Facilitation - Michael Black & Associates

FACILITATION

Michael Black has been developing and utilizing citizen participation and consensus-building processes since his first comprehensive planning program for a Native American community in the early 1970's. He has continued to use and develop these processes for other Native American communities, for consensus-based downtown revitalization plans, urban park plans and cohousing communities.

His planning process methodology has the following characteristics:

COMPREHENSIVE. By involving all the various issues (economic viability, traffic, parking, pedestrian and bicycle use, aesthetics, streetscaping, infrastructure, community acceptance and implementation) that pertain to your downtown area and by incorporating interdisciplinary expertise, the process becomes comprehensive in nature.

PARTICIPATORY. The entire process is designed to facilitate a planning program that is defined and planned by the citizens themselves through the use of interactive workshops. The consulting team guides the formation of the planning program.

EXPLORATION OF ALTERNATIVES. By exposing all of the possible options at each phase of work and by thoroughly evaluating them, using quality of life, environmental and economic criteria, the resulting plan will succeed in charting the most positive future for your planning area.

CONTEXTUAL. Successful plannning programs respect and reflect the culture, the history and the environment of an area. Plans serve more than functional needs. Plans need to respond to the culture, social and pyschological needs of a community.in order to enrich the life of the community. Historic buildings should be preserved and utilized as an influence on future development. The natural landscape of an area and its climate should influence the direction of parks and the landscaping of community buildings. Downtown and park plans need to consider the adjacent land uses.The plan would be economically viable by relating your city to its economic potential in the region.

SUSTAINABLE. In addition to developing solutions that serve the immediate needs, long term objectives are considered in order to provide a healthy environment and fiscal situation for those who shall inherit the effects of any planning program. A comprehensive approach to planning serves sustainability since an integrative approach, as an example, does not sacrifice the environment or the culture for the sake of the economic achievements. Instead, economic solutions are crafted that harmonize with the community's values and that honour and protect our natural resources.

CONSENSUS BASED. Planning areas are often split into factions around various issues. A consensus process is used that identifies the issues, the opportunities and the alternative solutions relative to each issue. It guides the factions in arriving at consensus solutions that respect the various needs and concerns of each other and the community. Our consensus process provides everyone who participates their chance to voice their concerns, opinions and creative ideas. Consensus processes bring people representing diverse views together to create viable plans for change. Community created plans build in the support necessary for implementation.

IMPLEMENTATION ORIENTED. We develop a series of viable alternatives, gathering interdisciplinary expertise to analyze the alternatives and include an economic analysis that identifies funding sources. The planning programs focus on implementation and are realistic in nature. Our planning programs have a strong record of implementation.

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