Having the Right Conversations at Your Municipality
/For many during this time, considerations are being taken for what communities will look like in the future. Local governments are facing concerns over declining tax revenue, parks and recreation facilitators are wondering how things will happen if they can’t really happen, local leaders and community members are all looking to answer the question, what’s next? When the only thing we can be sure of is change.
While we encourage municipal leaders to be proactive in their pursuits to address changes and needs in the community, we recommend they not rush into making drastic, long-term changes to zoning or major adjustments to spaces until the future is more clear. An internal taskforce may be a great option for municipalities looking to assess the current situation and future needs.
We recommend these priorities:
Compile and utilize the resources and pieces of information available to you through organizations. Use them to further enhance your planning processes
Engage in capital planning for next year. Take stock of your assets and start to prioritize the infrastructure projects that would take priority for next year’s budget. Don’t forget your MS4 Pollution Reduction Plan BMPs. This is always a good practice; but it’s a priority considering the potential impact of the current pandemic.
Address your municipality’s digital role. Digital applications and submissions have surfaced as a viable and necessary option. Land development applications serve as a prime example. Secure your municipality’s stance on what is public and what is not and how these digital adjustments will make an impact.
Dust off planning commission rules and municipal planning code for affected projects. Items such as typical 90-day application clocks may be examined by the recent changes in operations. We recommend identifying and solidifying your municipality’s expectations in preparation and response to these types of requests.
Establish a plan for your municipality transitioning into Red, Yellow, and Green zones. Consider how each will impact your community and establish specific plans regarding transitional periods.
Prioritize your ability to interface with the public and your community. Consider virtual office hours for borough staff to touch base. Technology investments and trainings will allow you to manage your communication with the public, as well as make remote communication an effective and on-going practice.
Acknowledge what you have learned. What do you wish you would have had in place? Maybe having your assets in the cloud would have allowed productivity to function more effectively. Maybe a more robust digital infrastructure would have made for an easier transition. Where have you found gaps, and what can be done to fill them in case there is ever a next time?
Talk to your consultants. Learn about best practices taking place in other municipalities and how you can implement similar actions.
We want you to feel supported. So remember that we’re here to help. As a taskforce, navigate what you feel comfortable with and then reach out to us and your other resources with the things that overwhelm you.
Communication Station: Staying in Touch with Your Municipality
Your constituents live in the Amazon world, where they expect products and information immediately. Every township, borough, and city can utilize free or cost-effective resources to give their community the information they need.
Must haves: website, social media presence, email newsletter, and easy access to forms, documents, and information.
Some of our favorite free tools:
Facebook- to connect with most constituents. (Tip: schedule your posts ahead of time to save effort!)
LinkedIn- to connect with your local professional community
Google My Business Listing: easy to use resource to make it easier to find you online
Google Meet- for virtual meetings
Google Sites- if you don’t already have a website
MailChimp- email marketing, free for lists of less than 2,000 emails
Need more tips on communicating with your community? Our marketing team would be happy to help. Send us an email at information@ssmgroup.com
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