Content about Oregon

The city of Eugene, Oregon, has been working its way through the process of planning for future growth over the past 20 months, using various public engagement tools.  Early on, it became evident that we would need new and different media formats to inform and engage people at different points in the process.   For major public conversations such as creating a community vision, we held large workshops with plenty of opportunities for small group discussion.  For feedback on interim staff proposals, we have used surveys, on-line comment forms, and meetings with community groups.  Throughout the process, staff has maintained a Facebook page and comprehensive website with current project videos, maps, and documents posted as they are developed.

In recent years, government sponsored hack-a-thons have become a highly utilized form of software development for a diverse number of industries - the field of urban planning is no exception to this ‘peer production’ type of approach. These contests and challenges are popping up everywhere. One such example of this is Oregon’s City Council Agenda App, designed to to encourage dialog between local City government and residents. While applications produced by government challenges such as these are some of the most innovative and creative online engagement tools available to city planners, unfortunately many are quickly abandoned. 

In the past when we asked residents of Eugene, Oregon to get involved in a land use process that could affect them, calling it growth management, we didn’t receive much interest from the average person. Most folks couldn’t see how it would affect them in their daily lives. With Envision Eugene, we reframed our approach, explaining that the conversation we wanted to begin focused on the quality of life in their community, about where they live, work and play; about protecting what they love about Eugene as it grows and changes, and pursuing the most sustainable, beautiful and prosperous city imaginable.

Inspired by local community success stories that had yet to be shared beyond the community itself, the Craigslist Foundation, well known as a catalyst for individual and collective action for the public good across America, set out a little over a year ago to develop an online platform which would help spread these powerful stories to a broader audience. The concept behind this public engagement tool was to create a new type of forum especially for people who wanted to change something in their community but were unsure of where to start.

When it comes to learning more about applying technology in the work of governments, especially local governments planning and improving urban areas, there are a lot of topics to wade through — part of what makes the space so exciting, but also daunting when it comes to finding the people who care about the same thing that you do.

Portland, Oregon does nothing half-heartedly.  As is the case with the city’s newly spearheaded 25-year master plan.  In true Portland fashion, this master plan has dreams of grandeur; of a thriving and sustainable city where all citizens are prosperous, healthy and educated.