were invited to:
1) Individually record reactions, ideas, or challenges associated with each of the five Action Plan focus areas; and
2) Self-select into groups representing each of the five different focus areas and discuss the following questions:
a. What do you know is already working well in this area?
b. Which areas need more attention?
c. What would it look like to be “better”?
Staff has reviewed and organized more than 170 individual comments, five group discussion summaries, and visual recordings from the conversation to capture and reflect the breadth and diversity of input received. The purpose of this briefing is to share that input, with emphasis on topics for consideration during this year’s budget process.
Neighborhood/Community Interest:
Opportunities for citizens to engage with the City on budget priorities are of high community interest. Staff continues to keep Community Conversation participants informed on the results of the conversation, and how their input is being used to inform the budget process.
Options:
1. Receive the report on community input from the April 14 Community Conversation on Budget Priorities
2. Do not receive the report.
Attachments:
Community Conversation Overview