Step 2: Research and Outreach to Develop Specific Strategies

From November 2020 through February 2021, the first step of the Infrastructure Action Team was to work through ten topics, hearing from expert presenters, reviewing relevant content from the Oakland 2025 Master Plan and Existing Conditions Report, and identifying issues and opportunities. All of the materials and comments from Step 1 have been archived here.

Hundreds of comments were organized into an initial draft list of ideas to develop into specific strategies over the course of the Action Team's remaining work through the summer of 2021. These are included below and are organized under draft goals for each topic generated by the Steering Committee.

This content will be further developed, changed, and improved as we learn more and develop specific strategies.

Summary of Staff Process to Create Ideas

  1. Organize all Action Team comments (archived here) under the Infrastructure topics. Add comments received from the 2020 Online Open House (archived here) and neighborhood association input map (archived here). Combine similar comments.
  2. Review all comments and draft ideas to address them. This involved noting topics or proposals that were related and could be combined to meet multiple needs.
  3. Organize ideas under draft goals for each topic. At this stage, some cross-cutting themes emerged.

Cross-Cutting Themes

The work to establish this initial set of ideas showed that there were a number of cross-cutting themes that touched on many different topics. These themes are presented in their own tab with the relevant ideas from the other topics copied underneath them.

Stormwater Management

A. Stormwater Management

DRAFT GOAL A1. Manage stormwater effectively to mitigate downstream impacts and improve local conditions. Recognize that Oakland lies within 3 of the most important combined sewersheds that impact downstream flooding and sewer overflows: A-22, M-29, and M-19A. Encourage innovative and site-specific stormwater management techniques to mitigate flooding, ease the burden on sewer systems, reduce landslide and erosion risk, restore habitat, and improve the urban landscape.

DRAFT GOAL A2. Coordinate mobility and utility projects with storm-water management. Improve coordination between mobility and utility projects and stormwater management, and coordinate public and private development so that infrastructure improvements are more cost-effective and efficient.

DRAFT GOAL A3. Leverage development to improve storm-water management. Educate developers and the community about the new, more stringent stormwater management requirements (Title 13), and encourage the use of stormwater incentives for preferred technologies (such as vegetated practices), water re-use, automated controls, higher storage volumes, same-owner volume trading, etc.

Strategies and Notes

  1. Reduce impervious surfaces.
  2. Mitigate “yards as parking lots” via enforcement of occupancy permits and or revisions to parking code requirements or new landscape requirements.
  3. Use green stormwater infrastructure with vegetation where possible.
  4. Manage stormwater to reduce infiltration and soil saturation in landslide-prone and undermined areas.
  5. Encourage reporting on flooding and basement backups via 311.
  6. Can we use green roofs as a requirement for larger buildings that do not have space for on-site management.
  7. PWSA did say the SW Utility fee is still being assessed and will be going to the PUC in the next few months. They are aligning their green infrastructure work with the ALCOSAN criteria for GROW grants.

Research and Engagement Techniques

These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

    Consult, Involve

    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

    Collaborate, Empower

    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

    Consult, Involve

    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

    Inform, Consult

    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

    Consult, Involve

    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

    Inform, Consult

    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

    Inform, Consult

    Comments

    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
    Loading Conversation

    Open Space

    B. Open Space

    DRAFT GOAL B1. Create and expand access to open space. Identify areas with little to no access to open space and park amenities (such as playgrounds) within a 15 minute walkshed, and prioritize these areas for new open space and/or expansion of existing park amenities.

    DRAFT GOAL B2. Green spaces connect and welcome. Ensure all types of people have access to and feel welcomed in park and open spaces, including by creating new green connections, trails and corridors between populations centers and between Oakland and Schenley Park.

    DRAFT GOAL B3. Development increases access to well-designed open space. Require private development to increase public access to high-quality open space, and ensure these areas are dedicated in perpetuity with adequate access easements, good design, and public art.

    Strategies and Notes

    1. Work with the community and developers to identify potential spaces for new parks, potentially as part of redevelopment projects
    2. Incentivize use of green roofs and other creative strategies in dense urban areas to improve access to open space, ensuring public access.
    3. Consider turning abandoned lots into park / open space. (South, West Oakland?)
    4. Make better use of existing public space, such as renovating Frasier Park, Maseroski Field, Zulema “Park”.
    5. (Mobility crossover): There is often lack of connectivity and difficulty getting to open space. Accessibility is a challenge to get to open spaces in some areas like South Oakland. It’s hard to navigate cars parked on sidewalk with a stroller. Bike lanes exist through Civic district and Schenley, but in dense central Oakland they are not good. The Boulevard is a major disconnection point. Wayfinding is also an issue.
    6. Replace Charles Anderson Bridge with adequate sidewalks.
    7. Upgrade and create new playgrounds to attract families.
    8. Create spaces for skateboarding.
    9. Deferred maintenance on existing parks is a challenge. Greenways are not funded at all.
    10. Make sure that open space in Institutional Master Plans actually serves the neighborhood as intended.
    11. Find a balance between green space and hardscape. Protect the “green” aspect of parks.
    12. Incorporate public art into open space.
    13. How permanent is some of the private green space?
    14. How comfortable / what are the rules for privately owned public space?

    Research and Engagement Techniques

    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

      Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

      Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

      Consult, Involve

      This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

      Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

      Collaborate, Empower

      Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

      There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

      1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
      2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

      Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

      Consult, Involve

      When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

      If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

      Inform, Consult

      Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

      Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

      Consult, Involve

      An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

      This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

      Inform, Consult

      Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

      Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

      Inform, Consult

      Comments

      What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
      Loading Conversation

      Energy Systems & Climate Adaptation

      C. Energy Systems & Climate Adaptation

      DRAFT GOAL C1. Access to District Energy. Increase access to district energy/ promote use of combined heat and power To help achieve institutional and citywide climate goals and improve air quality.

      DRAFT GOAL C2. Reduce energy burden. Reduce Oaklanders’ energy burden, the percentage of a household’s income spent on gas & electric bills, by improving energy efficiency, increasing access to and utilization of renewable energy sources (such as solar photovoltaics or recycling of food waste).

      Strategies and Notes

      1. Every new development should meet the 2030 district objectives.
      2. Encourage installation of solar photovoltaics in underutilized air space. Target high PV solutions
      3. Evaluate potential areas and also consider using PVs to create shade where needed.
      4. Encourage recycling waste food as an alternative energy source.
      5. Encourage energy efficiency throughout the neighborhood.
      6. Inform residents on available energy sourcing and energy efficiency programs
      7. Need to find a way to engage with landlords as there are few interventions that renters have control over for reducing their energy bills.

      Research and Engagement Techniques

      These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

        Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

        Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

        Consult, Involve

        This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

        Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

        Collaborate, Empower

        Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

        There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

        1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
        2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

        Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

        Consult, Involve

        When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

        If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

        Inform, Consult

        Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

        Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

        Consult, Involve

        An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

        This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

        Inform, Consult

        Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

        Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

        Inform, Consult

        Comments

        What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
        Loading Conversation

        Utilities

        D. Utilities

        DRAFT GOAL D1. Update infrastructure during development. Ensure private and institutional development projects update relevant infrastructure and minimize disruption.

        DRAFT GOAL D2. Coordinate major utility and landscape projects. Coordinate infrastructure installation and planning with major transportation projects such as bus rapid transit, and with tree and landscape improvements.

        DRAFT GOAL D3. Guarantee solar access. Guarantee solar access to areas of neighborhood with the highest potential for solar photovoltaic generation.

        DRAFT GOAL D4. Clean drinking water. Ensure access to clean drinking water for everyone.

        DRAFT GOAL D5. Support those struggling with utility bills. Support households having trouble affording their utility bills.

        Strategies and Notes

        1. Bury utility lines. It was suggested that City of Pittsburgh has the ability to mandate DLC to bury their lines on City property.
        2. Ensure any utility line projects coordinate using PA one call’s coordinatePA
        3. Increase utilities outreach and coordination to install renewable energy (solar) in the neighborhoods.
        4. Support community solar legislation at the state level.
        5. Create mechanisms/ programs to support household having trouble affording their utility bills. Make sure that folks are aware of existing programs such as Dollar Energy Fund and specific utility assistance programs.

        Research and Engagement Techniques

        These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

          Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

          Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

          Consult, Involve

          This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

          Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

          Collaborate, Empower

          Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

          There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

          1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
          2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

          Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

          Consult, Involve

          When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

          If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

          Inform, Consult

          Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

          Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

          Consult, Involve

          An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

          This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

          Inform, Consult

          Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

          Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

          Inform, Consult

          Comments

          What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
          Loading Conversation

          Waste & Recycling

          E. Waste & Recycling

          DRAFT GOAL E1. Zero-waste community. Become a zero-waste community by pursuing responsible waste practices, reducing overall waste production, and investing in innovative waste management and upcycling.

          DRAFT GOAL E2. Recycle everything possible. Enforce recycling mandate, educate landlords about the requirements, and provide public trash and recycling receptacles where needed.

          Strategies and Notes

          1. Establish a district composting program.
          2. Expand the blue bin program to Oakland to cut down on trash.
          3. Encourage reuse and recycling startups across scales. Are there new business opportunities to better serve Oakland residents.
          4. Establish landlord registration in order to ensure that landlords are properly managing waste and recycling at their properties
          5. Provide waste and recycling educational information to be included in orientation for university students.

          Research and Engagement Techniques

          These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

            Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

            Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

            Consult, Involve

            This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

            Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

            Collaborate, Empower

            Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

            There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

            1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
            2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

            Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

            Consult, Involve

            When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

            If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

            Inform, Consult

            Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

            Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

            Consult, Involve

            An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

            This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

            Inform, Consult

            Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

            Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

            Inform, Consult

            Comments

            What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
            Loading Conversation

            Tree Canopy

            F. Tree Canopy

            DRAFT GOAL F1. Increase tree cover. Plant more and increase diversity of trees on streets with low tree-canopy and high urban heat island effect (hotter temperatures)

            DRAFT GOAL F2. Preserve existing trees. Preserve existing trees and create stronger City review and enforcement requirements.

            DRAFT GOAL F3. Innovate around urban tree science. Push urban tree science and practices (such as increasing soil volume standards, promoting rooftop tree plantings, and using strategic soil expansion techniques to help trees thrive in dense areas) to support Oakland as an Innovation District.

            DRAFT GOAL F4. Improve engagement around tree canopy. Improve civic engagement around tree canopy and development by leveraging partnerships with local partners and providing volunteer opportunities.

            Strategies and Notes

            1. Oakland needs a focused effort for tree plantings. Also, many trees in Oakland are old and in poor condition, will soon die. Do a “Re-leaf” plan similar to Lawrenceville, Manchester, and callout specific planting locations and strategies.
            2. Plant trees on 5th and Forbes corridor.
            3. Incorporate trees and green infrastructure in capital improvement projects, e.g. BRT, roadway and utility improvements, etc. including tree preservation and replacements where necessary.
            4. Increase diversity of tree plantings and always plant “right tree in right place”.
            5. Make use of relevant local partners such as TreePGH and OPDC.
            6. Submit TreeVitalize applications for plantings of 10 trees or more on a block.
            7. Improve tree volunteerism, making good use of student volunteers, working around issues with high turnover. Make use of UPitt dedicated staffing within Pitt Serves program and Office of Community and Governmental Relations to assist with plantings and maintenance.
            8. Encourage tree plantings and preservation on private property as that is the biggest opportunity for additional canopy (according to City Forester.)
            9. Mitigate “yards as parking lots” via enforcement of occupancy permits and or revisions to parking code requirements or new landscape requirements.
            10. Plant trees and manage vegetation near City steps along with hillside restoration efforts.
            11. Given that underground and overhead utilities are one of the biggest threats to tree canopy, encourage larger redevelopments to underground utility wires and coordinate with tree plantings.
            12. Where there are tree and ADA / sidewalk issues, there need to be bigger tree pits. Consider use of underground soil-volume expansion techniques like structural soil cells to improve tree health and reduce root upheaval issues. Publish City resources and streamline policy.
            13. Consider how development and design impact tree plantings. For example, front-loading garages minimize street tree opportunities.
            14. Strengthen tree preservation and planting codes and enforcement.
            15. Use trees as traffic calming.

            Research and Engagement Techniques

            These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

              Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

              Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

              Consult, Involve

              This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

              Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

              Collaborate, Empower

              Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

              There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

              1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
              2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

              Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

              Consult, Involve

              When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

              If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

              Inform, Consult

              Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

              Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

              Consult, Involve

              An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

              This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

              Inform, Consult

              Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

              Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

              Inform, Consult

              Comments

              What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
              Loading Conversation

              Habitat Restoration

              G. Habitat Restoration

              DRAFT GOAL G1. Increase quality of life for people and habitat. Enhance local quality of life by using landscaping and increasing tree canopy to increase biodiversity, improve human health, and create a generally greener urban environment.

              DRAFT GOAL G2. Diversify landscapes. Encourage institutions, developers, and property owners to diversify their landscapes; reduce parking, impervious surfaces, and lawns; and increase plantings for pollinators and other vegetation.

              DRAFT GOAL G3. Consider special requirements of certain landscape features and geological conditions. For example, stormwater and vegetation management needs to be treated differently in landslide-prone, steep-slope, and undermined areas.

              Strategies and Notes

              1. View hillsides as opportunities for open space. Make use of hillsides as open space amenities where feasible, with particular care to managing invasive species and reducing landslide risk.
              2. Instead of one-time invasive species removal events, make a long-term plan for growth of new trees and plants stabilize hillsides. This may involve multiple stakeholders where hillsides are in public and private ownership. City-Forestry: unless there’s a bonafide restoration effort to deal with invasive and restore hillside, it’ll stay as is. Since the City doesn’t allow the use of pesticides, it makes invasive species management harder—takes 3-5 years. Unless it’s around a playground, or trail, it’ll probably stay as is until there’s funding. It is really hard to get money for maintenance.
              3. Plant trees and manage vegetation near City steps along with hillside restoration efforts.
              4. Involve students in efforts to increase pollinator habitat.
              5. Focus on improving tree canopy as one of the most important ways to improve habitat for humans and wildlife.
              6. Mitigate “yards as parking lots” via enforcement of occupancy permits and or revisions to parking code requirements or new landscape requirements.
              7. Incentivize use of green roofs and other creative strategies in dense urban areas to improve access to open space and diverse plantings.
              8. Connect with Julie Marie Vandenbossche regarding hillside and slope maintenance/stability/restoration- she is working with a consortium to begin an 18 month study.
              9. Strengthen Oakland’s role of the City’s participation in the Biophilic Cities Network and make use of Phipps’ and the universities’ scientific expertise and advocacy.

              Research and Engagement Techniques

              These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

                Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

                Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

                Consult, Involve

                This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

                Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

                Collaborate, Empower

                Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

                There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

                1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
                2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

                Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

                Consult, Involve

                When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

                If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

                Inform, Consult

                Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

                Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

                Consult, Involve

                An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

                This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

                Inform, Consult

                Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

                Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

                Inform, Consult

                Comments

                What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
                Loading Conversation

                Urban Agriculture

                H. Urban Agriculture

                DRAFT GOAL H1. Build food production opportunities. Maximize local food production opportunities within the unique context of student population and schedule.

                DRAFT GOAL H2. Grow food in the neighborhood. Encourage food gardens in residential areas, harkening back to habits of earlier immigrants.

                Strategies and Notes

                1. Can Urban Agriculture be an approved greenway use?
                2. Variance for greenhouse and potentially high towers
                3. Authorize urban agriculture in parcel identified as institutional use.
                4. Develop cross over programs with students and residents to grow and address food insecurity in the neighborhoods.

                Research and Engagement Techniques

                These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

                  Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

                  Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

                  Consult, Involve

                  This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

                  Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

                  Collaborate, Empower

                  Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

                  There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

                  1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
                  2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

                  Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

                  Consult, Involve

                  When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

                  If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

                  Inform, Consult

                  Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

                  Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

                  Consult, Involve

                  An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

                  This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

                  Inform, Consult

                  Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

                  Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

                  Inform, Consult

                  Comments

                  What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
                  Loading Conversation

                  Digital Network

                  I. Digital Network

                  DRAFT GOAL I1. Expand free internet. Expand free internet access into neighborhood open space areas.

                  DRAFT GOAL I2. Ensure all students’ tech needs are met. Ensure all students have access to tech needs and internet access through partnerships with City and neighborhood institutions.

                  Strategies and Notes

                  1. Strategy (Partnerships): Work with City, PPS, Carnegie Library, and university programs

                  Research and Engagement Techniques

                  These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

                    Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

                    Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

                    Consult, Involve

                    This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

                    Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

                    Collaborate, Empower

                    Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

                    There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

                    1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
                    2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

                    Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

                    Consult, Involve

                    When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

                    If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

                    Inform, Consult

                    Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

                    Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

                    Consult, Involve

                    An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

                    This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

                    Inform, Consult

                    Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

                    Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

                    Inform, Consult

                    Comments

                    What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
                    Loading Conversation

                    Air Quality

                    J. Air Quality

                    DRAFT GOAL J1. Improve air quality. Improve neighborhood air by strategically planting specific trees species and reducing reliance on private vehicles.

                    DRAFT GOAL J2. Get involved in regional air quality policy. Encourage broader involvement in regional air quality policy, and connect Oakland residents to university air quality monitoring programs and studies.

                    Strategies and Notes

                    1. Use strategic tree plantings to improve air quality.
                    2. Reduce private vehicle use and increase public transit to reduce emissions. Also consider curbside management, e.g. smart parking and garages, reducing unnecessary stops.
                    3. Connect Oakland residents to university air quality monitoring programs.

                    Research and Engagement Techniques

                    These activities were identified in the Oakland Plan's Public Engagement Plan.

                      Participants identify the elements of their community that they like, as well as challenges and opportunities while walking with a guide, a map, and a camera. Walkshops create an informal and interactive ways for participants to share stories. They can be based on selected themes, such as natural environment, open space, and transportation.

                      Walkshops allow planning staff to engage people more deeply in their communities and learn about how people view the communities through their own eyes.

                      Consult, Involve

                      This tool provides an opportunity for community members to create a relationship diagram of stakeholder groups involved in their community. These maps should connect different stakeholder groups by the services, capital, or goods that are transacted or interactions between the groups.

                      Stakeholder maps can be used as a tool to inform later interviews and other stakeholder outreach. They can also be used to identify partnerships across different sectors/interest groups and potential connections that don’t currently exist.

                      Collaborate, Empower

                      Use maps and photographs of an area of specific location to illustrate how people view their area, what they like or dislike and improvements they would like to see implemented. Ideas generated in small group discussions are recorded on sticky notes or pre-prepared cards. Discussions are facilitated to help explore issues, build consensus or identify areas of conflict. Specific challenges can be posed that groups have to wrestle with, such as where should a building be placed, the size and shape of buildings and the location of basic amenities and those less desired (ex. Waste facilities, substations, industry). Community mapping can be an effective approach to engaging people of all ages and interests.

                      There are two common approaches to community mapping activities:

                      1. Create a large map that can be laid on the floor or on a table so people can engage in a fun and interactive way, by walking on or around it and marking elements or placing icons on it.
                      2. Guided walks of the area to develop visual photographs of things people like and those they want addressed that can be brought back and used in the mapping exercise.

                      Using either approach, the goal of community mapping is to understand challenges and opportunities that communities face and parse out preferences for future development.

                      Consult, Involve

                      When the general public shows high interest in the project, information kiosks are a helpful way to provide easy-to-access information and generate additional awareness. You may use computers or tablets in these kiosks, which can be linked to the project website. Additionally, users can pick up informative materials and submit input. These stations can be permanent or used temporarily, and are best located in high-traffic pedestrian areas.

                      If using a computer or table in your kiosk, ensure that the equipment cannot “walk away” from the station and regularly check that it is in working order. Also, be sure that any distributive materials are restocked and content is updated.

                      Inform, Consult

                      Visioning generates common goals, hope and encouragement, and gives people a sense of what a project can accomplish. Instead of starting with problem solving, the identification of something negative to move away from, which can become fixated in technical details and political problems and other disagreements, beginning with visioning gives participants the opportunity to identify something positive to move towards.

                      Visioning exercises should work with residents to identify visions, goals and aspirations for a topic or geography relevant to a project, but there are many different ways to achieve this end.

                      Consult, Involve

                      An open house engages stakeholders and informs ideas, sometimes as a follow-up to more detailed engagements such as charrettes. A follow-up open house can include turning drawings into renderings and presenting to the general public.

                      This tool allows for planning staff to engage stakeholders from the charrette and provide information to community members who were not able to attend previous meetings, or who are not able to commit two full hours for a regular public meeting but might be able to drop in on an Open House for 15-30 minutes. Open houses can also provide an opportunity to confirm what you heard with the attendees at the previous engagement events.

                      Inform, Consult

                      Focus groups allow groups of stakeholders to assemble based on interests, such as housing, development, transportation, etc. Focus groups meet periodically (sometimes only once) with planners and Project Managers to provide detailed and focused feedback to proposals. Focus groups can also gather a representative group of a certain population within the project geography for the purpose of asking general or values based questions to understand the different values of the diversity of residents and interests. Usually, an incentive is offered at focus group meetings in order to encourage attendance, as you might be looking to hear from individuals without the time or resources to attend all project meetings or be involved in the Steering Committee or Action Teams.

                      Focus groups allow planners and Project Managers to receive concentrated feedback efficiently from stakeholders who are familiar with issues and impacted by potential project outcomes. They provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence plans through the planning process and community directly with planners or Project Managers.

                      Inform, Consult

                      Comments

                      What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
                      Loading Conversation

                      Cross-Cutting Themes

                      1. Better manage hillsides to reduce invasive species and reduce landslide risk. (Stormwater, open space, habitat restoration, tree canopy.)
                      2. Manage stormwater to reduce infiltration and soil saturation in landslide-prone and undermined areas.
                      3. Reduce impervious surfaces. (Stormwater, open space, habitat restoration.)
                      4. Use green stormwater infrastructure with vegetation where possible.
                      5. Plant trees and manage vegetation near City steps along with hillside restoration efforts.
                      6. Mitigate “yards as parking lots” via enforcement of occupancy permits and or revisions to parking code requirements or new landscape requirements.
                      7. We need to shift our paradigm for ROW use of space. What are we prioritizing? If parking was limited, we could create more bump-outs for trees, plants, and stormwater management. If streets were cooler and more comfortable (and accessible) you could easily walk to Schenley Park. Rethinking streetscapes and how they can be more multifunctional: traffic calming, stormwater management, trees, accessibility, etc.

                      Comments

                      What's missing? What excites you? Do you have thoughts about how to develop an idea into a specific strategy with implementers and funding?
                      Loading Conversation