By Niki Cervantes
Staff Writer

January 8, 2015 -- A “hack-a-thon” to brainstorm hi-tech ways of dealing with Santa Monica’s community problems is one of a variety of suggestions Santa Monica officials are noting as a way to increase “civic engagement” in the city.

In fact, by sometime this year, residents will be able to “submit a chit to speak on a specific Council agenda item electronically,” said a report released Wednesday by city officials on widening the number of residents involved in city affairs.

“Emerging technology has potential to make City Council meetings more accessible,” according to the Community Civic Engagement Strategy Update. “Staff is investigating ways for people to track specific issues on a Council agenda and to use technology to participate more easily in the public decision-making process.”

It concludes that the goal is to “provide a well-rounded set of civic engagement strategies so local government remains accessible to a broad range of community members.”

Next up is an event bringing community members together “over food and drinks to discuss broad topics about community + urban life in the 21st century,” the update said.
“Also the tech community has expressed interest in hosting a hack-a-thon, a multi-day event to develop solutions to community problems using technology.”

Council members ordered the update last January, worried that – despite the many council meetings attended by sometimes outspoken and heated audiences – enough of the community isn’t enlightened and engaged in the city and its workings.

Nearly half of Santa Monica residents between 20 and 50 years old do not “visibly participate in civic affairs,” staff told the Council at the time.

Council members were divided on the reasons, some feeling it’s just generally hard to engage young people in such activities and others questioning whether there was a way to improve the job the city already does in involving the public.

The report focuses on what has been accomplished since last January, when officials formed the Civic Engagement Team to tackle the issue.

The first was the People’s Academy, launched in the spring and described as a behind-the-scenes look at local government operations. The team picked 20 out of 214 applicants for the inaugural class, the report said, which graduated in May. A second academy class graduated in October.

The People’s Academy continues this year, with the first session in April and the second in September.  Residents can apply anytime. All applications received five weeks prior to the first class will be reviewed for admission. Applications are available at http://academy.smgov.net.

The report also highlighted the interactive community art project, called “Santa Monica Is...” held during the Santa Monica Festival in June. More than 1,000 people joined in, the report said, taking photographs and themselves and replying when prompted to explain what Santa Monica means to them.

Also noted was “Santa Monica Talks,” a second interactive pop-up community art project at the downtown Farmers’ Market, Virginia Avenue Park, the Pico library and the Real Office Centers in November.

An interactive chalk board encouraged passers-by to share what Santa Monica means to them. People wrote brief descriptions and talked with staff about the issue.

“During both interactive community art projects people inquired about the City in general,” the report said. “Many expressed an interest in learning more about City initiatives relevant to their unique interests.”

It also said “people welcome creative ways to express how they think or feel about Santa Monica.

 This type of creative, reflective interaction may help people uncover and feel more connected to their city. And, what people share could prove instructive for policymakers.”

Santa Monica Talks also hosted three community events for those who live and work in the city. The events are held every other year to kick off the City’s biennial budget process. The City Manager shares perspective on city services and Santa Monica’s future, the update said. City staff is also available to answer questions and provide information, including ways to become involved in local government.

The update pointed out that civic engagement is  “integral” to democratic governance, yet local government has been slow to make use of emerging  methods of connecting” with its community and encouraging participation.

“Traditional models of engaging in the public decision-making process have proven antiquated in today’s fast-paced world,” the update said. “Local government is faced with managing a vibrant 21st century representative democracy with tools from the late 19th century.”