City rolls out public engagement review and central portal after board feedback

Cynthia Esparza, the city's director of community engagement and services, told the Ward 5 Neighborhood Advisory Board the city is formalizing how it solicits public input and plans to centralize engagement tools.

Esparza said the city launched a public engagement review last summer that included six drop‑in sessions, two community meetings and a survey that received 358 responses, including 48 from board and commission appointees. "Ultimately by doing so, we build trust and transparency with the community," she said, describing why a planned public engagement framework matters. The city will pilot a framework from the International Association for Public Participation that clarifies whether officials seek to inform, consult, involve, collaborate or empower the public on specific initiatives.

Esparza said the city will create a central online hub (communityreno.gov) for engagement events and outreach, update website navigation to make materials easier to find, improve language access consistent with the state mandate, and close the loop with participants by providing timely feedback. She cited Reno Direct, the city's call center, as a major entry point for community concerns and said the city receives roughly 30,000 calls a year through that channel.

Board members praised improvements to the city's social media and communications and suggested additional formats, such as brief audio summaries or an easy-to-subscribe local bulletin, to reach residents who cannot read long newsletters. Esparza said the team would continue visiting boards and commissions for input as the model is piloted and invited further suggestions via the city website.