Engaging Local Governments Effectively

One of the most frequent and important questions I hear from Strong Towns readers and members is how to engage more effectively with local government officials. Local government is where you can make the most impact and difference in your city. I want to lift the veil and let you see behind the curtain of local government. Once you understand a couple of key ideas as to how local government is composed and how it works, you will have more confidence and be more effective in engaging your local officials. 

It is important to remember the old adage, “There is only one way to eat an elephant: a bite at a time.” I have found that you can accomplish quite a bit one bite at a time. Local government has the ability to take a lot of small bites that can add up to significant change. By keeping things simple, you can accomplish a significant amount of change within budget constraints and without bringing attention until the change is fully realized.  

The first step in engaging local governments is to actually do just that: engage with local government. Social media posts, anonymous letters to the editor, or internalizing anger and just paying your taxes are not engagement. Engagement requires you to physically go to city hall, attend public meetings, and even schedule an appointment with staff or your elected officials. Get to know the people behind the system, and share your thoughts. There is a lot to be learned and shared through personal engagement. 

Local government is composed of elected and appointed officials that you probably know. They are your neighbors, friends, former classmates, or even co-workers. They rely on professional staff to advise them. The local government staff are accessible and their job description includes tasks that require them to be pathfinders in the process. You can get to know these professionals simply by attending a public meeting and introducing yourself. 

When engaging your local government, it is important to know who has the authority or power to support the change you are seeking. You need to know who can say yes, and also who can implement the “yes.” For example, the zoning department cannot help you on fixing the pothole on your street. This type of work may be authorized by the city engineer and actually fixed by a street crew. It is important to talk to the people that have the task in their department description and job title. You may not have to engage your elected officials if city staff have the authority to take action. Every once in a while, you will meet local government staff willing to take a little risk and try a new approach.  

Local government also relies on a lot of patterns and repetition for efficiency in processing development applications and code changes. How every permit is processed, code is updated, and ordinance is passed, is outlined within a local government charter or code of ordinances. Local government staff can share with you the steps in the process and where you can provide the most effective public comment. Local governments schedule recurring meetings at the same time every month so you can plan in advance to prepare.  Learn the process to know how and when to engage, and know when the meetings occur so that you can attend. 

The final point, perhaps obvious, is that city hall, as its name implies, is located within proximity to where you live. Take advantage of the “local” in local government. At Strong Towns, we encourage a bottom-up approach. Local government is the lowest creature on the government food chain. However, as with all underdogs, local governments have learned to be nimble and can react faster than state or federal agencies. So, when you understand that local government is built on many little bets, you have the opportunity to have a little bet implemented.  

In closing, it is important to share your successes, no matter how small. These successes become a benchmark and make it harder to regress. Once the community realizes that a change has occurred that has improved their community, that becomes the new standard.  A note to the city manager or city council recognizing and thanking staff by name goes a long way and sets you up for your next successful engagement with your local government.

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This post was inspired by questions asked at Strong Towns Office Hours

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