In 2022, the City of Edmonds; Planning & Development Department worked with consulting firm PRR to develop an Equitable Engagement Framework. The framework establishes a more inclusive and consistent approach to community engagement . The goal is to encourage new voices, engage diverse community groups including historically underrepresented communities to participate and and uncover city practices that create a barrier for some to participate in public processes. It is designed to build trust, ensure access to information, and support meaningful public involvement in City decision-making processes.
Equitable engagement rests on the understanding that lived experience is valuable expertise and prioritizes the needs of groups who have been historically overlooked, underserved, disproportionately impacted, and/or seldom heard in conversations and decision-making processes that affect their communities.
| Key Elements of the Framework
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- Establishes guiding principles for equitable community engagement
- Defines clear roles and responsibilities for staff handling community engagement.
- Identifies levels of engagement based on the project type
- Recommends appropriate strategies and tactics for inclusive outreach
- Identifies priority audiences based on 2020 Census tract-level data.