West Riverside Community Engagement Next Steps
Make a plan based on project results and communicate that plan to the community: Over 100 community stakeholders mobilized and took time to participate in two community surveys and an in-person event. In order to maintain engagement and demonstrate community input is taken seriously, the consultants recommended sharing back a plan, or simple next steps, with the community that indicates how Missoula County will respond to the community’s desires.
STEP 1: Update the Missoula County Voice page with project results and next steps.
ACTION COMPLETED: Recommendations updated Wednesday, Sept. 6, 2023.
STEP 2: Send an email to the complete list of project participants, indicating any next steps.
ACTION COMPLETED: Email sent Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023, detailed changes to Missoula County Voice page as well as a notice that the County is redesigning its website so each community will have its own page with relevant information.
STEP 3: Provide community participants who indicated they are interested in future engagement with a clear avenue for engagement.
ACTION COMPLETED: Ways to stay involved emailed Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. This can be found on Missoula County Voice page.
STEP 4: Communicate with county staff who participated in the project, sharing results and any next steps.
ACTION COMPLETED: Email sent to county staff on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.
TO DO: Discuss Next Steps with commissioners at Land and Economic Development update meeting on Nov. 7, 2023.
Value community relationships: Consider if there are any relationships or structures created during this project that would benefit from a formal follow-up or ongoing attention. For example, consider if there is value in directly connecting the Leadership Team to a BMCC liaison, or a desire to formally thank those who participated in the project. Ideas include:
STEP 1: Formally thank the LT members and let them know about any ongoing opportunities to engage.
ACTION COMPLETED: Email sent to LT members on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023.
STEP 2: Directly communicate any next steps in the process to those who engaged.
ACTION COMPLETED: Emailed participants on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023 detailing changes to Missoula County Voice page as well as a notice that the County is redesigning its website so each community will have its own page with relevant information.
STEP 3: Consider if there are non-Leadership Team members who might benefit from additional outreach.
ACTION COMPLETED: Emailed all participants on Thursday, Sept. 14, 2023. Followed up with all comments and requests.
Share and integrate results with relevant Missoula County departments: While this project was undertaken by the department of Land and Economic Development, the project required significant engagement from other departments and the results are likely equally relevant to other departments. West Riverside residents will likely not distinguish County employees, projects or interactions by department, thus when working to increase trust and engagement with the community the methods and framework of one department will affect all the others. Opportunities include:
STEP 1: Share these framework/recommendations with relevant departments.
ACTION COMPLETED: Email sent to county staff on Wednesday, Sept. 13, 2023
TO DO: Discuss Next Steps with commissioners at Land and Economic Development update meeting on Nov. 7, 2023.
STEP 2: Discuss if any findings or recommendations can formally affect policy or existing/proposed plans for community engagement.
ACTION COMPLETED: Met with Communications Team to conduct follow-up meeting pertaining to recommendations. Comms Team has implemented “Community Conversations,” which brings public-facing departments to community council meetings to engage in one-on-one conversations about topics or questions brought up by the community, similar to the event hosted by the consultants in May.
STEP 3: How can community engagement preferences shape future County work in West Riverside?
ACTION COMPLETED: Discussed engagement preferences with public-facing departments such as Public Works, Parks, Trails, Open Lands and Planning, Development and Sustainability and Communications.
STEP 4: What public infrastructure priorities need follow-up? What departments are best suited to act upon any next steps?
ACTION COMPLETED: Met with Public Works and Parks, Trails and Open Lands to discuss traffic, road/sidewalk projects, recreation sites, playground equipment and trails. Public infrastructure improvements will be addressed as funding becomes available.
STEP 5: How can various County departments use project findings to increase trust and workability with the West Riverside community?
ACTION COMPLETED: Discussed at meeting with Communications Team. The community council is the prescribed way county departments interact with the community.
STEP 6: Are there current projects that could benefit from the findings of this project? If so, what’s the best way to share and integrate findings?
ACTION COMPLETED: Discussed at meetings with various county departments. The Communications Team is taking the lead on integrating findings from this project with future engagement opportunities.
Consider if findings are relevant for community engagement beyond West Riverside: Given the resources invested, the County may want to consider what lessons learned may be relevant outside of West Riverside. This could include pulling from engagement methods in the future, or considering if community concerns and priorities voiced in West Riverside are shared by other communities where the county plans projects or engagement. Questions to consider include:
STEP 1: Are there methods used in this project that are valuable to replicate in other communities?
ACTION COMPLETED: Discussed in meeting with Communications Team.
STEP 2: Are there findings that may be relevant to consider when engaging other communities in Missoula County?
ACTION COMPLETED: Discussed with county staff liaison for Community Councils to see what other councils find beneficial. Ideas included purchasing sandwich boards and utilizing area readerboards, such as at schools, to notify of council meetings.
Though this discussion will never be "over," the consultants who worked on this project for the County have provided their input and next steps, and staff will be in touch as steps progress with infrastructure in the area.
