Issue Committees

The 7 issue committees

Everyone who volunteers to be a budget delegate will work on a team called an issue committee.

Each issue committee will develop 2 proposals on a certain topic for the final ballot. The 7 issue committees were chosen by the PB Steering Committee based on a thematic analysis by a volunteer with professional design experience. The 7 issue committees are:

  • Housing - The housing issue committee will work with ideas primarily focused on housing affordability and meeting the needs of un-housed folks in Evanston. Some examples of the range of ideas in this area include emergency shelters, affordable housing programs, rent assistance, and support for low-income homeowners. The members of this committee will develop two proposals designed to address housing issues in Evanston.

  • Transportation & Infrastructure - The transportation and infrastructure issue committee will work on issues related to public transportation, transportation infrastructure, and other elements of technology and infrastructure. Some ideas regarding public transportation are increasing bus routes, providing public transportation vouchers, and improving transit stations. Other transportation infrastructure ideas include increasing lighting, improving bike lanes, and repairing roads and sidewalks. Last, this issue committee will also look at ideas pertaining to technology and other infrastructure areas such as citywide free wifi, building more benches, and public restrooms. These are a few examples of the variety of issues this committee will be asked to consider.

  • Environment, Food & Sustainability - This issue committee will work on developing two proposals pertaining to the environment, sustainability, and food in Evanston. Some examples of ideas in this issue area are planting trees, opening/supporting more food pantries, and increasing the use of renewable energy. In general, this committee will be dealing with issues relating to addressing food insecurity, improving the natural environment, and increasing the sustainable use of resources throughout the city.

  • Healthcare & Public Health & Family Support - This issue committee will work on developing two proposals pertaining to healthcare access and additional services for families in Evanston. Examples of ideas in this area include mobile public health clinics, increasing a variety of mental health services and accessibility, and providing low-cost and free child care services. The ideas in this area include many more services providing support for families, and providing services to directly address COVID-19 such as vaccines and testing kits.

  • Education, Arts, Culture & Recreation - This issue committee will work on developing two proposals regarding educational programs and enhancing arts, culture, and recreation opportunities in Evanston. Some examples of ideas in this area include making current programs and camps free, providing tutoring for students, and developing cultural centers for different communities in Evanston. These are a few examples of the many ideas that pertain to increasing recreational and educational opportunities.

  • Economic Development - This issue committee will work on developing two proposals regarding investments in growing the Evanston economy and helping Evanston businesses succeed. Some examples of ideas this issue committee will deal with include job training programs and grants or loans for small businesses. Budget delegates on this issue committee will help develop ideas that will help the local economy recover from Covid.

  • Community Building, Public Safety, Justice, Governance & Restorative Justice - This issue committee will work on a wide range of issue areas. One of the main areas in this issue committee regards community building. Ideas around community building include increasing social connection through block parties, community projects, and mentorship programs. The other main area in this issue committee is public safety and justice. Ideas in this area include supporting the local reparations program, adding cameras at major intersections, and increasing lighting in parks. The budget delegates on this issue committee will develop two proposals for the ballot.

If a specific issue committee has a large number of participants, we may subdivide the committee into 2 smaller groups, each of which will develop 1 proposal for the final ballot.

Issue Committee Goals

The goals of each issue commitee are to:

  • Develop 1-2 proposals for the ballot

  • Hear and be heard

  • Have fun

Issue Committee Norms

The issue committee norms are the team’s agreement about how to work together. Each issue committee should negotiate their own norms, but we suggest the norms below as a starting point.

Process Norms

  • Start/end on time. We will respect everyone’s time by starting and ending on time. If you enter late, feather yourself in without disturbing the conversation.

  • One conversation at a time. Refrain from side-talk.

  • Capture off topic items in a ‘backburner’ and agree to discuss them later at a more appropriate time.

  • Take bio breaks as needed.

  • Everyone is responsible for staying on topic. Speak up if you feel like we’re getting off track.

  • Everyone is responsible for upholding the norms. Acknowledge if you notice we are not doing so.

  • Allow yourself to be facilitated.

Communication Norms

  • Ask questions for clarification.

  • Make sure everyone’s voice is heard.

  • Balance your participation—speak and listen.

  • Listen actively without interrupting.

  • Clarify when you are advocating vs. offering an idea.

  • Say it now, in the room.

  • All voices count. All opinions are valid, but offer reasoning behind your thinking.

  • Acknowledge when you are playing devil’s advocate.

  • Half-baked ideas are welcome.

Preparation Norms

  • Be prepared and  ready to engage. Read agenda; do; prework.

  • Come empowered to make commitments for your area or function.

  • Focus on the discussion.

  • Send material and agenda 24 hours before a meeting.

Decision-Making Meeting Norm

  • We will strive for consensus, and use majority rule if necessary as our decision-making process.

  • Each person is responsible for ensuring they understand the options and arguments before making the decision.

  • Be willing to support a team consensus even if you initially do not agree with it.

  • Do not push your ideas on the team after a decision has been made.

  • Acknowledge when you are playing “devil’s advocate” to help test a decision or idea.

  • Separate your own personal feelings from what’s best for the team/organization.

  • Consider our principles/priorities/criteria over your preference.

Other Helpful Norms

  • Our community’s opinions are more important than our own.

  • Bring in data whenever possible.

  • Be present with the people you are meeting with. Put away phones and other devices during the meeting.

  • Only use devices if they support your participation.

  • Challenge past assumptions and sacred cows.

  • Address conflict head on.

  • Look ahead to positive action, not back on shoulda, woulda, coulda.

  • Aim for GETGO – good enough to go, not perfection.

  • Ask “how might we?”

Issue Committee Roles

Members of the issue committee have 2 specific roles — all members are budget delegates, and at least 2 members also serve as budget delegate facilitators who will facilitate meetings. The budget delegate and facilitator responsibilities are described below, as defined by the PB rulebook.

The issue committee can also create additional team roles if needed (such as an “information manager” to manage and help people with technology). Members will also rotate meeting specific roles like scribe or timekeeper.

Budget Delegate

Training

  • Put the needs of the community above their personal interests 

  • Learn about the participatory budgeting process

  • Attend a budget delegate orientation AND a proposal development workshop

Develop proposals

  • Identify local problems and needs

  • Discuss and prioritize initial ideas, based on need, impact & feasibility when deciding which proposals to advance

  • Consult with community members on proposals

  • Determine proposal eligibility prior to development, with assistance from the PB Steering Committee and staff

  • Consult with staff on feasibility and cost

  • Develop full proposals, including accurate and precise implementation budgets

  • Discuss and prioritize final proposals

Communication

  • Prepare proposal posters and presentations

  • Explain decision-making through documentation and communication with the PB Steering committee and community

  • Serve as spokespeople for citywide and local media, when called upon

  • Communicate delegate concerns and ideas to the PB Steering Committee

Outreach

  • Participate in 1 or more proposal expos

Monitoring and evaluation

  • Participate in monitoring and evaluation of the PB process

Issue Committee Facilitator

Training

  • Attend at least one facilitator training

  • Remain neutral throughout the process and work to ensure equity and that PB principles are adhered to 

Support delegates

  • Assist budget delegates in finding meeting places

  • Facilitate group meetings and ensure that all participants can contribute

  • Support delegates with the tools they need to research, assess, and develop proposals, based on criteria that include feasibility, need and impact

  • Strive to keep delegates engaged throughout the entire process

  • Manage budget delegates and ensure that proposals are developed on time 

Communication

  • Ensure notes taken at meetings and distributed afterward

  • Serve as main point of contact between city staff and budget delegates, help coordinate communication and resolve conflicts

  • Connect delegates with information and resources