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www.berwick.ca
Community Consultation Guidelines 2021Nov09 Page 1 of 3
Community Consultation Guidelines
Purpose:
The Town understands the importance of communication and engagement as part of the
process of change. Planning, asset management, decision making, internal processes and more
can all be influenced and better informed through community engagement. These guidelines
can be used by all of the Town's departments including Community Development/ Recreation,
Planning and Development and Public Works.
Rationale:
Consultation and engagement are beneficial for the following reasons:
Figure 1- Benefits of Engagement
- Better Decisions: Making decisions where the full impact has been explored, evaluated
and weighed is important to staff, council and members of the community.
- Save Time and Resources: Keeping lines of communication open and engaging in
streamlined processes helps to use time and resources more efficiently.
- Strengthens Relationships: Involving all stakeholders creates stronger relationships with
the community.
- Better Informed Community: Collaborating, involving and empowering our
community's participation in the decision-making process leads to a better informed
and engaged community where people want to live!
Better
Decisions
Save Time
and
Resources
Strengthens
Relationships
Better
Informed
Community
www.berwick.ca
Community Consultation Guidelines 2021Nov09 Page 2 of 3
Method of Engagement:
The types of engagement efforts that inform the Town's Consultation Guidelines are as follows:
Figure 2 - Types of Engagement (Municipality of the County of Kings, 2017)
Methodology:
The framework below helps guide the Town in decision making and engagement opportunities.
The project type and stakeholder type shape the process via the method of engagement above.
COMMUNICATION - a crucial piece to any level of engagement. Ensure your message is clear and
concise.
INFORM
To provide the
public with
balanced and
objective
information to
assist them in
understanding
the problem,
alternatives,
opportunities,
and/or solutions.
Endeavour to:
We will share the
whole story so
we all
understand what
matters.
CONSULT
To obtain public
feedback on
analysis,
alternatives
and/or decisions.
Endeavour to:
We will listen
attentively so we
understand your
views when we
make our
decision.
INVOLVE
To work directly
with the public
throughout the
process to
ensure that
public concerns
and aspirations
are consistently
understood and
considered.
Endeavour to:
Bring your
biggest concerns
and your best
ideas so we can
find a way
forward.
COLLABORATE
To partner with
the public in
each aspect of
the decision
including the
development of
alternatives and
the identification
of the preferred
solution.
Endeavour to:
Let's find
solutions that
work, all of us -
together.
EMPOWER
To place final
decision making
in the hands of
the public.
Endeavour to:
The impacts
affect you, you
decide, we
support you.
www.berwick.ca
Community Consultation Guidelines 2021Nov09 Page 3 of 3
Consultation Framework/ Methodology
Stakeholders / effected audiences
Staff
interest
only
Occasional
use, i.e.
Events/
seasonal
spaces
Economic
use
Intensive
use
Intensive use
and multi
stakeholder
Project
or
Activity
Major
Project
Involve
Consult
Collaborate
Collaborate
Collaborate
Medium
Project
Consult
Consult
Involve
Collaborate
Collaborate
Small
Project
Consult
Empower
Consult
Involve
Involve
Minimal
change
project
Inform
Inform
Consult
Involve
Consult
Definitions of Projects:
Major project - completely disrupts community members lifestyle, i.e. project location relevant
to community members homes, shut down of all/portions of parks, trails, buildings, open
spaces, or active transportation routes.
Medium Project - significant disruptions in community members lifestyle, i.e. shut down of
all/portions of parks, trails, buildings, open spaces, or active transportation routes.
Small project - minor disruptions in community members lifestyle, i.e. shut down all/portions
of parks, trails, buildings, open spaces, or active transportation routes.
Minimal change project - little to no disruptions in community members lifestyle.