2007 Community Dialogue Initiative ResultsMEMORANDUM
TO: City of Boulder Advisory Board and Commission Members
FROM: Jean Gatza, Community Sustainability Coordinator
DATE: January 29, 2008
SUBJECT: 2007 CommuniTy Dialogue Initiative Results
The smmiiary reports of the city of Boulder's 2007 community dialogue efforts have been completed and
aze now available on the city's website under City Council and Community Sustainability. The 2007
community dialogue initiative was comprised of two parallel approaches and processes - a community
survey and dialogue meetings (Meetings-in-a-Box - MIB). The purpose of combuung these efforts was to
provide a complete picture of community values and issues.
The City of Boulder 2007 Community Survey Report of Results provides an overview of the survey results
by issue azea as well as tables outlining the results by geographic area and demographic subgroups. The
community survey was mailed to over 3,000 households and also over 400 CU students living in on-
campus domutories to provide a representative sample of Boulder residents. The survey included
many questions that have been asked on previous surveys (baseline questions) and continue an established
trend line. The results provide a wealth of information on residenYs values and concerns as well as rating
for city services.
The meetings-in-a-box (MIB) were small, self-directed group meetings hosted by individuals,
organizations, groups or businesses without elected officials, staff or facilitators present. We targeted
specific groups that do not traditionally participate in public processes but worked with many groups and
individuals to get a wide range of people participating. Twenty seven meetings were held. The
Communiry Dialogue: Meetings in a Box (MIB) Summary Report includes results of all participants but
also breaks out the information by: `General Community Groups', `Spanish Language / Iimnigrant
Interest Groups' and `University of Colorado Students Groups'. Although some questions were the same
on both the survey and the MIBs, the MIBs were designed to have participants respond to open-ended
questions about their perceptions about Boulder and their values about the community. The suminary
report provides a qualitative picture of what people in this community value and outlines their concems
for the future. The single overriding message that came from most of the MIB participants is that Boulder
is evolving and they don't like its evolution into what they see as an elitist community intolerant of those
who are different, with a system of class and discrimination that excludes people of modest or middle
class means. These perceptions can help inform the city in its decision-making processes.
The dua] approach to the initiative was to include the survey as a scientifically valid sample of randomly
selected people and complement this information with the dialogue meetings to gamer more qualitative
information targeting segments of the population that do not typically participate in traditional outreach
efforts. Both efforts were intended to gather initial information about what issues are important to people
that would inform additional more in-depth engagement or public process to gather more specific
information about policy issues and areas of residenYs concern.
The summary reports have been distributed to staff throughout the organization and to the public via the
city's website. City Council and staff will work to further explore issues raised by the community to
identify issues or areas where we need additional public engagement and outreach efforts to more fully
understand why people said what they did.
If you would like additional information, please feel free to contact me: Jean Gatza, Community
Sustainability Coordinator, (303) 441-4907 or Latzai n bouldercolorado.sov
If your board or commission has comments or recommendations regarding information in either the
survey or the meetings in a box report, you can send that iuformation to me through your Board Liaison.