Welcome to Opt-In!

Opt-in Survey #1: Your Experiences with Public Engagement

This is the first survey offered as part of our Opt-in program. This survey is being hosted by Highland Planning, a non-partisan, for-profit, public engagement consulting firm. Individual responses remain confidential. None of your answers will be associated with any identifying information.

At the end of this survey, you can sign-up to receive future surveys as a member of the Opt-in panel.

About Opt-In

Opt-In is an online panel created to gather feedback and public opinion on a variety of topics impacting the future of communities in Western New York. Topics include transportation, parks, economic development and quality-of-life. The results will be shared on Highland Planning's website and on social media.

Question Title

* 1. How easy or difficult is it for you to get information about the following?

	Very difficult	Somewhat difficult	Somewhat easy	Very easy	Don't know
National elected officials	National elected officials Very difficult	National elected officials Somewhat difficult	National elected officials Somewhat easy	National elected officials Very easy	National elected officials Don't know
State elected officials	State elected officials Very difficult	State elected officials Somewhat difficult	State elected officials Somewhat easy	State elected officials Very easy	State elected officials Don't know
Local elected officials	Local elected officials Very difficult	Local elected officials Somewhat difficult	Local elected officials Somewhat easy	Local elected officials Very easy	Local elected officials Don't know
Cultural events	Cultural events Very difficult	Cultural events Somewhat difficult	Cultural events Somewhat easy	Cultural events Very easy	Cultural events Don't know
Public meetings	Public meetings Very difficult	Public meetings Somewhat difficult	Public meetings Somewhat easy	Public meetings Very easy	Public meetings Don't know
Local and state legislation	Local and state legislation Very difficult	Local and state legislation Somewhat difficult	Local and state legislation Somewhat easy	Local and state legislation Very easy	Local and state legislation Don't know
How my local tax dollars are being spent	How my local tax dollars are being spent Very difficult	How my local tax dollars are being spent Somewhat difficult	How my local tax dollars are being spent Somewhat easy	How my local tax dollars are being spent Very easy	How my local tax dollars are being spent Don't know
The status of ongoing development projects	The status of ongoing development projects Very difficult	The status of ongoing development projects Somewhat difficult	The status of ongoing development projects Somewhat easy	The status of ongoing development projects Very easy	The status of ongoing development projects Don't know

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* 2. In the last year, how many times have you done the following?

	Not at all	Once	2 - 5 times	More than 5 times	Don't know
Attended a public meeting	Attended a public meeting Not at all	Attended a public meeting Once	Attended a public meeting 2 - 5 times	Attended a public meeting More than 5 times	Attended a public meeting Don't know
Taken a survey about a government funded project	Taken a survey about a government funded project Not at all	Taken a survey about a government funded project Once	Taken a survey about a government funded project 2 - 5 times	Taken a survey about a government funded project More than 5 times	Taken a survey about a government funded project Don't know
Contacted an elected official	Contacted an elected official Not at all	Contacted an elected official Once	Contacted an elected official 2 - 5 times	Contacted an elected official More than 5 times	Contacted an elected official Don't know
Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue	Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue Not at all	Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue Once	Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue 2 - 5 times	Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue More than 5 times	Attended an open house to learn more about a project or issue Don't know
Participated in a neighborhood association meeting	Participated in a neighborhood association meeting Not at all	Participated in a neighborhood association meeting Once	Participated in a neighborhood association meeting 2 - 5 times	Participated in a neighborhood association meeting More than 5 times	Participated in a neighborhood association meeting Don't know
Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency	Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency Not at all	Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency Once	Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency 2 - 5 times	Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency More than 5 times	Used social media to express your opinion to a local government agency Don't know
Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers	Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers Not at all	Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers Once	Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers 2 - 5 times	Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers More than 5 times	Used social media to express your opinion about local government to your friends/followers Don't know

Question Title

* 3. In which of the following issues are you most likely to get involved in public decisions?

Transportation

Natural areas

Parks and trails

Neighborhood clean up

Racial and economic equity

Education

Public safety

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 4. Which of the following has kept you from getting involved?

Don't have time for meetings

Meeting times aren’t convenient

Don’t hear about opportunities

Don’t believe my input will be valued

Uncertain how to get involved

Unclear about the issues

Other (please specify)

Question Title

* 5. Which of the following would make you more likely to get involved in public decisions?

If providing input took less than five minutes

If requests for input came directly to my email or phone

If I could have a short in-person conversation with the agency seeking input

If I could read other people’s comments too

If someone explained how my input would be used and how decisions would be made

Other (please specify)

Welcome to Opt-In!

Opt-in Survey #1: Your Experiences with Public Engagement

Question Title

* 1. How easy or difficult is it for you to get information about the following?

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* 2. In the last year, how many times have you done the following?

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* 3. In which of the following issues are you most likely to get involved in public decisions?

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* 4. Which of the following has kept you from getting involved?

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* 5. Which of the following would make you more likely to get involved in public decisions?

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* 6. In 280 characters or less, please describe the best public meeting you have attended and why.