Memo

To:        Mike Wildgen

From:   Lisa Patterson

cc:      Debbie Van Saun
David Corliss

Date: February 2, 2004

Re:       options to increase awareness of budget process

The following suggestions are designed to increase the community’s awareness of the process that will create the 2005 City of Lawrence budget.

1. During the 2004 budget process, the City Commissioners used the June 4 Study Session to provide direction on the operating budget.  At this study session, the Commissioners outlined the challenges created by the funding cuts and communicated their intentions and priorities in developing the budget.

This type of dialogue would be helpful in creating a community understanding of the end product.  I suggest that study session for the 2005 budget be moved to an evening time and be broadcast on the city’s cable channel 25.  An evening time will provide a community audience for the study session and the broadcast will provide direct delivery of the Commission’s dialogue.

The weeks leading up to the broadcast would provide an opportunity to create a viewing audience for the broadcast.  Production of the session would be coordinated with Sunflower Productions for use of camera equipment and cameraperson.

2. To enhance public awareness of the issues, I suggest the Commission consider focused community speaking engagements on budget.  June and July speaking opportunities would be solicited with existing community organizations such as Rotary, Optimist, Kiwanis, etc.  Individual Commissioners could deliver a program covering the current budget process.

3. To solicit additional feedback on budget issues, the web feedback form can be used again in 2004.  An informational push to drive people to the form would include media material and web address reminders.  A second option for additional feedback is to organize opportunities for citizens to meet the Mayor or Commissioners.  A listening breakfast or evening reception would be planned with mailed invitations and the event would publicized so that attendees have individual ten-minute face-to-face meetings.  The event’s organization would be modeled after school open houses with a first-come first visit opportunity between designated times.