HomeMy WebLinkAbout10-12-23 Public Comment - J. Osman - Request for a better format for community engagement CDBFrom:Juliet Osman
To:Agenda
Subject:[EXTERNAL]Request for a better format for community engagement
Date:Thursday, October 12, 2023 1:33:07 PM
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Dear Community Advisory Board Members,
Having attended the Sept 18th meeting and watched the Oct 10th meeting (I could not attend
due to illness), I feel that the format for community engagement exacerbates the 'us vrs you'divide. I feel personally, and I don't think I'm alone, that the community has lost trust in the
city and this trust needs to be rebuilt. I believe that a more informal, town hall style meetingwhere we are allowed to ask questions and have them answered directly is vital to this process.
Last winter I attended the School Board's public forums on their proposed budget cuts. The
first meeting was in the BHS cafeteria and was very well attended, the superintendent and stafftalked directly to upset parents and community members addressing our concerns as they
arose. At the next meeting they had staff members available at different tables to addressspecific issues.
I understand that this more informal meeting style was held during the development of the
UDC. However the city failed to properly engage it's main stakeholders, the community wholives here. Now is your chance.
Thank you for listening,
Juliet Osman