Poll: What’s Next Alexandria? Civic Engagement and Planning for the Future

1. What is your connection to Alexandria? [Select all that apply, and/or fill in “other”]:

I live here

I work here

I own a business here

Other

If you answered other, please explain:

3. What methods do you use to get information about the City? [Select all that apply]:

City of Alexandria Website or eNews alert

Comcast Channel 70 – Alexandria's Government Access Channel

Social media (Facebook, Twitter, etc.)

Newspaper (online or print)

Radio or TV news

Word of mouth, friends, neighbors, etc.

Attending meetings (City Council, Boards/Commissions, community, civic association, School Board, etc.)

Other

If you answered other, please explain:

5. Would you increase your participation in the public decision making process if you had different participation options available?:

No, I would not increase my participation

Yes, I would increase my participation

I’m not sure

Please provide additional comments here:

6. The City often holds community meetings to solicit public feedback and create a community dialogue as part of the decision making process. Which of the following community meeting characteristics would make you most likely to attend by importance?:

	Important	Somewhat important	Not important
Childcare
Convenient time (of day or evening) and/or day (week or weekend)
Refreshments
Translation services
Transportation available or transit accessible
It is clear how my input will be used
Ground rules for participation
Ample opportunity for public input
Interactive, hands-on work
Small group discussions

Please provide additional comments here:

7. If you don't typically attend City-held community meetings, tell us why. [Select all that apply]:

The meeting topics are not relevant to me

I do not have time. I’m too busy with my career, family or other commitments

I participate in other ways (City website, social media, local civic association, etc.)

I’m confident my neighbors will represent my interests

I’m satisfied with how things are going

I am not aware of any community meetings

Other

If you answered other, please explain:

8. What do you think are the most important ways to engage the community in public decision making?:

	Important	Somewhat important	Not important
Provide opportunities to explore issues through dialogue and deliberation, such as in small groups
Provide opportunities for everyone to express their positions to a larger group, such as at City public hearings or on comment boards
Learn from national/local experts and the experiences of other communities facing similar issues
Offer the option of “virtual” participation via the web, both during and after public hearings, seminars, or other events
Use statistically valid surveys to determine what issues are important to the community
Ask the community to contribute the information that will be the basis for decision making
Make it easy to monitor a process through communication methods people already use like social media and email so they can participate in the way they choose

Please provide additional comments or suggestions here:

9. As the City works to improve the public participation process, please indicate the level of importance you place on each of the following :

	Important	Somewhat important	Not important
Acknowledge all points of view
Allow the public to have input on the public engagement approach and planning process
Establish common elements to all planning processes and plan documents
Engage participants in more “hands-on” activities to actively build plans
Ensure that decision-makers receive the public’s input verbatim and unfiltered
Keep the community informed about trends shaping the future
Provide a broad range of options for public participation so anyone can be involved
Reach under-represented viewpoints through community surveys

Please provide additional comments here:

Please provide additional comments or suggestions here:

11. If you would like to receive a report on the results of this survey and to be notified of upcoming “What’s Next Alexandria” events, please enter your email address below (your email will be kept private and used only for this purpose):

Poll: What’s Next Alexandria? Civic Engagement and Planning for the Future

The City of Alexandria wants your feedback on how you like to participate in making decisions about the City's future, your suggestions for improving the civic engagement process and the key topics you think we should discuss as a community.

Your input will lay the groundwork for our first community discussion on civic engagement at which we’ll provide the results of the poll and discuss how they can inform strategies for the future.