Committee outlines Phase‑Two public engagement: visual surveys, zoning exercises and targeted events

Paul, the planning consultant, presented a toolkit for the second round of public engagement, emphasizing interactive exercises intended to move respondents out of ‘‘survey corners’’ and toward joint problem solving.

The activities Paul described include: visual preference dot surveys, zoning-mapping exercises paired with education, resource-allocation exercises (giving participants tokens or pennies to demonstrate tradeoffs), Mad‑Libs style open-ended prompts, Lego/physical-build exercises for priority centers along Route One, and targeted demographic nights (for families, seniors or workers). He suggested pairing exercises with clear tasks and visuals drawn from Cumberland to reduce abstraction and foster practical discussion.

Members discussed logistical ideas and outreach tactics: staffing a booth at the late‑September town fair, holding events at schools or parent nights to reach families, and scheduling six public events across several months (not all in one month) to capture varied schedules. Paul also mentioned Placer AI cell‑phone data as an optional analytical tool to supplement survey self‑reports for trip origins and activity counts; several members raised privacy concerns and asked staff to be transparent about methods.

Why it matters: committee members said the comp plan needs broader and better-balanced input — particularly from parents, younger adults and workforce households — to produce actionable land-use and housing recommendations. The committee tentatively agreed to hold an internal, two‑week review of materials on Aug. 28 and to stage the first public event in October after staff prepares maps and visuals.

Several subcommittees will meet to refine topics and select the specific exercises for each public meeting; staff will hold venues and prepare packet materials for committee review.