The seven principles of public involvement

Regardless of the level of Public Involvement you choose for your stormwater program, the guiding principles of Public Involvement should always be applied. The following seven principles of Public Involvement will help you better understand the fact sheets and better equip you to deal with the public. Whenever you involve the public in decision-making, keep these principles in mind. (These principles are used by the EPA and come from the International Association for Public Participation).

Seven Public Involvement Principles

1. People should have a say in decisions that affect their lives.
2. Includes the promise that the public’s contribution will influence decisions.
3. Communicate the interests of the participants and meet their process needs.
4. Seek out and involve those potentially affected.
5. Participants help define how they participate.
6. Provide participants with the information needed to participate in a meaningful way.
7. Communicate to participants how their input affected the decision.

Public Involvement may seem a daunting task but with planning and consideration, it can be accomplished with great success and great public appreciation. It can be a key approach to promote behavioral changes in your community. A broad spectrum of involvement exists. At one end is simply accepting input, while at the far other end of this spectrum, citizens make the decisions directly, such as by direct ballot. Between these two ends lies a spectrum of Public Involvement to meet the needs of every community. Click on this link to view the Spectrum of Public Participation as illustrated by the International Association for Public Participation.