HomeMy WebLinkAboutFormation - Ad Hoc Community Engagement CmteSTAFF REPORT
CITY OF PALM DESERT
MEETING DATE: May 9, 2019
PREPARED BY: David Hermann, Public Information Officer
REQUEST: Approve the formation of an Ad Hoc Community Engagement
Committee, and authorize the City Manager to appoint representatives
to the Committee, based on recommendations from the staff Civic
Engagement Task Force.
Recommendation
By Minute Motion:
Approve the formation of an Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee and
authorize the City Manager to appoint representatives to the Committee based
on recommendations from the staff Civic Engagement Task Force.
Strateqic Plan
While not specifically addressed in the Envision Strategic Plan, the creation of an ad hoc
committee to facilitate and promote civic engagement across Palm Desert supports a
number of specific Strategic Plan priorities in multiple Strategic Results Areas including:
Economic Development (Priority 4); Education (Priority 3); Energy & Sustainability
(Priority 1); and Public Safety (Priorities 2 and 3).
Executive Summary
The creation of an Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee will help staff and the City
Council facilitate and promote civic engagement across Palm Desert.
Background Analysis
Civic engagement is becoming an increasingly important priority for public agencies
across California and the nation. Ensuring that all Palm Desert residents are aware of,
and have access to, the services and amenities that the City offers, as well as the ability
to participate in the governance of their community, is consistent with good government
principles and best practices and reflects the City of Palm Desert's goals and values.
In June 2018, the City hired civic engagement consultants Mahvash Hassan and Natalie
Hernandez. The consultants, who had been recommended to the City by the Institute for
May 9, 2019 - Staff Report
Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee
Page 2 of 3
Local Government, worked independently and with City staff over the following months to
identify community stakeholders who could provide insights on community -wide civic
engagement.
In August and September of 2018, the consultants spoke with 72 stakeholders in Palm
Desert using phone and in person interviews. The interviews were supplemented with
research on demographic data and informed by best practices for inclusive civic
engagement.
The consultants cited census data showing that 26 percent of Palm Desert's population
identifies as Hispanic or Latino with that population continuing to grow in recent years.
The fact that this group represents Palm Desert's largest minority population informed the
title of the consultants' report provided to the City in October: "Enhancing Civic
Engagement in the City of Palm Desert — Developing a Plan to Engage Spanish-speaking
and Latino Community Members."
Recommendations in the consultants' report included the formation of a City staff -based
Civic Engagement Outreach Task Force and the creation of a community advisory group,
including key participants from the consultants' interview sessions, to help inform and
ensure implementation of the report's recommendations.
The staff Civic Engagement Outreach Task Force has met five times since its creation in
December. Among the Task Force's earliest actions was an enthusiastic endorsement of
the consultants' call for the creation of a community advisory group/committee. Task
Force members recognized that a community advisory group would be critically important
to help the City prioritize and accomplish the consultants' recommendations.
The Task Force also worked to identify candidates for inclusion in the community advisory
group based on the criteria outlined by the consultants.
The formation of the Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee will realize one of the
top two recommendations in the consultants' report and will facilitate the accomplishment
of additional goals outlined by the consultants. The Committee will also help to ensure
that the City's engagement efforts are organic and rooted in the community.
Fiscal Analvsis
While the creation of an Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee will require staff
time and other municipal resources, its fiscal impact to the General Fund should be
negligible. Once formed, the Committee could make recommendations that, if
implemented, would require a significant expenditure of funds. Any such
May 9, 2019 - Staff Report
Ad Hoc Community Engagement Committee
Page 3 of 3
recommendations would be subject to the City's purchasing ordinance and ultimately,
City Council approval through an appropriation or the annual budget process.
Prepared by:
1 �
David Hermann, Public Information Officer
LEGAL REVIEW DEPT. REVIEW
� for
Robert W. Hargreaves Lauri Aylaian
City Attorney City Manager
FINANCIAL REVIEW CITY MANAGER
tlet Moore Lauri Aylaian
Director of Finance City Manager