The Downs HOA

Citizen Participation

Citizen Participation Resolution

Town of Parker Commitment to Citizen Participation and
Community Problem Solving

WHEREAS, citizens want to be heard, want to participate in decisions that affect their lives, and want to be involved in their government;

WHEREAS, there has been a general erosion of mutual trust and respect between citizens and their government at all levels and that some citizens believe they are not able to influence decisions made in the public arena and these sentiments impact the relationship between the Town of Parker and its citizens;

WHEREAS, citizens are not apathetic when there is a real opportunity to bring about constructive change, and will then engage in government process; and,

WHEREAS, there is a need to improve citizens' connections to their government and to include citizens in governmental processes; and,

WHEREAS, the Town Council places a high value on open, participatory government;

WHEREAS, the Town of Parker believes that effective citizen involvement and community problem solving is essential to good government, that elected officials, staff and citizens all play important roles in governing the Town, and that cooperation between the Town government and citizens results in the best decisions; and,

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED THAT the Town of Parker declares Citizen Involvement and Community Problem Solving to be a top priority of the Town and adopts the following set of Citizen Involvement Principles to govern its activities:

TOWN OF PARKER CITIZEN INVOLVEMENT PRINCIPLES
1. Citizen involvement is essential to the health of our community.

2. Citizen involvement is a way of making decisions that ensures the participation of the people affected by those decisions.

3. The strategies of citizen participation are based on total honesty, openness and fairness, particularly with regard to the potential negative impacts of proposed decisions.

4. It is the elected officials' responsibility to recognize those issues that call for citizen participation and to provide for a fair, open and honest participation process.

5. Furthermore, elected officials agree to hear first-hand and genuinely consider the ideas, wants, desires and concerns of citizens when making a final decision.

6. The role of Town staff is to provide factual information in a clear, complete, straightforward and timely manner and to convene interested parties early in the decision making process, rather than selling a solution at the end of the process.

7. All those who want to participate are given adequate opportunity.

8. Citizens should be involved early in planning, projects and policy development.

9. Coordinated Town outreach and involvement activities make the best use of citizens' time and efforts.

10. The Town and its departments respond in a timely manner to citizens' input and respect all perspectives and insights.

11. Active relationships with neighborhoods, community groups and other citizen organizations promote on-going dialogue with citizens.

12. Town communications and activities will be designed to respect and encourage citizen participation.

13. On-going education in citizen participation, community problem solving, and communication will be provided for Town officials, staff and citizens.

Citizen Participation Training

Implementing the policy above, The Downs President, Ron Ames, and several other citizens of Parker and Douglas County, members of the Town Staff and the Town Council participated in a training seminar Auguest 26 and 27. It was conducted by two consultants, Kezziah and Watkins. The Council committed to using the process offered in making the decisions that the Town faces that are appropriate to its use.

The first use will be in developing a Master Plan for the land called, or related to, Salisbury Park. A statement of the opportunity and the "givens," which are the conditions and boundaries that guide and limit the process that will be used in this task were adopted and will be communicated to the community who is encouraged to participate fully in this activity. Details will be communicated as soon as they are developed. This is great news for the Town of Parker!

Email us
ames@u3.net