Public Involvement in Rural Public Involvement in Rural Alaska Construction ProjectsAlaska Construction Projects

ESM 684 – Project ReportESM 684 – Project ReportPresented by:Presented by:

Jeremie Smith and Tania ClucasJeremie Smith and Tania Clucas

SPEAKER TRANSITIONSPEAKER TRANSITION

RESEARCH SUMMARYRESEARCH SUMMARYInterviews and QuestionnaireInterviews and Questionnaire

Section One – Organization ProfilesSection One – Organization Profiles

Section Two – Methods For Recruiting Section Two – Methods For Recruiting Public Involvement In Rural AlaskaPublic Involvement In Rural Alaska

Section Three – Measured Responses Section Three – Measured Responses Regarding Public Involvement In Rural Regarding Public Involvement In Rural AlaskaAlaska

Interviewed OrganizationsInterviewed OrganizationsEngineering Consulting Firms:Engineering Consulting Firms:

– PDC Inc EngineersPDC Inc Engineers– Rockwell Engineering and Rockwell Engineering and

Construction Services Inc.Construction Services Inc.

Government Entities: Government Entities:

– Fairbanks North Star Fairbanks North Star Borough (FNSB) Planning Borough (FNSB) Planning and Zoningand Zoning

– Alaska Department of Alaska Department of Environmental Environmental Conservation (ADEC) Conservation (ADEC) Federal Facilities GroupFederal Facilities Group

– US Army Corps of US Army Corps of Engineers Alaska DistrictEngineers Alaska District

– Alaska Department of Alaska Department of Transportation (ADOT)Transportation (ADOT)

Pre-ConstructionPre-Construction

Owner/Owner Representatives:Owner/Owner Representatives:– Alyeska Pipeline Service Alyeska Pipeline Service

CompanyCompany– University of Alaska Fairbanks University of Alaska Fairbanks

- Facilities Services Division of - Facilities Services Division of Design and ConstructionDesign and Construction

– Fairbanks Gold - Fort KnoxFairbanks Gold - Fort Knox

– Denali CommissionDenali Commission

General Contracting Firms:General Contracting Firms:– Great NorthwestGreat Northwest– GHEMMGHEMM

Non-Profit:Non-Profit:– Aleutians/Pribilofs AssociationAleutians/Pribilofs Association

Profile of OrganizationsProfile of OrganizationsTotal annual revenue was approximately Total annual revenue was approximately $594 million $594 million – Ranged from approximatelyRanged from approximately

$120 million – $220 million$120 million – $220 million– Averaged $59.4 millionAveraged $59.4 million

Total average percentage of the annual Total average percentage of the annual revenue or budget derived from rural revenue or budget derived from rural Alaska projects approximately 45%Alaska projects approximately 45%– Ranged from 5-100% of the organization’s Ranged from 5-100% of the organization’s

total annual revenue or budgettotal annual revenue or budget

Profile of Organizations cont.Profile of Organizations cont.

45% have formal guidance or policies 45% have formal guidance or policies

67% are required to solicit public input67% are required to solicit public input

33.3% have formal public recruitment 33.3% have formal public recruitment training programs training programs

25% have policies regarding recruiting 25% have policies regarding recruiting public involvement specific to rural Alaskapublic involvement specific to rural Alaska

RESEARCH SUMMARYRESEARCH SUMMARY Methods For Recruiting Public Involvement Methods For Recruiting Public Involvement

In Rural AlaskaIn Rural Alaska

Several key themes emerged from this Several key themes emerged from this section. The concepts, ideas, and section. The concepts, ideas, and comments posited by the interviewed comments posited by the interviewed have been summarized and are have been summarized and are presented on the following slides.presented on the following slides.

– Rural Alaska communities should be Rural Alaska communities should be educated about the project through out the educated about the project through out the project life cycleproject life cycle

– Stakeholder input and participation needs to Stakeholder input and participation needs to be a cradle to grave endeavorbe a cradle to grave endeavor

– Tailor the input process to the communityTailor the input process to the community

– Provide incentives, e.g.Provide incentives, e.g.Food Food Door prizesDoor prizesOrganize the public involvement event in Organize the public involvement event in conjunction with a local event that generates a lot conjunction with a local event that generates a lot of public interestof public interest

– Provide alternative venues and forumsProvide alternative venues and forums

– Continuously evaluate and review PI programContinuously evaluate and review PI program

– Communication Methods: Communication Methods: Project newsletters Project newsletters

Public service announcementsPublic service announcements

Direct mailings to mailbox holdersDirect mailings to mailbox holders

Newspaper advertisements Newspaper advertisements

Informational materials (fact sheets)Informational materials (fact sheets)

Surveys Surveys

– Technology has an increasing important roleTechnology has an increasing important roleDatabases for local contacts and for direct mailing Databases for local contacts and for direct mailing lists lists

Websites and e-mail, where applicableWebsites and e-mail, where applicable

Measured Responses Regarding Measured Responses Regarding Public InvolvementPublic Involvement

It is more difficult to recruit the public for opinion/comment in rural Alaska projects?

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Project survey participants did not feel that recruiting Project survey participants did not feel that recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska was more difficult. public involvement in rural Alaska was more difficult. The most common reason it is easier to “get the word out”The most common reason it is easier to “get the word out”

Mode: 5Mean: 3.89

Project survey participants generally felt that it is more Project survey participants generally felt that it is more expensive to recruit public opinion in rural Alaska. expensive to recruit public opinion in rural Alaska. The most common reason provide for the higher costs The most common reason provide for the higher costs was high travel costswas high travel costs..

It is more expensive (as a percentage of the project) to recruit public opinion/comment in rural Alaska projects?

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Mean: 6.20

A high belief that there is a positive cost benefit for A high belief that there is a positive cost benefit for recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska projects. recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska projects. The most common reason was that obstacles were The most common reason was that obstacles were avoided by involving the public instead of guessing what avoided by involving the public instead of guessing what the public wanted. the public wanted.

There is a positive cost benefit for recruiting public opinion/comment in rural Alaska projects?

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Mean: 9.20

A high belief that public involvement was vital to the A high belief that public involvement was vital to the overall success of the project. overall success of the project. The most common reason provided was that the public The most common reason provided was that the public felt ownership by contributing to the project, which made felt ownership by contributing to the project, which made them more supportive of the project them more supportive of the project

Public opinion/comment in rural Alaska was vital to the overall success of the project?

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Mean: 9.40

A larger percentage of the project budget should be spent on recruiting public opinion/comment in rural Alaska?

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Mean: 3.90

The average response was low with regard to increasing The average response was low with regard to increasing the percentage of the project budget spent on recruiting the percentage of the project budget spent on recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska projects. public involvement in rural Alaska projects. The most common reason given was labor and travel costs.The most common reason given was labor and travel costs.

A low belief that their organization needed to provide more training A low belief that their organization needed to provide more training in recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska. in recruiting public involvement in rural Alaska. Policy guidelines regarding how to perform rural public involvement Policy guidelines regarding how to perform rural public involvement initiatives were considered more important than formal training.initiatives were considered more important than formal training.

You consider your organization successful in your rural Alaska public outreach endeavors?

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Mode: 2Mean: 4.00

A high belief among the project survey participants that their A high belief among the project survey participants that their organization is successful in their rural Alaska public outreach organization is successful in their rural Alaska public outreach endeavors. endeavors. The most common response was that there is always room for The most common response was that there is always room for improvement. improvement.

You feel that your organization needs to provide more training in recruiting public opinion/comment in rural

Alaska?

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CONCLUSIONCONCLUSION

Defined public involvementDefined public involvement

Discussed the construction Discussed the construction project life cycleproject life cycle

Discussed the need for public Discussed the need for public involvement in generalinvolvement in general

Developed a standardized research Developed a standardized research questionnairequestionnaire

Generalized guidelines regarding public Generalized guidelines regarding public involvement initiatives in rural Alaskainvolvement initiatives in rural Alaska

CONCLUSIONCONCLUSIONPublic Involvement can’t:Public Involvement can’t:

– Overcome all project oppositionOvercome all project opposition– Resolve all differences in opinions and valuesResolve all differences in opinions and values– Replace planning and regulatory processes that Replace planning and regulatory processes that

examine the technical aspects of the projectexamine the technical aspects of the project

However, a well coordinated initiative can:However, a well coordinated initiative can: – Improve the quality of project decision makingImprove the quality of project decision making– Improve project management efficiencyImprove project management efficiency– Minimize project costs and delaysMinimize project costs and delays– Maintain project credibility and legitimacyMaintain project credibility and legitimacy– Increase management expertise and Increase management expertise and

"team-building” skills"team-building” skills– Help build public consensusHelp build public consensus

RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING RECOMMENDATIONS FOR DEVELOPING RURAL ALASKA PUBLIC INFORMATION RURAL ALASKA PUBLIC INFORMATION

TRAINING AND POLICY GUIDELINESTRAINING AND POLICY GUIDELINES

Develop A Policy Regarding Multicultural OutreachDevelop A Policy Regarding Multicultural Outreach

Educate Communities About The Project Educate Communities About The Project Throughout The Project’s Life CycleThroughout The Project’s Life Cycle

Commit To Evaluation Of Each Rural Public Commit To Evaluation Of Each Rural Public Involvement InitiativeInvolvement Initiative

Prepare And Maintain Community Contact Prepare And Maintain Community Contact DatabaseDatabase

Maintain Continuity In Community ContactsMaintain Continuity In Community Contacts

Enhance Information Feedback At Project ClosureEnhance Information Feedback At Project Closure

Develop A Policy Regarding Multicultural Develop A Policy Regarding Multicultural OutreachOutreach

– Target rural communication mediasTarget rural communication mediasCommunity newspapers and newslettersCommunity newspapers and newslettersCommunity bulletin boardsCommunity bulletin boardsCommunity television and radio Community television and radio

– To convey project subject matter in ways To convey project subject matter in ways that is meaningful to other culturesthat is meaningful to other cultures

– To attempt to bridge the cultural and To attempt to bridge the cultural and economic differences that reduces rural economic differences that reduces rural participationparticipation

– To use communication techniques that To use communication techniques that enable people to interact with other enable people to interact with other participants and to develop partnerships on participants and to develop partnerships on a small group basis to assure representationa small group basis to assure representation

Train Project Staff In Plain LanguageTrain Project Staff In Plain Language

– Train project staff to communicate project Train project staff to communicate project information with the broadest possible basis information with the broadest possible basis without using technical languagewithout using technical language

– Make general information, including Make general information, including technical and policy background information, technical and policy background information, readily availablereadily available

At meetings At meetings

Through project information publications like "fact Through project information publications like "fact sheets”sheets”

Rural Alaska communities should be educated about Rural Alaska communities should be educated about the project throughout the project’s life cyclethe project throughout the project’s life cycle

– Start as early as possible and extend throughout the Start as early as possible and extend throughout the project, keeping involvement continuousproject, keeping involvement continuous

– Informing rural communities of project events and Informing rural communities of project events and providing project status reports helps to establish a good providing project status reports helps to establish a good working relationshipworking relationship

– This approach is also very effective in diffusing This approach is also very effective in diffusing potentially controversial issues by addressing concerns potentially controversial issues by addressing concerns earlyearly

– The advantages for early rural public involvement The advantages for early rural public involvement initiatives include breaking down historical cultural initiatives include breaking down historical cultural barriers and increasing the chances for obtaining barriers and increasing the chances for obtaining consensusconsensus

Develop A Rural Alaska Public Develop A Rural Alaska Public Involvement Initiative Check ListInvolvement Initiative Check List

– Special attention should be paid to the initial Special attention should be paid to the initial planning of each public involvement initiativeplanning of each public involvement initiative

– A basis for altering the public involvement A basis for altering the public involvement initiativeinitiative

– Ensure local cultural etiquettes and norms Ensure local cultural etiquettes and norms are understood by the project staff are understood by the project staff

– To make sure that all of the entities that To make sure that all of the entities that have power/authority in the community are have power/authority in the community are contactedcontacted

– For evaluating the initiative upon completionFor evaluating the initiative upon completion– The check list should included:The check list should included:

Prior successful incentive methods used to Prior successful incentive methods used to increase participationincrease participation

Commit To Evaluation Of Each Rural Commit To Evaluation Of Each Rural Public Involvement InitiativePublic Involvement Initiative

– The PI needs to be continuously evaluated The PI needs to be continuously evaluated and documentedand documented

– The final results of the PI initiative should be The final results of the PI initiative should be reported as part of the final report on the reported as part of the final report on the projectproject

– The participants in the PI process should The participants in the PI process should have access to the evaluation results have access to the evaluation results

– Consideration should be given to interim Consideration should be given to interim evaluations during complex or controversial evaluations during complex or controversial projectsprojects

Prepare And Maintain A Rural Alaska Prepare And Maintain A Rural Alaska Community Contact DatabaseCommunity Contact Database

– A centralized database which inventories:A centralized database which inventories:Community groupsCommunity groups

Community leadersCommunity leaders

Community profileCommunity profile

– The database should help project staff answer :The database should help project staff answer :Who in the community can help (i.e. stakeholders, tribal Who in the community can help (i.e. stakeholders, tribal leaders, etc.)?leaders, etc.)?

What communication resources does the community have What communication resources does the community have (i.e. churches, radio, schools, etc.)?(i.e. churches, radio, schools, etc.)?

How, why, and where do people gather? How, why, and where do people gather?

How do people find out what is going on? How do people find out what is going on?

Who most influences local decisions, local funding, and Who most influences local decisions, local funding, and

local investment?local investment?

Maintain Continuity In Community Maintain Continuity In Community ContactsContacts

– Maintain relationships with rural area Maintain relationships with rural area community groups and community leaderscommunity groups and community leaders

– Allowing project staff to maintain and collect Allowing project staff to maintain and collect rural area knowledgerural area knowledge

– Build long lasting relationships by following Build long lasting relationships by following up on meetings and by maintaining contactsup on meetings and by maintaining contacts

Enhance Information Feedback At Enhance Information Feedback At Project ClosureProject Closure

– Provide feedback on:Provide feedback on:How input was used in making decisionsHow input was used in making decisionsHow the input influenced decision makingHow the input influenced decision makingWhat the decisions wereWhat the decisions wereThanks the participantsThanks the participants

– Demonstrates:Demonstrates:How the rural PI was vital to the success of How the rural PI was vital to the success of the projectthe projectThanking them for participating helps bridge Thanking them for participating helps bridge PI involvement barriersPI involvement barriers

– Part of the project closure procedure should Part of the project closure procedure should include updating the central database with include updating the central database with community informationcommunity information

Final ProductsFinal Products

Sample BrochuresSample Brochures

Sample ChecklistSample Checklist

Relational Database Field SuggestionsRelational Database Field Suggestions

Dr. Perkins and the ESM ProgramDr. Perkins and the ESM Program

Our FamiliesOur Families

Our EmployersOur Employers

All the people that took time out of their All the people that took time out of their busy schedules so we could interview busy schedules so we could interview themthem

Questions?Questions?