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Mayors can provide important leadership by promoting citizen involvement in government, championing long-term planning for the city's future, and promoting new programs and initiatives. A. Promoting citizen involvement Many observers of local government strongly correlate the level of engagement between citizens and their government with the overall success and vitality of a community. 1. The value of citizen involvement Increasingly, public officials are learning that one of the most effective ways to address challenging community issues is through citizen and stakeholder dialogue. When issues are discussed in citizen and stakeholder groups, people can more easily balance individual needs with the common good. Group interaction promotes civic skills —such as talking, debate, persuasion, negotiation, creativity, and compromise. When citizens with different viewpoints talk to each other to develop policy recommendations that serve the common good of the community, the participants: • Learn more about the issues. • Connect their personal experiences to the policy debate. • Develop more detailed plans and policy recommendations. • Are more likely to devote their own time and energy to implementing the action ideas they've recommended. • Forge effective working relationships with others, including city elected officials and staff. 2. The mayor's role and citizen involvement One of the easiest ways mayors can promote citizen involvement is by modeling compliance with the Minnesota Open Meeting Law —both the letter of the law and its intent —and other laws aimed at soliciting public input. For example, most changes to a city zoning ordinance will require a public hearing for citizen input. Modeling compliance and respect for the law builds trust in government, which in turn inspires greater citizen confidence, communication, and involvement. Other ways mayors can inspire citizen participation in government include: Minnesota Mayors Chapter 1-28 Association