Participatory Budgeting — File 23-0123

Participatory Budgeting in Somerville Presented to City Council by Eric Willisson and Katelin Firth January 26th, 2023

Today’s Agenda Overview of PB Key Decisions What’s Next 2

3 What is Participatory Budgeting? A democratic process in which community members will directly propose and vote on how to spend $1,000,000 of public money in Somerville

Project Criteria Projects that are ideal for Participatory Budgeting: ▪ Serve a public benefit ▪ Are limited to a one-time expense (ex: not salaries) ▪ Can be implemented on city-owned property (ex: not MBTA, state parks) ▪ And cost less than $1 million 4

How does PB work? 5 Stages 5 PROCESS DESIGN & PLANNING •Working Group creates policies and procedures, events and materials are developed IDEA SUBMISSION •Members of the community are encouraged to submit ideas through various outreach channels PROPOSAL DEVELOPMENT • Volunteer Budget Delegates review and consolidate ideas, research, and score final projects to determine which will go on the ballot VOTING •Members of the community encouraged to vote on their top 5 out of the final 20 IMPLEMENTATION •Winning ideas materialize throughout the community Community involvement at every stage: • Participatory Budgeting Working Group helps create the process • Budget Delegates made up of volunteers vet the ideas and turn them into proposals • All residents of Somerville 12+ (or 6th grade) can submit and vote on ideas

6 Purpose of the PB Working Group Establish guidelines and develop a process to roll out participatory budgeting in Somerville in an inclusive, equitable manner. Members will write policies, build outreach and engagement strategies, and create and disseminate informational materials. All information will be summarized in a final work product, a PB Guidebook.

7 Goals & Values drove Decision Making

Idea Submission Phase Goals 1. Answer ‘What is Participatory Budgeting?’ 2. Drive Idea Submission 3. Recruit Budget Delegates 8 • Submit ideas online at www.somervillema.gov/pb or by visiting a library branch or City Hall

How do we spread the word? ▪ Mailers sent to all residential addresses ▪ In-person events partnering with nonprofits and community organizations ▪ Canvassing ▪ Coordination with Schools ▪ Flyers in local businesses ▪ Ads – large banners, yard signs, trash cans, MBTA, local media ▪ City socials and newsletters ▪ Present at Community Meetings 9

Example Materials 10 Postcard-sized handout Newsletter graphic Flyer Social media post

Proposal Development Phase 11 Meeting Goal Orientation (in-person) Understand timeline, project criteria, select subcommittee Meetings #1 Get to know team members, review initial list of ideas, familiarize with relevant materials Meetings #2 Begin filling out Project Scope Template, scanning ideas for eligibility, similarities Meetings #3 Continue filling out Project Scope Template, scanning ideas for eligibility, similarities, assign members to get site photos if possible, assign if not completed Meetings #4 Document ineligible ideas, prepare questions for City Staff Meetings #5 Consulting with City Staff Meetings #6 Debrief City Staff meeting, select projects for further review, research homework Meetings #7 Discuss research, information needed on final proposals Meetings #8 Begin scoring final proposals Meetings #9 Consulting with City Staff Meetings #10 Finalize scoring, select proposals for the ballot, subject to Mayor’s approval Community- Wide Resources Parks & Green Spaces Streets & Sidewalks Education Arts & Culture • Committees broken down based on idea submission categories below • # of ideas per category onto final ballot proportional to the number of ideas submitted, with a minimum of 1 per category

Proposal Scoring 12 15 Need Feasibility Impact 5 points possible for Need, Impact, Feasibility Determining Need • Does the project already have community support? (# of ideas, feedback in other meetings) • Committee research • Does the resource exist already or not? Determining Impact • # of people who could benefit • Will an underserved community benefit? • Is it in a high-use location? • What is the durability? Determining Feasibility • Has the city implemented a similar project? • Does it meet criteria?

13 How to Vote Top 5 Rank top 5 projects out of 20, projects chosen until funding runs out • Voting online using Stanford’s platform • In-person ballots available in at least City Hall & Public Libraries • Support from SomerViva, canvassing across the city • Build on Outreach Methods used in Idea Submission Phase

What does success look like? Qualitative • I am satisfied with the Participatory Budgeting initiative. • Participatory Budgeting in Somerville was able to reach all demographics of the city. • The effort allocated to each Outreach Method was appropriate. • PB was well-organized. • I received adequate instruction for my role in PB. • I would volunteer with next year's cycle of PB. • I have a greater understanding of local government and decision-making through PB. • I am more likely to engage in local government as a result of my time with PB. Quantitative • Level of participation • Demographics (optional) • Number of ideas submitted (100+) • Number of votes (2,000+) • Number of volunteer hours, available and filled by Outreach channel • Number of contacts • Feedback forms at events • "How did you hear about PB?" • 311 calls and emails • Languages • Newsletter subscription, newsletter engagement, website visits 14

Where do we go from here? ▪ Continue material development ▪ Reach out to community organizations for partnerships ▪ Coordination with SPS, libraries ▪ Recruit PB volunteers 15

16 Council Involvement ▪ Help spread the word; physical and digital copies of materials will be shared when available ▪ Email pb@somervillema.gov with community groups ▪ Door-knocking in your ward in fall

Thank You 17