Innovative Outreach Strategies for Public and Stakeholder Participation

1. Innovative Outreach Strategies for Public and Stakeholder Participation Georgia Planning Association Conference Presentation Thursday, September 20, 2007

2. Agenda • Public Outreach Purpose • AICP Code of Ethics • Statewide and Metropolitan Planning • Environmental Justice • Innovative Outreach Strategies • Survey • Bus Tours • On-site Events • Focus Groups • Dialogue

3. Public Outreach Purpose • AICP Code of Ethics • Statewide and Metropolitan Planning • Environmental Justice

4. Minimize Public Outcry

5. Our Overall Responsibility to the Public: Our primary obligation is to serve the public interest and we, therefore, owe our allegiance to a conscientiously attained concept of the public interest that is formulated through continuous and open debate. We shall achieve high standards of professional integrity, proficiency, and knowledge. AICP Code of Ethics - AICP Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct Adopted March 19, 2005, Effective June 1, 2005

6. Be conscious of the rights of others. Have special concern for the long-range consequences of present actions. Pay special attention to the interrelatedness of decisions. Provide timely, adequate, clear, and accurate information on planning issues to all affected persons and to governmental decision makers. Give people the opportunity to have a meaningful impact on the development of plans and programs that may affect them.Participation should be broad enough to include those who lack formal organization or influence. Seek social justice by working to expand choice and opportunity for all persons, recognizing a special responsibility to plan for the needs of the disadvantaged and to promote racial and economic integration.We shall urge the alteration of policies, institutions, and decisions that oppose such needs. Promote excellence of design and endeavor to conserve and preserve the integrity and heritage of the natural and built environment. Deal fairly with all participants in the planning process.Those of us who are public officials or employees shall also deal evenhandedly with all planning process participants. AICP Ethics Aspirational Principles

7. Minimize Finger Pointing

8. Statewide and Metropolitan Planning Federal-aid Project Development: Legislation: 23 U.S.C. 128 Regulation: 23 CFR 771.111(h), 40 CFR 1501.7 and 1506.6 Metropolitan Transportation Planning: Legislation: Metropolitan Planning (23 U.S.C. 134) Regulation: 23 CFR 450.316(b), 450.318(b), 450.322(c), and 450.324(c) Statewide Transportation Planning: Legislation: Statewide Planning (23 U.S.C. 135) Regulation: 23 CFR 450.212 http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/////environment/pi_leg.htm

9. Environmental Justice Title VI, Executive Order 12898 and federal transportation legislation establish EJ requirements for federal agencies and federally funded programs. Three major principles of EJ are: • Provide a full and fair participation by non-white and low-income communities • Avoid, minimize or mitigate disproportional impact to non-white and low-income communities • Ensure that low-income and non-white citizens fully share in the benefits

10. Innovative Outreach Strategies • Surveys • Bus Tours • On-site Events • Focus Groups

11. Surveys

12. Surveys

13. Employ Public Research Methods

14. Study Area Bus Tours

15. Study Area Bus Tours

16. Initiate Interjurisdictional Conversations

17. On-Site Events

18. On-Site Events

19. Brand the Project

20. Focus Groups

21. Focus Groups

22. Use Visual Aids and Engage New Voices

23. Dialogue

24. Contact Information Kristen Wescott, AICP Transportation Planner URS Corporation 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30328 kristen_wescott@urscorp.com 678-808-8830 Janide Sidifall Transportation Planner URS Corporation 1000 Abernathy Road, Suite 900 Atlanta, Georgia 30328 janide_sidifall@urscorp.com 678-808-8973