Engaging the Public in Alexandria Decision-making
“The city currently engages the community often not in a constructive
manner. Consequently, citizens feel decisions have already been made
and commenting is futile. Citizens are not actively engaged in identifying
issues, considering and understanding options, working with staff to
resolve issues. Instead hard and fast timetables are set by city staff with
limited or no consultation with the community; a variety of meetings
(uncoordinated) are scheduled; often with short notices, in rapid
succession, with no agendas, and limited public input. Meetings with the
citizens are often dominated by staff presentation and they evolve into
meetings informing the community of progress being made by staff and
actions taken by various commissions. This treatment leads to frustration,
ramped up criticism of city officials and a breakdown of the public
participation process”.
Letter to the Editor: Failure of ‘What Next Alexandria’
By Dave Cavanaugh
Thursday, August 1, 2013
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