Model UAA: Managing Public Participation

1
Model UAAManaging Public Participation

• Jodi Perras, Deputy Program Manager
• Indianapolis Clean Stream Team
• Presentation to
• AMSA-CSO Partnership Workshop
• Cracking the UAA Code
• April 12, 2005

2
Public Support is Vital

• You can have the worlds best UAA or LTCP, backed
  up by the most rigorous, scientific assessment of
  your waterways and brilliant engineering
  solutions
• If the public doesnt understand it and support
  it, it will not succeed

3
Develop Key Messages

• Raw sewage spilling into our streams is a serious
  problem.
• The City of Indianapolis is taking action to
  solve this problem.
• The solution will be the largest investment in
  clean water in our citys history.
• You can help -- Join the Clean Stream Team.
• Keep repeating them, and repeating them.

4
Watch Your Terminology

• Raw sewage overflows, not CSOs
• Percent capture, not overflows per year
• Try to manage expectations
• Simplify, simplify, simplify

5
A Picture is Worth 1,000 Words
6
Use a Variety of Tools

• Bill inserts
• Trade show booth
• Newsletter
• Join the Team
• Web site
• Speakers Bureau
• Sewer School (Milwaukee)
• News media

7
More Tools

• www.indycleanstreams.org

8
Ask People Whats Important

• How do you use the waterways?
• What should our goals be for this waterway?
• What are your priorities?
• Where should we start the work?
• What are your concerns during and after
  construction?
• Avoid talking about use and standard refinements
  until you have costs developed for LTCP options

9
Make it Easy to Participate
10
Get Started

• Early action projects show that you are concerned
  about public health and reducing overflows
• Quantify the benefits
• What can you do to build a foundation for your
  eventual long-term plan?
• Moving ahead helps counter the argument that
  youre trying to avoid addressing the problem by
  pursuing a UAA

11
Dealing with the News Media

• Most people will get information about your UAA
  LTCP from the news media, particularly television
  not directly from you
• You cant control what or when the news media
  will report on your program
• You can make it easier for them to do their job
  and understand technical issues
• If they dont get understandable information from
  you, they will get it from someone else or
  report it all wrong

12
Model UAAManaging Public Participation

• Jodi Perras, Deputy Program Manager
• Indianapolis Clean Stream Team
• Presentation to
• AMSA-CSO Partnership Workshop
• Cracking the UAA Code
• April 12, 2005