How well has city hall engaged during the Pandemic - and what will they do differently when this is all over?

By Pepper Parr

February 11, 2021

BURLINGTON, ON

Another survey –

This one about how we are going to engage during the balance of this pandemic and after it has come to an end.

You can access that document HERE

The city wants your bright ideas

Michelle Dwyer, Manager of Engagement and Volunteers is one of the leads on the city’s efforts to communicate with a population that seldom goes beyond 30% turnout when it comes to municipal elections. .

With that kind of public response the hope of holding the city bureaucracy accountable,  is less than realistic.  The idea of a vigorous, vibrant community response on major issues is equivalent to one of those 25 watt light bulbs

They do their best with what they have.

We learned from a long time reader, a citizen who has been deeply involved at various levels of citizen engagement that the City is undertaking a “future of engagement” design initiative recognizing the impact of the CoVid pandemic. Many of you will already have been otherwise informed about this important opportunity.

Michelle Dwyer, facilitating a virtual Town Hall meeting. It went reasonably well – but there was something missing.

Dwyer asks people to feel free to share with your list of Burlington contacts, that we have a project that they may be interested in.  It is the Engaging During and After COVID-19 survey and poll https://www.getinvolvedburlington.ca/yourinput.  Below is a description of the engagement opportunity.  The survey closes on Feb 19th.

As per the City of Burlington’s Community Engagement Charter, engaging the community on issues that affect their lives and their city is a key component of democratic society. Public involvement encourages participation, actions and personal responsibility.

The goal of engagement is to lead to more informed and, therefore, better decision-making.

In an email Dwyer sent out to everyone she knows she highlighted what has been done in the past and what they hope to get done going forward.

COVID-19 has forced everyone to pivot, and engaging with the community is no exception. The City, in order to continue to get input from the community is/has:

Michelle Dwyer, second from the left, engages a group at a public meeting where people could meet without having to wear a mask.

hosting virtual public and council meetings, workshops and town halls

telephone town halls

online surveys

used the engagement platform, Get Involved Burlington for surveys, polling, mapping, ideas and discussion forums

Looking to the future, the City would like to gather your ideas as to how we can continue to safely engage with the community once in-person opportunities are allowed. We’d also like to know the types of topics you’re interested in.