This document discusses advancing online public consultation in Metro Vancouver. It proposes a system that would: 1. Notify residents of nearby consultations on topics they choose, like housing or transportation projects within a certain distance. Residents would register with identity and location verification. 2. Standardize how consultation topics are listed in an open data catalogue with details like location and dates. Staff would map consultation areas and residents in those areas would be notified. 3. Allow residents to participate and provide feedback through online forums, surveys and other tools. Analytics would segment feedback spatially and ensure public input informs outcomes. The goal is evidence-based decision making through an accessible, transparent process.

1. Advancing
Online Public
Consultation
Metro Vancouver
August 2012

2. Refresher - the Problem

3. Timeline - what a short trip it's been
CoV CMT March 2011 - Concept
May - August - Prototype Pilots
September - VSB sectoral review
Fall - additional case studies
Jan 2012 - Urban Futures survey - expansion
April 2012 - re-engineered platform
Now - expansion into other areas
API - standardization & systemization

5. Citizen-centred - Network Effect
Coast
Maritime Museum Guard
Artist's
Residence
Fires on
beach
Planetarium/
Museum
Lifeguards
Development
Permit application
Boathouse Patio Traffic
Circle
Squamish
Parking Develop-
Restrictions ment
Kitsilano to
Bike Lanes
Jericho Seawall
Billy Bishop Patio Henry Hudson
License School

6. Imagine~
• You can be notified online of consultations relevant to
where you live, work and play.
• You choose by distance and subject what topics you're
interested in hearing about.
o e.g. anything to do with housing within 1 KM or anything
to do with transportation within 5 KM
• Notifications can come from many sources including the
City, TransLink, developers, utilities, schools, parks,
emergency services, and community organizations
• You register and confirm your identity and location and
carry those credentials with you everywhere
• You can influence outcomes because your verified input
enables evidence-based decision-making

7. Open Data & Public Consultation

8. Open Data Standards
Each time a new consultation topic is initiated a
standardized listing is created:
1. Title
2. Abstract (140 characters, incl. keywords)
3. URL (link to originating web site/page)
4. Contact Email (notifies responsible staff)
5. Address (site location under review)
6. Date (public meeting, open house)
Generates XML or JSON file into the Open Data
Catalogue http://data.vancouver.ca/

9. Setting up a Topic
An email is sent to the contact person asking
them to activate the topic and decide whether to
choose:
1. API (PS Connect) or;
2. PlaceSpeak page containing feedback tools:
• Discussion Forum(s)
• Survey(s)
• Poll(s)
• Notice Board, social media

10. Mapping of Topic Area
The Responsible staff person maps out the area
(polygons) of interest:
• Manually
(e.g. 2 block radius)
• Importing KML file
(eg. 26 local areas)
Residents will be notified within affected area.
Reporting will be segmented by polygon boundary.

11. Public Notification
Residents are notified according to their preferences:
Distance - eg. 1 km - 100 km
Keyword - eg. housing, parks,
transportation
Residents determine their privacy
• visible publicly (yes/no)
Note: connected participants identities are always visible to
the proponent (although not their street address).

12. In the beginning: Registration
Network Effect requires verification of participants:
• email
• home phone (audio pin)
• cell phone (sms pin)
• mailer pin
• other
o property assessment roll
o credit card minimum $0.02
• Privacy - separating 'church from state'.
• authentication = transparency
• FIOPPA

13. Citizen user (participant) feedback
Once notified, residents determine whether or not to
engage. Select consultation features:
• Discussion forums
• Polls
• Surveys
• Notice Board
• Social Media
To participate, residents must CONNECT with the Topic
which requires registration and verification within the
boundaries defined in the map polygon.

14. How to build Awareness and
Adoption?
Coordinated Offline and Online Strategies:
Offline:
• Posters
• Mailers
• Handouts
• Traditional advertising, media
Online:
• Social Media (Facebook, Twitter)
• Wider reach
• Email, newsletters

15. Reporting and Analytics
All feedback received:
• Quantitative (polls & surveys)
• Qualitative (discussion, notice board)
Reports include: x # of participants responded with y
area(s) with z responses.
Reports segment data spatially by polygons: i.e. show how
responses vary by area.

16. Outcomes
Core principle: Evidence-based decision-making
and public policy development
• After conclusion of consultation, outcomes must
be communicated to participants.
• Important that participants observe that their
input has had an impact on the outcome.
• Process is open, accessible, dynamic,
transparent and defensible.

17. Recommendations
Open Data - standardize
Add a public consultation category to the City's Open Data
Catalogue and standardize
Inform/Notify
Implement an online notification system that ties digital
identity to physical address
Consult/Feedback
Ensure accessible online and place-based
Report/Analytics
Require defensible evidence to inform decision-making and
public policy development