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September 19, 2012 Item 7.b Civic Engagement Task Force recommendations to the Roseville City Council for enhancing and increasing civic engagement within all sectors of Roseville's diverse community. What Is Civic Engagement and Why Address It? Civic engagement or civic participation has been defined as "Individual and collective actions designed to identify and address issues of public concern. Civic engagement can take many forms individual volunteerism, volunteering on city commissions and committees, involvement with neighborhood groups or other non - profit civic organizations, and /or organizational involvement to electoral participation. It can include efforts to directly address an issue, work with others in a community to solve a problem or interact with the institutions of representative democracy." (American Psychological Association, http://www.qpa.org/education/undergrad/civic-engagement.asp,-,) The engagement of citizens creates more effective government and more sound decisions. Civically- engaged citizens have a stronger sense of community and knowledge of established community networks and resources that can help the city get information out quickly, efficiently and economically. As a recent article published in the League of Minnesota Cities magazine stated: Cities across Minnesota are taking a new look at roles for volunteers and engaged citizens. As budgets get tighter, and new revenue opportunities are few and far between, the effective engagement of volunteers can be a great way to bring in new resources. (Tapping Volunteers for Results, Minnesota Cities, November - December 2011, a copy of which is included in the Addendum.) Civic engagement is especially relevant in an inner -ring suburb such as Roseville which has the best of urban life and suburban living. Roseville also faces the challenges of rapid change and the alienation associated with urban sprawl and the growing anonymity of urban-culture. Our Core Valu Early in our process we adopted the recommended International Association for Public Participation (IAP2)'s core values to guide our work, as follows: Public participation... 1. Is based on the belief that those who are affected by a decision have a right to be involved in the decision - making process. 2. Includes the promise that the public's contribution will influence the decision. 3. Promotes sustainable decisions by recognizing and communicating the needs and interests of all participants, including decision - makers. 4. Seeks out and facilitates the involvement of those potentially affected by or interested in a decision. September 12, 2012, Penultimate Draft 1.2 2