Climate-Friendly Areas Evaluation Report

Southern Rogue Valley CFA Engagement Report 3 providing an opportunity for face -to-face discussions and interactions. Furthermore, online questionnaire s were made ava ilable, enabling wider participation and gathering input from a broader audience. These engagement activities and materials were implemented to ensure comprehensive and inclusive decision -making . Round 3 In Round 3, the key engagement goals were to present the narrowed down CFA designations . The focus was on providing the public with an understanding of the potential effects and implications of CFA designation . Moreover, this round aimed to create an opportunity for stakeholders to provide their comments an d feedback on the potential designations , ensuring their perspectives were taken into account. To facilitate this engagement process, focus group meetings were conducted, providing a platform for in -depth discussions and exchange of ideas. Additionally, the online questionnaire was continuously available to gather input from a wider audience, making the engagement process more accessible and inclusive. These engagement activities and materials were implemented to foster transparency, collaboration, and info rmed decision -making. IV. Key Findings Round 1 In February 2022, a region -wide virtual meeting was held to inform the public of the recently enacted Climate -Friendly and Equitable Community (CFEC) rules and the related local efforts. The meeting was led by the Rogue Valley Council of Governments (RVCOG), which was responsible for the CFA technical analysis. RVOG representatives described roles for the cities, RVCOG, and consultant, reviewed the project schedule, and listed the ways in which people will be a ble to participate. Representatives from DLCD provided an overview of CFEC requirements and timelines. An overall discussion was held where community members could ask City staff questions specific to their community. Questions and concerns raised during the public meeting revolved around how CFA designation could impact historic buildings, what financial support exists to implement this program, and how this is connected to public transit initiatives. This question -and-answer session served as a starting point for the community leader and stakeholder interviews and focus groups held soon after this meeting. Following the virtual meeting, several interviews and focus group meetings were conducted with community leaders and stakeholder groups in order to ga ther input on how to best engage underserved populations. The interviewees were asked two categories of questions: general engagement and CFA- specific discussion. The following highlights some key findings from these conversations: • Language inclusive and accessible discussions allow for meaningful engagement. • Equitable events offer childcare, transportation, and food incentives. • A mixture of event types and the opportunity for continuous feedback allows for more successful information exchange. • Visually appealing and easy -to-read project information ensures the intended message is portrayed to the widest possible audience.