Manhattan Beach City Clerk Tamura:

Thank you for your inquiry. The first specific step to furthering public engagement in Manhattan Beach is for the Manhattan Beach City Council to understand the distinction between community engagement and civic participation.

“Public Engagement” requires the Manhattan Beach City Council to empower residents in public policymaking via informed dialogue and deliberation resulting in effective recommendations that will guide our governance.

The following are the distinctions between public engagement and public participation:

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION VS. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT

One-Way Communication Active Dialogue Passive Deliberative Parent-Child Relationship Adult-Adult Relationship Representative Democracy Consultative Democracy Status Quo Moving Forward Patronization Ownership Alienation Commitment

The Manhattan Beach City Council has pacified residents for decades via public participation resulting in their alienation and disengagement from civic affairs. Therefore, generating public engagement in Manhattan Beach requires a paradigm shift by our elected officials that recognizes its value in promoting civic renewal.

Are you interested in specific examples of successful public engagement efforts? If so, I recommend the website of the Institute of Local Government, the education arm of the League of California Cities. The ILG also provides further information differentiating public engagement from public participation. www.ca-ilg.org.

Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D. Manhattan Beach Resident

To compensate for the inability to format the information related to PUBLIC PARTICIPATION VS. PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT, the distinctions are listed below.

Public Participation

One-Way Communication Passive Parent-Child Relationship Representative Democracy Status Quo Patronization Alienation

vs.

Public Engagement

Active Dialogue Deliberative Adult-Adult Relationship Consultative Democracy Moving Forward Ownership Commitment

Public Participation: One-Way Communication, Passive, Parent-Child Relationship, Representative Democracy, Status Quo, Patronization, Alienation.

Public Engagement: Active Dialogue, Deliberative, Adult-Adult Relationship, Consultative Democracy, Moving Forward, Ownership, Commitment

City Clerk Tamura:

O.K. I've responded. Now what will be the first specific step you will take to promote community engagement, not public participation? Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D.

City Clerk Tamura:

I am still waiting for a response. Or, is it simply the lack of any ideas or a lack of willingness to stand up to your convictions.

Edward C. Caprielian, Ph.D.

Mr. O'Connor is absolutey right!. His recommendations will ensure that our forum will generate constructive ideas and civil dialogue.