 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Why is it important?
Public participation in the comprehensive planning process is extremely
important for several reasons:
• Opens up the decision-making process
• Produces better decisions
• Supports and adds credibility to the decision-making process
• Provides opportunities to enhance communication between all involved
• Strengthens relations between local governments and the public
Requirements
Citizen participation in the planning process is not only important to
the success of the plan, but it is required by law. In the past, the
public usually only had an opportunity to comment on a plan at a public
hearing after local officials created the plan. Now, for the first time
in Wisconsin’s history, the Smart Growth law provides specific
minimum public participation standards that all local planning efforts
must follow. Chapter 66.0295(4)(a) of the Wisconsin State Statutes states
specifically that:
The governing body of the local governmental unit shall adopt written
procedures that are designed to foster public participation, including
open discussion, communication programs, information services and public
meetings for which advance notice has been provided, in every stage of
the preparation of the comprehensive plan.
The written procedures shall provide for wide distribution of proposed,
alternative or amended elements of a comprehensive plan and shall provide
an opportunity for written comments on the plan to be submitted by members
of the public to the governing body and for the governing body to respond
to such written comments.
Additionally, in order to ensure that these public participation outcomes
are achieved, each community must develop a Public Participation Plan
[link to this] at the outset of their planning process.
ONALASKA PUBLIC PARTICIPATION PLAN
ONALASKA COMMUNITY FORUM #1 - September 18, 2003
ONALASKA STAKEHOLDER INTERVIEWS
ONALASKA SURVEY RESULTS