Mixed-mode surveying — using a variety of traditional and virtual tactics — is a proven public engagement best practice. Now, in light of COVID-19, government organizations have been put in the challenging position of “going completely virtual”. The biggest challenge? Taking in-person meetings online. Virtual public meetings created new virtual hurdles, with off-the-shelf solutions and...
Virtual public meetings are not easy. There, we said it. Despite any claim to the contrary from conferencing software companies, it's important to recognize that hosting virtual public meetings come with a learning curve for a number of reasons: You're trying to organize real-time interactions between dozens (if not hundreds) of people Attendees are joining...
A non-exhaustive sample of state guidance on virtual public meetings Below we've assembled policy guidance issued by a number of states on holding open public meetings during the COVID-19 crisis. While it is by no means intended to be an exhaustive list, it does provide illustrative examples of what constitutes legally-compliant virtual public meetings. In...
Nationwide, agencies are transitioning to virtual meetings and many are left with guesswork when it comes to implementing best practices. Online public meetings require the same attention to detail as in-person meetings, and it’s important to understand and manage the expectations for participating residents. Regardless of your meeting topic, there are some universal best practices that...
In light of the recent FBI warning against publicly sharing video conference service links, we've received an influx of questions about hosting public meetings virtually. These concerns reflect the nature of our rapidly-changing environment. Just two weeks ago, most organizations were just beginning to discuss what to do about public meetings. Now an entire wave...
In light of the coronavirus, government organizations are finding themselves in a new landscape when it comes to public engagement. Local, regional, and state governments face two major challenges: How can we keep key public processes in place if we can’t hold meetings?How can we communicate quickly and consistently with residents with pertinent information related...
Public engagement efforts tend to follow a regular ebb and flow, but the arrival of COVID-19 is dramatically changing that. For organizations this crisis is unprecedented, and consistent communication with your community is critical. Starting today, PublicInput.com is throwing everything we’ve got at helping you prepare and respond to this challenge. Community Resources The PublicInput.com...
How can we accelerate projects by making public involvement more efficient and more meaningful? A recent webinar featuring public involvement work from NCDOT and Utah DOT took a look at de-siloing data to overcome common public involvement hurdles that stall project development and delivery. Key topics included: Common delays originating from the public involvement processVirtual...
