February City Council Message
By: Barry Joffe, Contact this Councilmember
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WHAT YOU CAN DO TO PARTICIPATE IN CITY AFFAIRS
At a recent public hearing, a resident from one of our neighborhoods stepped up to the podium and expressed her appreciation for the opportunity to air her views in public forum. She also said that it was only recently that she realized this was an avenue for her to express her views and was eager to find out about other ways in which a resident can stay informed of city developments and participate in the debate. Resident involvement is vital for the city. Our council is intent on making decisions in the best interests of the community, which is why citizen views on community issues are so important. As a relatively new council member, I have been extremely impressed by the heartfelt views expressed by our citizens, the straightforward approach of the council members and the professionalism of our city staff. This is truly a powerful partnership coupled with the vitality of our business community!
So what can you do as a resident to increase your participation?
Become Informed: For residents, the first step is becoming informed about what is happening in the city – and being apprised of the facts. Sometimes inaccurate information is circulated, often through mass email forwarding generating concerns that have no basis in fact.
How do you find out about what is going on?
Attend Council Meetings: The business of the city is conducted in open meetings of council and residents are encouraged to attend and offer comment at meetings of the boards, commissions and council committees. And the meeting agendas are published in advance either through the city’s website or the bulletin board at Kroger adjacent to city hall. In the case of proposed changes to the zoning code and development projects for example, public hearings are held and with development projects, residents within a stipulated distance of the proposed project get a personal letter from the city advising them of the application and inviting them to offer input. In addition to these required public meetings, the City occasionally holds special meetings for the express purpose of eliciting public comment on that specific issue.
Read What’s Going On -- Website, Bulletin & Other Sources: Fortunately, I don’t need to tell you to read the Montgomery Bulletin Newsletter – you’re doing it right now! Indeed, it has become a most valued vehicle of communication with 98% of our residents reporting in the latest survey that they find the bulletin useful or very useful. There is a wealth of information that is posted on the city’s website. And don’t forget about the bulletin boards in the city’s parks and at the Kroger, as well as the special event signage displayed on City properties throughout the city. Also, we regularly have announcements and news coverage in the press – both the Cincinnati Enquirer and the Northeast Suburban Life newspapers.
Contact a Council Member or Member of Staff Directly: If you’d like more personalized attention contact a council member or a member of staff either by phone or through the city’s website. Indeed, the city is continually enhancing the website to improve communication and this past year the city has introduced more interactivity via the website such as pool sign-ups and class registrations.
Become a Volunteer: If you feel you’d like to get more actively involved, there are also numerous opportunities to volunteer – not least of all by seeking membership on one of the dozen or so boards and commissions as well as numerous city projects and events.
Collaboration with Administration -- a High Performance Organization: The opportunity for resident participation is mirrored in the way the city is administered. Early last year the council undertook its five-year strategic planning process – a collaborative effort between staff and council members. Participation was open to any staff member interested in contributing to the process – and all views enjoyed equal importance. Citizen views also contributed significantly to the development of the strategic plan, as many goals were included as a result of resident surveys and other feedback. Day-to-day city operations are managed through applying a high performance organization culture in which city departments challenge themselves to attain higher levels of participation in decision-making and service provision. The proactive step of creating a new customer service department to enhance the customer-facing tasks performed by the city is testimony to the city’s commitment to aspire to higher and higher levels of service to the citizens.
So, Consider Getting Involved: Both the Council and the Administration would like to see as many of our residents share their thoughts and ideas and be involved in their city. After all, it is the essence of democracy to have an active and involved citizenry where our collective efforts can contribute to the best possible local government.