Building a Two-Way Street

(from a media release event at Komfort Kitchen Sept 24th, 2010)

ACCOUNTABILITY:

The people have the right to know, and City Hall has a duty to inform.

"As Mayor, I will not shy away from public questioning. I promise that
I will open City Hall and the Office of Mayor up to scrutiny by the people of
Brandon. by holding regular public meetings such as Town Halls, people in
Brandon will have the opportunity to come and directly quiz me and senior
decision makers on the topical issues for the City, such as the economy,
policing, housing, recreation, and the environment."

"I believe in dialogue, NOT monologue."

Planned, on-going communication would keep Brandon residents informed, engaged, and in sync with City planning and priorities. Brandon's City Hall needs a broad communication strategy so that it meets the community's needs, as well as meeting City Hall's needs. The strategy should incorporate face-to-face, formal, casual, verbal, written, and online methods.



Town Halls

Many Counsellors have Ward Meetings on a regular basis, however the Mayor needs to create a similar opportunity for all the City. Following a State of the City format with a Question Period from the audience, regular Town Halls would encourage residents in Brandon and the decision makers at City Hall to have open lines of communication. This kind of face-to-face communication can help rebuild trust in City government.

"Town Hall meetings give the audience an opportunity to express their
opinions. There are ways for people to get information FROM the Mayor, but Town
Halls provide a way for people to get information TO the Mayor. Two-way
communication is critical to reduce confusion and misunderstanding, and give the
Mayor the opportunity to hear directly from the people."

Public Consultation (issue specific)

The benefits of public consultation include:

• Being responsive to the community's right to know and to be involved, and the duty of City Hall to inform.
• Recognizing the value of the opinions and expertise offered by members of the public allows City Council to tap into the widest source of information possible, improving the quality of the decisions reached.
• Alerts Council to any concerns and issues not picked up through existing research or policy development.
• Ensuring information and knowledge is shared with and/ or received from the public.
• Providing opportunities to build consensus around issues or changes.

Fireside Chats prior to Council meetings (broadcast on Access 12 WCGtv)

During a short broadcast prior to WCGtv's broadcast of City Council meetings, a pre-recorded "Fireside Chat" would give the Mayor the opportunity to talk about specific initiatives at City Hall, celebrate achievements and awards in the community, or provide information on ongoing City initiatives.

Coffee with the Mayor

This is a great opportunity for people in Brandon to discuss specific issues with the Mayor in a casual, informal setting. It is also an excellent opportunity for the Mayor to gather candid feedback about how things are going in our City, what programs, services, and facilities people are enjoying and which could use improvement, and what they'd like to see in the future. There would be no agenda or topic of the day other than to meet Brandon residents and hear what's on their mind.

Blog

For those who prefer online, written communication, blogs are an effective tool for sharing information and opinions. It could also contain references and links to other online information. It would be moderated and hosted on the City website.

Facebook (FB)

city Hall is already dipping its toe into social networking, and these initiatives should be expanded. Facebook is a forum to connect with people both inside and outside the City. FB is also a way to keep in touch with people who have moved away from the city or connect with people moving into the city. On other city's FB sites, Quality of Life issues are the most prevalent posts-status updates.