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City of Aurora staff adopt IAP2-based engagement framework to standardize public outreach
Summary
The city's community engagement division presented an IAP2-based framework to clarify when residents should be informed, consulted, involved or empowered; staff said they will push training and internal policies to ensure consistent outreach across departments and to reach older adults and immigrant communities.
Jesse Burn, the division manager for community engagement, briefed the Horns committee on the City of Aurora's community engagement framework, which the division adapted from the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2).
Burn described a decision-focused approach that asks staff to identify the decision to be made, whether the public can contribute, and how the public will be involved (inform, consult, involve, empower). He said the framework is already captured in a business process memo and that department directors are responsible for training staff and implementing consistent practices.
Burn emphasized inclusion and said the division will prioritize outreach tailored to groups that are often missed, including older adults, immigrant and refugee populations, people with disabilities and all wards of the city. He said the division will continue offering trainings, consider technical-assistance cohorts for project teams and encourage departments to align public-participation goals with the IAP2 spectrum.
Members asked where "public invite to be heard" fits in the spectrum; Burn said it generally falls into the "involve" portion but that staff should explain to participants how their feedback will be used in decision-making.
