Our Commitment to Community

Hamilton's Public Engagement Levels

The City of Hamilton is building a culture of excellence and innovation in the ways in which we engage you in decision-making. The City defines its commitment to public engagement within City-led projects using Hamilton’s Public Engagement Levels. Projects will declare their ‘engagement promise’ to the public at the outset of planning for engagement by selecting a level of engagement that is unique to each project. Each level of engagement helps drive consistent and meaningful expectations throughout the decision-making process.

• CONSULT - Staff will get your feedback on a project/initiative.
  • We promise to: Keep you informed. Listen to and acknowledge your concerns or hopes for the project. Provide feedback to you on how the input received was used to inform the project.
• INVOLVE - Staff will work with you throughout the project to ensure your concerns or ideas are understood and considered.
  • We promise to: Work with you to understand your hopes or concerns. Develop alternatives that reflect your involvement. Provide feedback to you on how your involvement contributed to the decision or recommendation.
• COLLABORATE - Staff will partner with you to shape a decision for the project.
  • We promise to: Ask for your advise. Incorporate your advice into the project as much as possible. Provide feedback to you on how your advice contributed to the decision or recommendation.
• INFORM - Along the way
  • We promise to: Ensure you are aware of and knowledgeable about the project. Ensure you are able to provide informed input. Ensure you are aware that a decision or recommendation has been made.

Hamilton’s Public Engagement Levels have been adapted from best practices from the International Association for Public Participation's Spectrum of Public Participation.

Principles for Public Engagement

A consistent approach to public engagement is key to delivering City projects, initiatives, and policies that are reflective and responsive to the emerging interests and changing needs of residents. As an effort to be inclusive, meaningful, and authentic throughout the process of which we engage residents, public engagement is guided by five key principles:

• Building Trust and Relationships - Meaningful and effective public engagement fosters mutual trust and is rooted in respectful relationships with community. Valuing and seeking community-based knowledge and experience through meaningful public engagement will contribute to a stronger, healthier, more vibrant Hamilton.
• Clear, Timely and Transparent Information - The City will provide enough time and notice to support and encourage active public participation. The City will clearly explain why we are engaging, what information will be collected, and how public input will be used. Information will be easy to find, access, and understand. We will ensure that outcomes and next steps are communicated in a timely manner.
• Every Voice is Valued - Public engagement will be inclusive and accessible to best serve our City by encouraging two-way conversations and strategies that reach diverse communities and ensure that people feel heard and know their input is valued.
• Adapting Along the Way - The City will be flexible and open to shifting our engagement approaches based on the size and scope of our work, the needs of our community and the availability of resources.
• Continuously Improving - The City will cultivate a culture of excellence in public engagement by regularly evaluating, co-creating, and embracing new and improved engagement practices.