A well-designed public participation process should be meaningful to participants and functional for planning.  Literature suggests there are five key choices to make when designing a public participation program:

1. Choice of Timing: Involve the public early and continuously.
2. Choice of Whom to Target: Seek participation from a broad range of stakeholders.
3. Choice of Objectives: Provide information, listen to, and empower citizens by providing opportunities to influence decision-making.
4. Choice of Techniques: Use a number of techniques to give and receive information and to provide opportunities for dialogue.
5. Choice of Information: Provide information that is clear, easy to understand, and free of technical jargon.

Of these, the single most effective step you can take to secure broader involvement is simply inviting a variety of groups to take part in the planning process.  Beyond that, local officials can increase public participation by providing citizens with information about problems and alternatives and creating opportunities for dialogue.  Communities that do not follow these recommendations often find that relatively few people choose to participate.

Identify Planning Tasks

One of the first steps in designing a public participation program is to define what needs to be accomplished at various points in the process.  The public can be involved in different ways at different times throughout the process. The challenge is to ensure that they are involved in ways that are meaningful to them and beneficial to the project.  A good place to start thinking about public participation is with the planning process itself.

Planning Steps

Planning steps illustrate the broad path where planning is headed. They describe generally what happens first, next, and last.  Typical steps in the planning process include identifying planning issues, analyzing data, setting goals and objectives, formulating strategies, and selecting the desired course of action.

Planning Tasks

Planning tasks are specific assignments that must be completed during each step of the process. For example, specific tasks associated with data analysis include identifying data needs, gathering data, analyzing the data for patterns and trends, and sharing the results.

Public Participation Techniques

Public participation techniques are the means by which the public learns about and influences local planning and decision-making. Common techniques include meetings, workshops, advisory committees, surveys, and the like.

The Sample Planning Process shows a sample planning process complete with steps, tasks and techniques. When designing your own process, give careful consideration to the timing and sequencing of tasks, and the decision points at which various parties need to be involved.  While some tasks are best completed by local officials and staff, others may be enhanced by involving the public.  The following sections will help you refine your public participation plan by focusing on whom to involve, for what purpose, and by what means.