Contact: Joe Barisonzi, Coordinator
Minneapolis Community Engagement Project
612-518-5536
Media Advisory
Council Members Initiative Project to Look at Community Engagement System
New website seeks input from Minneapolis residents and stakeholders
MINNEAPOLIS, October 13, 2004 – Three City Council member, Council Members Dan Niziolek (W-10), Scott Benson (W-11) and Don Samuels (W-3), formally launched a short initiative to “jump start” the conversation about how Minneapolis engages its residents in the policy process at City Hall.
Lead sponsor Council Member Dan Niziolek said, “The city provides many opportunities for citizen engagement – it is time to look at whether together they provide the most accessible and accountable option for the City of Minneapolis.” Council Member Benson adds “this is an effort to provide a starting place for the Council to have an important policy conversation about how we provide meaningful involvement for residents in the process and policy of their city.”
The project, facilitated by local consulting firm CommunityLeader, launched a website (www.MplsCommunityEngagement.com) to disseminate information about the project and to solicit input from local stakeholders.
The project has received the initial support of the full Council through the nominations of two people per ward to serve on a short Convening Group that will seek to define the current challenge, shared definitions of terms, a conversation framework and a recommended process for continuing the conversation wit the involvement of the community.
The project has also earned the support of the Office of the Mayor which will solicit input from members of various city commissions and boards; the NRP program which will facilitate a neighborhood convening on Oct. 13 to discuss the issue and the Center for Neighborhoods which is participating as a member of the consulting team facilitating the project.
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