Toolkit
Welcome to the Community Engagement Toolkit—a hub of resources designed to support community engagement initiatives. Our curated collection of tools are here to support your efforts. From facilitation guides, checklists and feedback templates, we've got you covered. We encourage you to explore, learn, and share your feedback!
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Inform is the first level of engagement. At this level, the key is to inform your audience about a specific topic. It is preferable to inform the public prior to a decision being made. For City Staff, please ensure that you are following any legal regulations regarding notification of the public. This guide does not set a precedent over any legal expectation.
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The inform level of engagement can be used:
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When there is a legal requirement.
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Any time you have new information regarding an ongoing project.
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To send notice of an upcoming public meeting.
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Anytime you want to notify a group about any topic.
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The consult level of engagement is designed to provide an opportunity to share information and collect community feedback. In this level, public feedback is used to influence final decision-making. In a consulting engagement, participants contribute by sharing their thoughts, concerns, recommendations and/or preferences. When planning a consulting engagement, it is important to consider who you want to receive input from and how that input might be collected. Facilitators should be mindful of stakeholder groups who have been historically left out of the decision-making process and ensure that their engagement strategy includes innovative ways to capture a diverse range of input. It is extremely important to review all community feedback and ensure their input is considered during the final decision-making process. Facilitators should always share how public input impacted their decision. |
Tips for Developing a Community Feedback Survey
Focus Group Tips and Resources
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Involve is the third level of engagement. At this level, the key focus is to work with the public throughout the process. It is important to approach feedback from the public with a listening ear and open mind. When done correctly, the public has a moderate level of influence on decision-making and both parties benefit from sharing information. This is a great chance to work with the public to ensure that their aspirations are reflected in the decision-making process. It is also important to share how public feedback influenced final decision-making.
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Tip: Think about any group that may not traditionally engage and find ways to include them in your process.
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The collaborate level of engagement is designed to work and partner with the community. In this level, the public is directly engaged in decision-making. In a collaborative engagement, participants work together to identify strengths, concerns and possible solutions. Engagements within this level share some decision-making power with communities. The goal of a collaborative engagement is to work toward a unified solution. Engagement facilitators should share how they will try to reach a consensus and how decision-making authority will be structured.
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Community Meeting Roles & Responsibilities Sheet
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The “Own” level of engagement is designed to provide the public with final decision-making power. In this level, public officials and city administration may partially or entirely turn over control and management over to the public. Although the most popular example of an own engagement is through a public voting process, there are other ways to accomplish this level of engagement. It is important to consider community capacity and access to resources to assist in decision-making. Leadership should work with the community to outline goals, expectations and what supports are needed to be successful. |
Centering equity during community engagement planning is critical for fostering inclusivity and fairness within our communities. By prioritizing equity, we acknowledge and address the systemic barriers and inequalities that communities face. Implicit biases, often unconscious attitudes or stereotypes can influence how we engage with community members and shape our decisions. Recognizing and addressing these biases is crucial to ensure that all voices are heard and valued equally. By centering equity, we create spaces where everyone feels respected, represented, and contributes to building a more just and inclusive community.