As a regional leader in transportation and community planning, the Fresno Council of Governments (Fresno COG) was honored with the Breakthrough Performance Award for its exceptional commitment to operational excellence and public engagement. This case study highlights how Fresno COG leveraged innovative strategies to overcome tight timelines and ensure meaningful participation in regional planning efforts.
Community Profile
The Fresno COG is a regional planning agency serving as a consensus builder for Fresno County, California.
Comprising 16 local governments, Fresno COG addresses issues that cross political boundaries and works to engage the region’s diverse population.
With nearly half of its residents identifying as Latino/Hispanic and over 40% speaking a language other than English, Fresno County’s demographic diversity presents both a challenge and an opportunity for inclusive public engagement.
%
Percentage of Latino/Hispanic Population
Community Engagement Challenges on Tight Timelines
As a small team juggling multiple priorities, Fresno COG faced the challenge of delivering high-quality public engagement despite limited resources. This became even more pressing when they were tasked with outreach for the Climate Pollution Reduction Plan (CPRG)—a time-sensitive initiative aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Fresno County. With only two weeks to gather public input, the stakes were high. The CPRG’s success depended on community-driven feedback to secure EPA funding for climate initiatives, making it crucial to engage the public in a meaningful and transparent way.
How PublicInput Was Used
To meet the tight timeline, Fresno COG turned to PublicInput’s community engagement platform to streamline workflows and engage the community across multiple channels. The platform allowed them to gather diverse, meaningful input quickly and efficiently.
Here’s what they put to work:
-
-
- Project Site: Accessible hub with over 100 language options, detailing emission reduction efforts.
- Interactive Mapping: Enabled residents to share location-based feedback on climate actions.
- Email/Voicemail Boxes: Simple channels for submitting written or verbal feedback.
- Online Survey: Prioritized community preferences for emission-reduction strategies.
- Timeline: Updated the public on key project milestones.
- Meeting Access: event listing with archived recordings and associated materials.
- Subscription Page: Easy email and text message opt-in for project updates.
- Resource Library: Provided accessible information to facilitate more informed public input.
-
By leveraging these features, Fresno COG maximized outreach efforts, encouraged active participation, and ensured transparency at every step. This comprehensive, multichannel approach fostered collaboration between the public and the agency, strengthening the planning and implementation process.
The Results: Streamlined Engagement, Greater Reach
By using PublicInput’s platform, Fresno COG improved operational efficiency and expanded community engagement. Their key outcomes included:
-
-
- National Recognition: Fresno COG earned recognition from the EPA for outstanding public outreach, positioning the region as a leader in climate action planning.
- Improved Accessibility: The platform’s multichannel approach, including voicemail and email options, made it easy for diverse communities to participate, ensuring everyone’s voice was heard.
- Operational Growth: Fresno COG’s success led to the expansion of their team and the addition of new consultants, further broadening their reach and effectiveness.
- Improved Planning Process: The ability to manage tight timelines and engage a broad audience contributed to a more transparent and collaborative planning process, setting a foundation for long-term success in emissions reduction strategies.
-
These results demonstrate how leveraging the right tools can enhance your agency’s engagement efforts and set the stage for long-term success.
Explore More Ways to Improve Community Engagement
Register for the Upcoming Webinar
Join us on March 26 for a special session celebrating all of our award winners, featuring community engagement best practice insights from Herocrats author Allison Bell.
Discover how PublicInput simplifies community engagement for state and local governments. From outreach to analytics, our all-in-one platform helps you connect with residents effortlessly.
Want to create more accessible, data-driven, and equitable public engagement? Let’s talk.
