OPEN GOVERNMENT TASK
FORCE IMPLEMENTATION
SUBCOMMITTEE: OVERVIEW
Presented By:
Danielle Garduno, Program Manager
Santa Rosa Violence Prevention Partnership
1 OVERVIEW
2 • Background on Mayor’s Open Government Task Force and report with recommendations
• Background on Council’s Open Government Task Force
Implementation Subcommittee
• How Open Government report recommendations align with other City plans and initiatives
• Subcommittee Next Steps
OPEN GOVERNMENT TASK FORCE BACKGROUND
3 • 2014 Mayor’s Open Government Task Force
• Convened by Mayor Scott Bartley
• Community members asked for:
• Improved communications
• Improved collaboration
• Access to decision makers
• Voices to be acknowledged and efforts respected during governmental decision-making processes
GOAL 1: IMMEDIATE ACTIONS FOR COUNCIL
4 1.1 Set a Council goal of “Open and Transparent Government”
1.2 Set three strategic objectives for the organization • Hire a Communications Director
• Adopt a sunshine ordinance based on Task Force recommendations • Create a City mission statement which embraces community engagement
Goal 2: Develop a Culture That Values Public
Engagement
5 • Objective 2.1 Genuinely engage and partner with neighborhood, volunteers, businesses, institutions, and other organizations which support our community • Objective 2.2 Establish Santa Rosa as a leader in civic engagement with the goal of increasing Openness, Transparency and Accountability
• Objective 2.3: Close the communication loop - Acknowledge the value of community input, wisdom, and participation
• Objective 2.4 Increase opportunities for diverse community engagement and effective participation
• Objective 2.5 Build a strong civic infrastructure – educate people about how best to engage.
Goal 3: Develop a Culture Focused on Communication
6 Objective 3.1 Create a Communications Director position • Complete: Director of Community Engagement hired Oct. 2015, Mar. 2017 and new Division Director July 2020. Communications and Intergovernmental Relations Officer position created in 2018.
Objective 3.2 Overhaul City’s website to create effective tools for residents • Complete: Completed and launched 3/31/17; launched Let’s Connect SR in 2021 (interactive engagement platform)
Goal 4: Develop Policies that Promote Openness
7 4.1 Draft and adopt a Sunshine Ordinance that supports transparency and open government through policies that exceed minimum requirements and statutes for meeting public records
• Adopted on December 2, 2020 ✓
4.2 Policy recommendations that exceed minimum requirements for meetings and public records
• Adopted Open Government Ordinance on December 2, 2020 ✓ • Guidebook to Participation in Local Government in development • Civic 101 video series complete – will align with upcoming district town hall series
COUNCIL SUBCOMMITTEE BACKGROUND
8 • 2018 – 2020:
• Creation of the Open Government Task Force Implementation Subcommittee
• Subcommittee reviewed and revised Open Government Ordinance before taking to Council in Dec. 2020
• 2020 – 2022:
• Updates on implementation of Ordinance and recommendations • Discussion on City Lobbyist Ordinance
• Discussion on Campaign Finance Regulation
• OCE Outreach Efforts and Engagement Tools
ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER CITY PLANS
9 • 2020 Community Empowerment Plan Recommendations 1 & 2 • Creating an organizational culture that values public engagement with all community members and increasing access to public engagement opportunities
• Commitment to Diversity, Equity, Transparency and Access
ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER CITY PLANS
10 • Santa Rosa Equity Plan
• City aligns its mission, vision and values to include principles of DEI/TBB • Develop and implement structures and standards, including policies, processes, and procedures to foster a culture of language access and justice in communications and public participation in decision-making processes by using the most accessible language possible and addressing the language diversity and rights of Santa Rosa residents, defining and focusing on specific strategies for the unique needs of districts, vulnerable populations and Equity Priority Communities.
ALIGNMENT WITH OTHER CITY PLANS
11 • Santa Rosa Equity Plan, cont.
• Implement, reexamine and empower equitable and effective city-wide external communication and engagement standards and policies using best practices to promote legitimate, transparent information, and participatory processes.
• Proactively identify and respond to individual and community needs, complaints, and systemic challenges through listening, empathy, honesty, and collaboration; then build, assess, and reassess how to structure citywide responsive customer service framework, systems, and principles (people, processes, procedures, training, etc.) to meet Santa Rosa residents’ needs and challenges.
NEXT STEPS FOR THIS SUBCOMMITTEE
12 • What is your vision for this subcommittee?
• Where can we streamline implementation of the
recommendations?
QUESTIONS?
13