Community Conversations
Background:
On September 1, 2021, City Council approved Ordinance 0358-2021 requesting the City Manager, with input and participation from citizens, community councils, community groups, and City partners, to develop an additional community engagement plan. The plan will include a timeline and detail the resources required for the plan to be implemented by the City of Cincinnati, including the Mayor, City administration, City boards, Commissions, and Council committees, in order to achieve the policy goals described in the ordinance. The Ordinance was formed to improve and increase City-led community engagement according to the policy goals outlined: 1) providing efficient and effective services, 2) increasing transparency and effectiveness, 3) acknowledging that those affected by local government decisions should have the opportunity to participate in an engagement process, 4) allowing for greater transparency and citizen participation, 5) adhering to the previously established community engagement policy, and 6) presenting an additional community engagement plan.
In October 2021, the Department launched the Community Conversations project to hold three input meetings. Staff launched the Community Conversations project on the City website to create a “one-stop” source of meeting dates, a link to the survey, and other feedback opportunities. Members of the public were invited to all public input meetings.
To view the entire report, please find it below:
Department of City Planning & Engagement staff presented a summary of the report during the 2022 Neighborhood Summit on March 12, 2022. A copy of their presentation can be accessed here:
Meetings:
There were three meetings held during the Community Conversations process. There was a brief presentation at the beginning of the meeting followed by facilitated conversations in small groups.
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Tuesday, November 9, 2021 | Bond Hill Recreation Center - 1501 Elizabeth Place | 6:30-8:00 p.m.
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Wednesday, November 17, 2021 | Westwood Town Hall - 3017 Harrison Avenue | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
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Monday, November 22, 2021 | Via Zoom | 7:00 p.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Survey:
Launched through SurveyMonkey from October 15, 2021, to December 1, 2021, the survey was used to collect feedback about current City communication and engagement tools.
A copy of the survey may be found below:
The Conversation:
The participants of the survey and meetings represented a variety of stakeholders and constituent groups. Survey takers represented 33 City neighborhoods. One hundred and fifty-nine (159) survey responses were submitted. Twenty-three participants (23) attended the Meeting in Bond Hill. Twenty-one (21) participants attended the meeting in Westwood. Forty-one (41) participants attended the virtual meeting.
The five questions asked during these meetings were used as discussion prompts and may be found below:
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What does successful engagement mean to you?
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In a city that successfully engages its residents, how and on which topics or issues would you prefer to be engaged?
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In a city that successfully engages its residents, how do we connect with diverse groups about community engagement? (This includes, but is not limited to, diversity in age, race, disability, national origin, sexual orientation, cultural identity, gender identity, education, citizenship, socioeconomic status, religious beliefs, familial status, and employment status)
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Has the pandemic changed the topics or methods by which you engage or prefer to be engaged?
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In a city that successfully engages its residents, what is the role that education (trainings, guidebooks, etc.) plays, by which residents are trained and informed, regarding communication and topics about community engagement?
A summary of these meetings may be found within the Final Community Conversations Report located above (starting on pg. 27 of the report).
Resources:
Contact:
For questions or assistance, please contact:
The City of Cincinnati is committed to equal access at meetings and facilities by providing reasonable accommodations for individuals with disabilities upon request.