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Home My WebLink About _ 4.4(a)--Redding Riverfront Specific Plan Community Coalition Group, by the City of Redding CITY OF REDDING REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL Recommendation Accept report regarding the City of Redding’s Community Engagement Strategy and formation of a Community Coalition group for development of the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan. Fiscal Impact There is no impact to the General Fund by accepting the report. Alternative Action City Council (Council) could choose not to accept the report and provide other direction to staff. Background/Analysis The City of Redding’s (City) consultant, MIG, and staff are developing a Community Involvement Strategy to ensure the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan project is based on robust and genuine feedback from the entire community, including civic and city leaders, the indigenous community, property and business owners, current tenants and lease holders, topical interest organizations (e.g., mobility advocates, environmental groups), tourism and economic development groups, and residents. A key component of the Community Involvement Strategy is to form a Community Coalition (Coalition), a group composed of a diverse cross section of Redding Riverfront stakeholders that will help form a future vision and set of guiding principles for the area. The Coalition will meet at key points in the project to provide feedback and direction on key concepts and ideas. The City Manager and Development Services Director will select the members of the Coalition. It is envisioned that the Coalition will include 15 members. The following is a representation of what the membership could be, though the final roster may vary: MEETING DATE: August 15, 2023 ITEM NO. 4.4(a) FROM: ***APPROVED BY*** jpagan@cityofredding.org btippin@cityofredding.org SUBJECT: 4.4(a)--Accept Report Regarding Community Engagement Strategy and Formation of Community Coalition Group for Development of the Redding Riverfront Specific Plan. Jeremy Pagan, Development Services Director/Bldg Official Report to Redding City Council August 9, 2023 Re: 4.4(a)--Redding Riverfront Specific Plan Community Coalition Group, by the City of Redding Page 2 1. Northern Waterfront Property Owner 2. Northern Waterfront Business Owner/Residential Tenant 3. Southern Waterfront Property Owner 4. Southern Waterfront Business Owner/Residential Tenant 5. Redding Planning Commissioner 6. Redding Community Services Advisory Commissioner 7. Redding Resident 8. Redding Resident 9. Redding Rodeo Association 10. Non-Profit Organization or Other Interested Party 11. Wintu Tribe of Northern California 12. Redding Rancheria 13. Economic Development Organization 14. Environmental Organization 15. Mobility Organization The Coalition’s mission will be to: • Develop a vision statement and guiding principles for land within the study area that will be presented to the broader community for review and feedback; • Review, evaluate, and discuss information and concepts for the study area, including future uses and areas of preservation and/or rehabilitation; and • Assess the feasibility of a range of uses and activities in the study area, with the support of technical data and analysis provided by City staff and MIG. The development of the recommended Riverfront Vision and Guiding Principles document will be presented for consideration to the Council. Environmental Review This is not a project as defined under the California Environmental Quality Act, and no further action is required. Council Priority/City Manager Goals • Communication and Transparency – “Improve the quality of communication with the public and City employees to enhance knowledge and increase transparency to improve public trust.” • Government of the 21st Century – “Be relevant and proactive to the opportunities and challenges of today’s residents and workforce. Anticipate the future to make better decisions today.” • Economic Development – “Facilitate and become a catalyst for economic development in Redding to create jobs, retain current businesses and attract new ones, and encourage investment in the community.” Attachments ^Community Coalition Framework ^Community Involvement Strategy 1 Redding Riverfront Specific Plan and EIR Community Coalition Framework August 07, 2023 PURPOSE The City of Redding is forming a Community CoaliƟon, represenƟng a range of community interests and perspecƟves, to advise the Project Team (e.g., City staff and consultants) during the development of the Riverfront Speciﬁc Plan. Community CoaliƟon members will include representaƟves from a variety of groups, organizaƟons, and perspecƟves. The purpose of this document is to provide an OrganizaƟonal Framework for the Community CoaliƟon that will be established to guide the Redding Riverfront Speciﬁc Plan project. It contains the following secƟons:  Community CoaliƟon Mission and Charge  Membership  Member Roles and ResponsibiliƟes  OperaƟng Principles  ExpectaƟons of Community CoaliƟon Members  ExpectaƟons of Facilitator and Project Team  Ground Rules for ConstrucƟve ConversaƟon  MeeƟng Format  CommunicaƟons with the Media and Elected Officials 2 COMMUNITY COALITION MISSION AND CHARGE The mission and charge of the Community CoaliƟon is to:  Develop a vision statement and guiding principles for land within the study area that will be presented to the broader community for review and feedback.  Review, evaluate, and discuss informaƟon and concepts for the study area, including future uses and areas of preservaƟon and/or rehabilitaƟon.  Assess the feasibility of a range of uses and acƟviƟes in the study area, with the support of technical data and analysis provided by the Project Team.  Develop a recommended Riverfront Vision and Guiding Principles document for consideraƟon by the Redding City Council. MEMBERSHIP The Project Team will select members of the Community CoaliƟon. It is envisioned that the CoaliƟon will include 15 members. The following is a representaƟon of what the membership could be, though the ﬁnal roster may vary: 1. Northern Waterfront Property Owner 2. Northern Waterfront Business Owner/ResidenƟal Tenant 3. Southern Waterfront Property Owner 4. Southern Waterfront Business Owner/ResidenƟal Tenant 5. Redding Planning Commissioner 6. Redding Community Services Advisory Commissioner 7. Redding Resident 8. Redding Resident 9. Redding Rodeo AssociaƟon 10. Non‐Proﬁt or Other Interested Party 11. Wintu Tribe of Northern California 12. Redding Rancheria 13. Redding Chamber of Commerce 14. Environmental OrganizaƟon 15. Mobility OrganizaƟon 3 OPERATING PRINCIPLES The Community CoaliƟon will carry out its mission and charge through a series of regularly scheduled, facilitated meeƟngs. To ensure a useful, producƟve exchange, the CoaliƟon will conduct its work according to the following operaƟng principles. Transparency: CoaliƟon members, Project Team members and City staff will share relevant informaƟon and facts to facilitate producƟve discussion and progress toward mutual goals. Equal ParƟcipaƟon: All parƟcipants agree to provide one another the opportunity to engage in open dialogue and allow Ɵme for all members of the CoaliƟon to express their ideas and opinions. Inclusivity: Community CoaliƟon meeƟngs will be conducted to ensure that the ideas and views of all members are considered. Respecƞul Engagement: CoaliƟon members, Project Team members and City staff will show courtesy, honesty and respect for each other during all communicaƟons, especially when giving and receiving contrary opinions as well as posiƟve or negaƟve feedback on ideas and proposals. Facilitated MeeƟngs: The meeƟng facilitator will assist CoaliƟon members in engaging in producƟve conversaƟons while adhering to the Principals of Civil Discourse and ensuring that all CoaliƟon member ideas and feedback are respected and considered. 4 EXPECTATIONS OF COMMUNITY COALITION MEMBERS Community CoaliƟon members agree to:  AƩend all CoaliƟon meeƟngs (or idenƟfy a designated alternate to aƩend meeƟngs).  ParƟcipate acƟvely and enthusiasƟcally.  Review meeƟng materials and documents provided in advance of each meeƟng.  Consider the technical informaƟon shared during presentaƟons and ensuing CoaliƟon discussion.  Make serious efforts to understand Community CoaliƟon member ideas and points of view, especially if they are different than their own.  Listen carefully to all comments and suggesƟons made by all members of the Community CoaliƟon, as well as members of the broader community, during the public comment porƟon of CoaliƟon meeƟngs, including all wriƩen comments received.  Adhere to the OperaƟng Principles described above. EXPECTATIONS OF THE FACILITATOR AND PROJECT TEAM  The facilitator team must remain neutral.  The facilitator team will work with City staff and the Project Team to provide meeƟng agendas one week in advance and meeƟng support materials approximately ﬁve days in advance of each meeƟng.  The City will provide a binder to help organize meeƟng materials for each CoaliƟon parƟcipant.  The Project Team will prepare a wriƩen summary of each CoaliƟon meeƟng. The summary will not be a word‐for‐word meeƟng transcripƟon but instead will highlight discussion themes, key issues, areas of agreement and issues requiring further discussion and resoluƟon. 5 GROUND RULES FOR CONSTRUCTIVE CONVERSATION Community CoaliƟon members agree to the following:  Only one person can speak at a Ɵme. A CoaliƟon member wishing to speak will signal the facilitator and the facilitator will recognize each CoaliƟon member wishing to speak in the order the signals are received. The facilitator may change the order of speakers if in their judgement the conversaƟon will be made more producƟve in doing so, such as in order to conclude a topic or line of discussion before switching to another topic, etc.  Community CoaliƟon members agree to keep their comments concise.  Cell phones must be turned off during presentaƟons and discussions.  Community CoaliƟon members are asked to inform City staff in advance if they are unable to aƩend a scheduled meeƟng. MEETING FORMAT Each Community CoaliƟon meeƟng will generally include the following format (whether virtual or in‐person):  Calling the MeeƟng to Order (City staff)  Roll Call  Project Updates and PresentaƟons (City staff, Project Team, or topical guest)  Discussion (Community CoaliƟon members)  Public Comments (members of the public)  Close 6 CONSENSUS AND DECISION‐MAKING Community CoaliƟon decisions and recommendaƟons will be consensus‐based, with the opƟon for CoaliƟon members to vote if consensus cannot be reached. DeﬁniƟon of Consensus The Community CoaliƟon operates under the following deﬁniƟon of consensus: The group will have reached consensus on an issue when it agrees upon a single choice and each parƟcipant can say: o I believe that other parƟcipants understand my point of view. o I believe I understand other parƟcipants’ points of view. o Whether or not I prefer this choice, I support it because it was arrived at openly and fairly, based on good informaƟon, and it is the best decision for us at this Ɵme. Conveying Consensus This consensus can be conveyed via a thumbs up (I fully support this opƟon); thumbs sideways (I can live with this opƟon for the good of the group and the process); or thumbs down (I cannot live with this opƟon). If anyone is thumbs down, the group will seek soluƟons that allow those thumbs to move to up or sideways. Registering Concerns When a call to make a decision on an issue is made, a member displaying a sideways thumb may request their reservaƟon be recorded in the decision that is conveyed to others. If there are signiﬁcant reservaƟons about an acƟon or decision, the CoaliƟon may choose to modify or re‐word the proposal. CoaliƟon members who feel they are incapable of adequately understanding or parƟcipaƟng in the proposal or decision, or members that wish to recuse themselves from a decision, may choose to ‘stand aside.’ Stand asides do not halt a decision. Process if Consensus is not Present If there are instances where consensus cannot be reached, the 15 Community CoaliƟon members may take a vote. A moƟon proposes that the CoaliƟon take certain acƟon on a maƩer. 7 COMMUNICATIONS WITH THE MEDIA AND ELECTED OFFICIALS Each Community CoaliƟon meeƟng will be open to the public with opportuniƟes for comment from community members who are not members of the CoaliƟon. It is expected that all CoaliƟon meeƟngs will be well‐covered by the local media. All media inquiries and contacts related to the Community CoaliƟon process will be handled by: TBD City of Redding 777 Cypress Avenue Redding, CA 96001 [TELEPHONE] [EMAIL] 1 Redding Riverfront Specific Plan and EIR Community Involvement Strategy August 7, 2023 I. INTRODUCTION The City of Redding is beginning an inclusive and comprehensive process to prepare a specific plan for the Redding Riverfront area. The new Riverfront Specific Plan will become the primary planning, design, and regulatory document for the area. While the final content of the plan is not known at this time, it is envisioned to include a combination of land use policies, development standards and requirements, cultural enhancement and preservation projects, and environmental protection policies and requirements. The City is committed to designing and implementing an inclusive and dynamic community engagement process to ensure the Riverfront Specific Plan project is based on robust and genuine feedback from the entire community, including civic and city leaders, the indigenous community, property and business owners, current tenants and lease holders, topical interest organizations (e.g., mobility advocates, environmental groups), tourism and economic development groups, and residents. As such, the development of the specific plan will require inclusive engagement at several key project touch points and across many different platforms. The Project Team (which includes City staff and consultants) developed the following Community Involvement Strategy (CIS), which outlines key outreach approaches and methods, target audiences, communication tools, and the proposed timeline for implementation. This document is a high-level summary of community involvement activities that will inform and guide the development of the specific plan. These activities will ensure that all members of the Redding community are actively engaged throughout the project, and that community ideas, perspectives, and needs directly inform all phases of this important project. A key component of the CIS is to form a Community Coalition, composed of a diverse cross section of Redding Riverfront stakeholders, that will help form a future Vision and set of Guiding Principles for the area. The Coalition will meet at key points in the project to provide feedback and direction on key concepts and ideas. 2 II. APPROACH The CIS offers numerous opportunities for the public, stakeholders, key civic and business leaders, property and business owners, City staff, and elected officials to be involved in the Riverfront Specific Plan process. The CIS highlights ways that specific outreach activities will seek out and consider the viewpoints of a wide cross-section of Redding communities, with a targeted focus on reaching populations that are traditionally under-represented in planning processes (e.g., indigenous communities, communities of color, low-income communities, immigrants, youth and seniors). Our approach includes the following goals: • Leverage Local Networks and Existing Community Engagement Efforts. Build on the variety and depth of existing community involvement initiatives in Redding to effectively and efficiently engage the public in the Riverfront Specific Plan process. Tap into existing community-based networks of local leaders and groups to connect with a wider range of community members. • Identify Barriers to Participation. Cultivate an understanding of existing or potential barriers to the full participation of all community members, particularly indigenous communities, communities of color, and low-income populations, in the Riverfront Specific Plan process. • Create Opportunities for Inclusive and Equitable Participation. Provide multiple and varied opportunities for a broad range of community members, businesses and interest groups to share meaningful input. • Collaborate and Inform Riverfront Specific Plan Decision-Making. Collect useful and relevant public input that reflects local expertise and values and informs decision-making related to the Riverfront Specific Plan. • Build Long-Term Capacity for Civic Engagement around Growth, Development and Community Design. Build social capital and support those engaged through the process to stay involved and share not only concerns and issues, but also solutions and strategies necessary to implement the Riverfront Specific Plan. III. GUIDING ENGAGEMENT PRINCIPLES The overarching goal of the community engagement process is to provide many opportunities for meaningful participation and consensus-building among residents, tribes/indigenous community members, community groups and organizations, partner agencies, City departments, property and business owners, and other stakeholders to define a shared vision for Redding’s future. The Community Involvement Strategy is based on the following guiding principles: • Authentic and Equitable. One of the principles of this outreach effort is to start and/or continue authentic dialogue, rooted in planning research and data, to establish a framework for future development and investments. Community education regarding the cultural history of the area, existing conditions, amenities and opportunities for new 3 uses/activities in the Riverfront will help ground these conversations. We will work with community-based organizations and tribes to develop culturally relevant outreach approaches, most appropriate to meaningfully connect with Redding’s diverse community. • Inclusive and Flexible. Using a mix of creative and traditional approaches, the Project Team will proactively reach out and engage a full range of community and stakeholder groups across Redding. • High-Touch and High-Tech. We know that many people respond well to personal, face- to-face communication. Outreach methods such as focus groups, interviews and pop-up events will allow the Project Team to interact with community members in a “high touch” fashion. Many of these same materials will be adapted to the digital environment to supplement a “high tech” aspect to the engagement – through social media, online questionnaires and websites. • Clear, Focused and Understandable. Activities will have a clear purpose and use for the input and will be described in language that is easy to understand. • Integrated Framework for Growth, Development and Community Design. Our approach will focus on synthesizing the best of what is working in terms of growth policies, and creating new, community-centered strategies for addressing Redding’s opportunities and priorities. • Respect. All participants, including Project Team, City staff, residents, and civic and elected leaders, demonstrate respect in words and actions and approach decisions with open-mindedness so that everyone feels comfortable expressing their opinion regardless of differences. We will work with tribes, the local indigenous community, community- based organizations, and other to meaningfully connect with Redding’s diverse residents. IV. KEY AUDIENCES The Riverfront Specific Plan is an opportunity for Redding to further build a network of increasingly diverse and engaged community members to collectively contribute to the City’s quality of life. The key audiences below will be targeted through the appropriate engagement methods. This is a “living list” and the Project Team will continue to add stakeholders/audiences to the list to ensure strong representation from across the City. • Redding residents and community members • City Council and elected officials • City of Redding Departments • County of Shasta Departments (as appropriate) • State of California Agencies (as appropriate) • Federal Agencies (as appropriate) • Tribes • Indigenous Community Organizations (that may not be formal tribes) • Transportation Service Providers 4 • Community organizations • Neighborhood associations • Others as appropriate V. PHASES OF ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES The matrix below outlines each of the tasks in the Community Involvement Strategy and details if the engagement activity will be provided in-person, virtually or some combination of both. Topic/Task Time Frame In Person Engagement Virtual Engagement Hybrid Engagement Other (coordination /materials) Ongoing Community Involvement Activities 1. Community Coalition Meetings Summer/Fall 2023  2. Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Meetings (8) Ongoing  3. Indigenous Community Listening Sessions Ongoing   4. Community Events and Outside Agency Meetings (10) Ongoing  5. Project Website Ongoing  6. Communications and Media Roll-Outs Ongoing  7. Online Surveys Ongoing  8. Community Design Charrettes (5 days) Ongoing  9. Media Campaign Ongoing  TASK 1: PROJECT KICK-OFF, MANAGEMENT, AND SCOPE REFINEMENT 1. Project Kick-off and Tour June 9, 2023  2. Project Team Meetings and Coordination Ongoing  3. Work Program and Schedule Refinement June 2023  TASK 2: COMMUNITY OUTREACH 1. Community Involvement Strategy (CIS) July 2023  2. Stakeholder Interviews August – September 2023  3. Indigenous Community Listening Sessions Summer - Fall 2023 (Ongoing)  4. Technical Advisory Group Meetings Ongoing / Each project phase  5. Project Website August 2023 launch  5 Topic/Task Time Frame In Person Engagement Virtual Engagement Hybrid Engagement Other (coordination /materials) (Ongoing Updates) 6. Online Survey Ongoing / Each project phase  7. Community Design Charrettes Spring 2024  8. Draft Plan Workshops Spring 2024  9. Media Campaign Ongoing  TASK 3: EXISTING CONTEXT AND OPPORTUNITIES 1. Base Mapping Summer 2023  2. Economic and Market Study Fall 2023  3. Environmental Justice Element Consistency Fall 2023  4. Visioning Workshops Winter 2023  5. Existing Conditions, Constraints, and Opportunities Framework Winter 2023  TASK 4: PLAN DEVELOPMENT 1. Community Design Charrettes (Southern Riverfront Area) Spring 2024  2. Stakeholder Discussions (Southern Riverfront Area) Spring 2024 3. Community Design Charrettes (Northern Riverfront Area) Spring 2024  4. Stakeholder Discussions (Northern Riverfront Area) Spring 2024 1. City Council Meeting to Confirm Preferred Alternative Summer 2024  TASK 5: PREPARE THE SPECIFIC PLAN 1. Public Review Draft Plan Fall 2024  2. Planning Commission and City Council Meetings Spring 2025  3. Final Draft Plan Spring 2025  4. City Council Public Hearings Summer 2025  TASK 6: ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT 1. EIR Initiation Spring 2024  2. Facilitate Notice of Preparation (NOP) Scoping Meeting and NOP Spring 2024  3. Admin Draft EIR Fall 2024  4. Public Review Draft EIR Spring 2025  5. Final EIR Spring 2025  6 VI. METRICS OF SUCCESS The Project Team will regularly evaluate the Community Involvement Strategy based on the objectives outlined below, complemented by a set of targets and metrics to be developed: 1. Accessibility. The community involvement process will be accessible, understandable, and welcoming to all who wish to participate. • Participants will complete surveys and evaluation forms (both in-person and online) indicating their opinions on the overall accessibility of the process. 2. Reach. The community involvement process will involve and inform as many members of the public as possible. • The Project Team will use a wide variety of engagement activities, tools, and communication methods to reach community members, including workshops, focus groups, surveys, mailers, and social media, among other approaches. 3. Diversity. Participants will reflect the diversity of age groups, ethnicities, incomes, geographies, and special needs of the Redding population. • The Project Team will track and measure the diversity of participants to ensure participants reflect the demographic and geographic composition of the Redding population. 4. Impact. Participation will influence and inform the decision-making process for the Riverfront Specific Plan. • Participants will complete surveys and other evaluative tools indicating their opinions on how their input informed the engagement process and key project documents. The Project Team will highlight how community input influenced process and policy decisions in the engagement summary documents.