Cities everywhere are facing widespread disruption from the COVID-19 outbreak. New social, health and economic challenges are emerging every day. With this uncertainty, many municipalities must now consider how best to engage their stakeholders to advance strategic planning both during and immediately following this period. As we enter a new context rife with unemployment, retail vacancy and public health concerns the new approaches outlined below will be essential to strengthening the places we love. Cities that innovate around new and interactive community engagement tactics will be best prepared to plan for and implement growth strategies in their districts, neighborhoods and cities as pandemic precautions lift. 

This document outlines several interrelated strategies and tactics that can be mixed, matched and innovated upon in this new era. They are organized by how and where we connect: inside our homes, as neighbors between from our porches and windows,  along our neighborhood streets and in our commercial centers. 

Many of these approaches should outlive the COVID-19 pandemic and may inspire the many ways we can go beyond public meetings to meet people where they already are. 

OBJECTIVES

• Meet people where they are amidst spatial distancing requirements

• Go beyond virtual base-touching techniques

• Promote ways people can safely enliven their neighborhoods during stay at home orders

• Tap into collective wisdom and resources in communities to recover from the pandemic as well as other problems that require a response

• Do a lot within a new austere funding environment

• Check in on the health and wellbeing of residents

• Leverage parallel needs to collect 2020 Census information; emerging public safety challenges associated with widespread testing/screening and isolation; and engage around the future, particularly around neighborhood business districts and public spaces most affected by pandemics such as COVID-19