PUPLIC
PARTICIPATION
Page 1
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND PARTICIPATORY PROCESSES
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WHAT
IS PUBLIC PARTICIPATION?
Page 6
DIFFERENT
WAYS
TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC
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ROUND TABLES IN CANADA
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USING
ROUND TABLES IN THE TRANSPORTATION SECTOR IN POLAND
Page 1O
URBAN
GREENING. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION IN
BANGKOK
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ENLISTING THE PUBLIC TO CLEAN UP CITIES
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EMPOWERMENT
AND PUPLIC PARTICIPATION
Page17
ICSC'S
ROLE AS A BROKER
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ICSC'S
CANADIAN TEAM-
PUPLIC PARTICIPATION AND MULTI-PARTY PROCESSES
Page 21
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DIFFERENT
WAYS TO INVOLVE THE PUBLIC
Open Houses
An open house is an event where information is presented in displays
or other graphic forms and project or agency staff are available
to have small group discussions with participants. The hours are
usually set to allow people to attend at a time that is convenient
for them. Often used at the beginning of a public participation
process, open houses are good for providing individuals with detailed
information. Open houses rarely allow for large group discussions
amongst those with differing views.
Public Meetings or Public
Hearings
Public meetings or hearings are face-to-face events involving
formal presentations often used in combination with other involvement
activities. They are often prescribed in Commissions of Inquiry
and in environmental guidelines or legislation. A public meeting
or hearing reaches a large number of people and provides an opportunity
for a review board, government agency or project proponent to
hear particular points of view and clarify or respond directly
and immediately to questions or concerns. In Public Hearings the
interaction is usually limited to questions and answers between
the "commissioners" and those presenting a formal brief.
In public meetings on the other hand, speakers may directly challenge
one another's positions. Public meetings can often turn into public
debates between the proponent and people opposed to a project
or policy and, therefore, are often confrontational events.
A public meeting is not an effective forum for conveying
complex ideas or detailed information nor does it provide for
in-depth or representative appreciation of views of any group.
Strident representatives of particular interests can easily dominate
public meetings. Facilitation is critical and it can be difficult
to prevent confrontation. Public meetings are not suited for the
building of consensus, or making decisions.
Workshops
A workshop is a structured, often facilitated forum where a wide
range of individuals can work together on a common program or
task. Workshops are usually used in support of other activities
and involve a small number of participants. Generally, the goal
of a workshop is problem solving rather than just identifying
concerns. Workshops encourage creativity and innovation, providing
an opportunity to develop a better understanding of issues and
problems, and to assess potential solutions. Workshops are not
necessarily aimed at decision-making, but they can provide insights
for consensus that can be used in future activities.
Focus Groups
Focus groups are meetings of invited participants, designed to
gauge the probable response of one or more groups to a proposal
or initiative. Focus groups are facilitated sessions run by a
professional trained in guiding small group discussions. The project
proponent or government agency representatives are not in the
room, although they usually monitor the session. Many market research
companies use videotape or have special rooms with one-way windows
separating the focus group from the viewing audience. Group participants
are carefully chosen so as to be representative of certain parts
of the general population (by age, socio-economic status, gender,
race, culture etc). More elaborate than opinion polling, focus
groups can provide the proponent or agency with a detailed understanding
of people's concerns and values, and reactions to proposed projects
or policies. They are not effective for providing information
to the general public and do not provide the opportunity to respond
to questions, build consensus or make decisions.
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