Public Participation in Municipal Governance

1
Public Participation in Municipal Governance
2
Some Elements of Governance

• Successful governance requires all or some of the
  following
•  
•         influence (persuasion)
•         coercion (penalties and fines, traffic
  tickets?)
•         power (self or delegated powers)
•         authority - traditional, legal,
  charismatic
•         legitimacy - accountability and
  responsibility reinforced by popular
  sovereignty
•  
• For influence and legitimacy, and to a lesser
  degree authority, communication and interaction
  between governing bodies and citizens required.

3
Methods for Public to Influence Public Policy

•         Elections - Councillors represent
  interests and desires of citizens in
  either a delegate or trustee role
•         Political Parties - Not a significant
  presence in municipal politics
•         Interest Groups - C of C, public
  interest groups, ratepayer associations,
  service organizations, grass roots groups.
  Can be single issue or institutional
  (long-term)

4
Other Strategies A Case Study

• You are the General Manager of Transportation for
  the second largest city in Alberta. The
  Transportation Department has arranged to present
  to Council the new Light Rail Transit Plan which
  includes a price tag of 100 million to bring the
  line to surface level and build a new terminus.
•  
• The Mayor calls you in confidence and says Give
  me some ideas on how I can get a handle on public
  response and concerns with this LRT plan. I
  dont have a lot of time because I am going to
  Europe.
•  
• Work in your groups for 10 minutes and identify
  the strategies the Mayor and Council might employ
  to get a stronger sense of public receptivity to
  the LRT plan. Be prepared to discuss.

5
A Subversive Look at Public Participation

• Petitions
•  Residents can develop petitions  
•       to challenge the decisions of the
  Council. Council must act on the petition.
  A possible result is a referendum on a by- law
  (MGA 232)
•         to request the Minister to act on behalf
  of the interests of the residents. The
  Minister must respond to valid petitions for a
  change in status or municipal dissolution (MGA
  93(b),130 (2)(b))

6
A Subversive Look at Public Participation
(continued)

• Judicial Challenges
•          Challenge the legitimacy and legality
  of decisions in court. The Charter of Rights
  and Freedoms has generated many challenges to
  municipal legislation, particularly related to
  by-law enforcement, policing, service fees,
  and questionable actions such as investments
  of municipal reserves
•  Lobbying
•         Go to higher levels of government
•         Go to press