Clear Vision Eau Claire Community Visioning Strategic Planning Public Work

Eau Claire 66,000 population, 95,000 in Chippewa Valley Regional center for health, retail, education, manufacturing 15 (separate) local municipal governments 12 school districts 3 special Lake districts

Participatory Model of Citizenship Promotes collaborative problem-solving Incorporates diverse perspectives & views Promotes public dialogue Creates open, public spaces Restructures mediating institutions Citizens as primary actors in public problem-solving

Clear Vision Eau Claire: Initial Goals Increase the level of citizen participation in community problem-solving Reverse the current sense of disconnectedness by citizens Build a community consensus for priority action Generate a vision for the Eau Claire community

Phase I: Initial Planning $40,000 pledged National Civic League Consultant/Planner 10 Community meetings, open to all, generated core group of 150 representative members 15 group initiating committee

Phase II: Stakeholder Planning Initiating committee planned year-long process 500 Stakeholders identified and invited Public meetings every 3-4 weeks Meet directly with some minority communities, such as the Hmong Plan produced in June 2008

Clear Vision Plan: Six Key Performance Areas Civic Engagement Economic Development Lifelong Learning Community-Wide Health Care Quality of Life, now and for future Integrated Transportation System

Phase III: Implementation (Public Work) Contract with Center for Democracy and Citizenship Training sessions for “coaches” and implementation team members Facilitating “public work” Techniques of Values House Meeting, One-to-Ones, Power-Mapping, & Coaching using Public Achievement Model

Successes Parks & Recreation: Financing Public Parks Jobs Map, Resources Map University-Assisted Community Schools and Book Distribution Eco-teams, Eco-communities Regional Transportation and High Speed Rail Route

Challenges Changing perspectives—public government or schools cannot do it all in an era of declining support Recruiting diverse and inclusive core group; keeping individuals and KPAs energized, supported, appreciated, and renewed Deciding what to be when we grow up? Marketing

Future Plans Diversity and Latino/Latina community RTA Work Group Civic Engagement Work Group Public Achievement Public Work Training for Elected Officials ( )

Stuck on an Escalator? Try Public Work!