Best Practice 1 Resiliency Strategies

Best Practice 1 (Plans and Public Outreach) evaluates community planning and how a community’s redevelopment vision is embedded in the master plan, capital improvements plan, downtown plan and corridor plan. This practice also assesses how well a community identifies its stakeholders and engages them, not only during the master planning process, but on a continual basis.

Key Focus for Recovery + Resilience: Online accessibility, Public engagement, Capital improvement plan process, Partnerships, Infrastructure funding, Broadband services.

Update and manage your website

Make sure all planning documents are uploaded.
Make sure meeting agendas, packets, and minutes are upload in a timely manner. Include meeting recordings, if applicable.
Include links to COVID-19 informational web pages.
Include links to small business resources at the local, county, and state level.

Document your virtual meeting protocol in your Public Participation Plan

Amend board and commission bylaws to include virtual meeting protocols aligned with Public Act 28 of 2020 (Senate Bill 1108) which amends Michigan’s Open Meetings Act (OMA), MCL 15.261.
Some types of public engagement are more effective via online platforms. Determine which forms of online engagement the community will continue after the pandemic.
Determine if your community needs to purchase additional hardware/software to support virtual meetings in the future.

Build an email database for recovery resources and future engagement

Collect names, emails, and phone numbers for neighborhood groups, community organizations, and businesses as well as corporate and institutional partners.

Review capital improvement plan (CIP) process

Ensure all department heads are included in the process.
Evaluate project prioritization criteria. Consider economic, social, and environmental resiliency.
Look for opportunities to partner with other government agencies for funding capital improvements.

Prepare for potential COVID-19 infrastructure stimulus funding

Research potential funding source for identified prioritized projects. Confirm eligibility. Prioritize which grants and loans should be pursued. Assign staff to application preparation and grant administration.

Leverage available funding opportunities

MI Clean Water Initiative funding to plan and implement priority improvements to water infrastructure.
Start or support recycling programs.
Public Spaces Community Places is a collaborative effort of the Michigan Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), the Michigan Municipal League, and Patronicity where local residents can use crowdfunding to be part of the development of strategic projects in their communities and be backed with a matching grant from MEDC.

Prioritize coordinated and purposeful data collection

Take advantage of the circumstances to collect data on social, environmental, and economic issues.
Utilize the collected datasets for future benefit-cost analysis for long-term resilience strategies.
Reach out to local college or university and/or MSU extension to develop research and survey tools.