Changing Municipal Policy: Lessons Learned in Lincoln, NE

1. Changing Municipal Policy: Lessons Learned in Lincoln, NE Tom Workman University of Nebraska-Lincoln

2. Environmental Change: The Three Factor Strategic Model

3. TYPES OF POLICY • Hospitality management policy • Municipal ordinances • State laws, rules, and regulations • Community covenant • Corporate and school policy • Responsible business guidelines • Greek risk-management policies

4. Policy work of NU Directions MUNICIPAL • Mandatory Manager RBS Training (Pre-coalition) • Bottle Club ban in City of Lincoln • Limit on number of unrelated persons allowed to live together in Lincoln • Extending Disorderly House violations to landlords • Revised procedure for granting SDLs on Football Game days in Lincoln • Revised procedure for reporting Last Drink Data • Reporting municipal citations to UNL Judicial Affairs • Mandatory Server RBS Training

5. Policy work of NU Directions STATE • Secure digital drivers license law • Increased penalties DUI, MIP • Add Gaseous Liquor to Statute • Outlet density consideration for license approval • Certification for RBS training for state

6. Critical Components for Policy Change • A strategic PLAN • Clear and credible data • Relationships with policy-makers • Flexibility for diverse interests • Dialogue across stakeholders • Model policies • Consensus among key stakeholders • Consensus within the community

7. Sample Strategic Plan: New Digital Drivers License in Nebraska • Raise issue in state-wide symposium on policy • Establish coalition of supporters regardless of interest in underage access • Establish key partnerships with DMV, Retailers, Hospitality Industry; find correct party to write/intro bill • Educate the legislature and solicit public support through the media using all available forms of argument • Utilize coalition to produce testimony to leg. committee • Keep the issue in the public eye until passage

8. Clear and Credible Data

9. Last Drink Data 1/2003 – 1/2004

10. UNL Student Admissions Cornhusker Place Detoxification Center September 1, 2004 – December 31, 2005

11. UNL Student Admissions Cornhusker Place Detoxification Center September 1, 2004 – December 31, 2005

13. UNL Student Admissions Cornhusker Place Detoxification Center September 1, 2004 – December 31, 2005

14. Neighborhood Party Complaints

15. Party Complaints by Time of Day

16. Party Complaints by Day of Week

19. Relationship with Policy Makers • Involving policymakers into your organization • Coalition membership of policymakers • Task force membership • Becoming involved in THEIR structures • Internal Liquor Committee • Mayor’s Neighborhood Roundtable • Municipal task forces • Ongoing, open communication outside of issues

20. My relationships with Policy Makers: Four Key Questions • Do they see me as a PARTNER? • Do they see me as a RESOURCE? • Do they see me as HONEST and my work as having INTEGRITY? • Do they see my solutions as VIABLE and EFFECTIVE?

21. Creating Stakeholder Dialogue • Create opportunities for community/stakeholder involvement • Community Forums • Roundtables • Bar (neighborhood, tailgate) Walks • Discussion within existing groups

22. The BAR WalkThe Neighborhood Walk, The Tailgate Walk • Chance for policy makers and community leaders to “see” the reality of an environment • MUST be framed AND debriefed • Use set “guides” to point out elements • Have written materials that compliment the experience

23. The Community Forum

24. Successful Community Forums • Allow ALL perspectives to be shared and interaction between stakeholders • Provide credible and specific information that creates a unified perception • Are carefully planned to move from the analysis of a problem to potential solutions • Are carefully framed and debriefed so that clear next-steps are in place and momentum is maintained

25. Communication & Advocacy • Develop mechanisms to communicate the message • “Information briefings”/White papers • Press kits • Symposiums/Press Conferences • Create visual opportunities for the media • Utilize a “message box” • Find/Develop credible spokespersons • Do the media’s work for them

26. The Message Box: Pass the New Driver’s License Bill

27. Digital US Driver’s License Systems Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Film Digital Digital Digital Digital Film Digital Film Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Film Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital Digital / Digital Film Jurisdictions 5 Digital Digital Jurisdictions 46 Total 51 8

29. Lessons from NU Directions: • OUR issue/interests may not be sufficient to pass the legislation/ordinance. We need to work with other partners who may have different interests, and show them how our policy meets their interests. • Key credible spokespeople are critical. They must be prepared, trained, and provided full support. Remember that “credible” is read differently by different audiences. The Mayor, Police Chief is not ALWAYS the best spokesperson. • Visual images are essential for good media coverage. • Always know what other cities, states are doing. Research in model policies is ALWAYS worthwhile. • It’s all about RELATIONSHIPS! Seek consensus from stakeholders who might oppose the policy EARLY.