During a National Association of Development Organizations Research Foundation webinar on April 5, 2022, Beth Burks shared how the Humboldt County Association of Governments conducts public outreach in transportation planning, the agency's experience using various methods in rural areas, and benefits of engagement.

1. Humboldt County Association of
Governments:
Public Involvement
Methods and Documentation
Beth Burks, AICP
Executive Director
beth.burks@hcaog.net

2. What is HCAOG?
➢ It is the designated Regional
Transportation Planning
Agency.
➢ Our members include Humboldt
County and 7 cities
➢ Entire staff is 4 people
Humboldt
County

4. Tribal Nations within Humboldt County
➢ Yurok Tribe
➢ Hoopa Valley Tribe
➢ Karuk Tribe
➢ Wiyot Tribe
➢ Trinidad Rancheria
➢ Bear River Band of the
Rohnerville Rancheria
➢ Big Lagoon Rancheria

5. Humboldt County
➢ Population: 136,000
➢ Area: 3,500 square miles
➢ Special Considerations
➢ Higher rates of poverty
➢ Higher rates of people with
disabilities
➢ Higher rates of transportation
related death and injury
Humboldt
County
Population Density per Square Mile
US California Humboldt County
87.4 239.1 37.7

6. Why Public Engagement
➢ Meet regulatory noticing and open meeting requirements,
and always strive to go beyond
➢ Inform community of our work and role
➢ Transparency
➢ Make sure we hear from a variety of voices
➢ Prioritize and inform our work based on the desires of our
community

7. Regional Transportation Plan
We tried everything!
➢ Surveys
➢ Public meeting (virtual)
➢ Popups -7 varying locations
throughout the county
➢ Direct stakeholder outreach -165
individuals and/or organizations
➢ Press releases
➢ Presentation at civic groups- Rotary
and chambers of commerce
➢ Radio interviews
➢ Newspaper ads and flyers posted
throughout the county

8. Surveys
“lack of safe bicycle lanes, lack of bus
stops”
“Working: Most things
Not working: Punishing people for driving a vehicle.”

9. Pop-ups

10. Documenting Outreach
➢ High level summary in text of document
➢ Appendix A- Public Outreach and Engagement Program
➢ 142 pages long
➢ Everything is compiled in its entirety
➢ Benefits
➢ Searchable
➢ Informs other plans projects
➢ Quantifies community interest

11. What has worked really well
➢ Partnering with/ hiring community groups who have the skill
and connections to extend our reach
➢ Providing a variety of opportunities and methods for
participation
➢ Documenting everything- treasure trove that is easy to refer
to and data mine

12. Continuing challenges
➢ Helping people understand why should they care
➢ Participation fatigue for many citizens
➢ Reaching the most underserved in our community
➢ Making our relationships less transactional

13. Maintaining Stakeholder Relationships
Answer in the chat:
“What are some examples of ways your organization is
dedicating staff time and resources to ongoing relationship
maintenance?”

14. Thank you!
Beth Burks, AICP
HCAOG Executive Director
Email: beth.burks@hcaog.net
Phone: 707-444-8208