City launches priority-based budgeting questionnaire, aims for broad public input
Summary
Staff presented a citywide questionnaire tied to council’s priority matrix to gather resident input on budgeting priorities; plan includes geofencing to city residents, a 3–4 week outreach window and an initial response target of at least 100 submissions.
City staff presented a priority-based budgeting public-engagement plan that will ask residents to rate council-identified priorities in a questionnaire and provide optional qualitative feedback to help inform budget-setting over time.
Tom Brower and public engagement designer Corey Cronin walked council through an online questionnaire that mirrors the council’s priority matrix in simplified language and includes demographic questions; staff intend to geofence responses so only city residents can participate.
Corey Cronin said the plan is to promote the questionnaire via press releases, social media and targeted outreach and to keep it open about three to four weeks; public-engagement staff expect to push the questionnaire live immediately if council decides. Cronin added the team will aim for a minimum of 100 responses as an initial benchmark and can extend the window if needed.
Councilors gave detailed feedback on the draft questionnaire’s wording and structure — requesting a numbered list that would allow respondents to reference specific goals in open-ended feedback and suggesting a short open-comment box at the end. Some councilors expressed concern about length; staff noted that respondents can complete the form quickly or provide more extensive comments, and staff will monitor response rates and adjust outreach accordingly.
Staff cautioned that usable results are unlikely to be ready for the council’s budget work session on June 27 and June 28; they advised treating the questionnaire as an ongoing input mechanism and reconvening the task force afterward to reconcile public responses with council priorities.
Council broadly supported moving forward with the questionnaire and agreed to assist with outreach via social media and staff channels; staff said employee participation will be tracked separately so internal responses can be identified in the analysis.
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