Using visuals to help communities make decisions based on a Groundwater protection issue in Central Oregon and engaging the Latino community in a communities vision

1. John Blakinger, Co-founder CivilSay™
Teresa Blakinger, Concepts Captured

2. Visuals
 Visuals include, video, drawings, pictures, charts …
 Will describe how I used visuals to solve a complex
community problem and to do visioning and then
provide some other examples.
 Please ask questions during the webinar.

3. Using Visuals – Groundwater Video
VIDEO
 Groundwater contamination
 Very contentious issue
 This is a story of the committee and the outreach done
in year 3.
 First couple committee meetings tried to address all
aspects at once – Too complicated – We needed focus!

4. Used this graphic to focus committee

5. ….. Answering the questions
 Graphic to depict complicated information on
following slide

6. Answering Questions:
Real estate transaction (RET) well tests
6

7. “Engagement Curve”
Where are you?
7

8. What do we do?
Solution Scenarios
1. Do nothing
2. Solve for drinking water only
3. Monitor groundwater
4. Develop a phased approach to
septic solutions
5. “One size fits all”
8

9. Do nothing
Currently, ATT Systems are required to be installed in
most areas as existing systems fail
Possible Outcomes Unknowns
 Government agency may
require earlier deployment
 Ongoing well contamination
 Discharge into rivers may
become a problem
 Public health problems may
occur
 High cost to individuals when
systems fail
 High costs may be incurred if a
management area is declared
 Only ATT options available
 What is the rate of
contamination?
 What is the impact to the
river?
 If groundwater becomes
highly contaminated, what is
the effect on properties,
tourism and economic
development?
9

10. Drinking Water and Groundwater
 Groundwater is found in
layers
 Gravity pulls the water down
 The lowest levels have the
oldest water
 Drinking water can be drawn
from any layer of
groundwater
10

11. Solve for drinking water only
Public water systems eliminate health risk to drinking water
Possible Outcomes Unknowns
 Eliminate risks to drinking
water
 Government agency may require
groundwater protection
 Groundwater contamination
may affect rivers
 ATT systems will still be
required as systems fail
 Can we allow continued
groundwater contamination?
 How will the public water
system be managed?
 How will the cost of a public
water system be covered?
 Would a public system
require a Goal 11 exception? *
* Goal 11 is a State land use rule that prohibits
public systems in rural areas
11

12. Monitor groundwater
Implement a regular groundwater testing program to
reveal contamination trends
Possible Outcomes Unknowns
 More and better data on
groundwater contamination
 Data may indicate something
more must be done
 Data may indicate nothing
more must be done
 What is the design of the
program?
 How will the program be
managed?
 How will the cost of the
program be covered?
12

13. Phased septic solutions
Implement septic solutions base on level of risk
Possible Outcomes Unknowns
 Costs are incurred as needed
 Multiple solutions deployed
(most effective and cost
effective)
 Solutions in one area may
reduce the need for solutions
in other areas
 How will the high risk areas
be determined?
 How will the approach be
managed?
 How will the solution costs be
shared and covered?
 What are the solution
options?
13

14. “One size fits all”
Require all lots to employ the same solution
Possible Outcomes Unknowns
 Inefficient: over-solve some
areas and under-solve others
 High cost
 Why would we choose this?
14

15. Outreach & Recommendations
 Developed recommendations
over 6 months
 Outreach to over 250 citizens
while developing the
recommendations
 Crafted the
recommendations document
while doing outreach

16. Example Outreach

17. Groundwater concerns over time
Where are you?
17

18. In 1949 "According to a nationwide survey:
More doctors smoke Camels than any other cigarette."
18

19. How did we dispose of chemicals?
In the 60’s, we disposed of chemicals such as:
 Paint
 Gasoline
 Paint thinner
 Used motor oil
By pouring them on the ground
Seemed like a good way to clean
out the garage!
19

20. The Final Meeting
 August of 2013
 Joint Deschutes County Planning and Commissioner
meeting.
 Director of DEQ Attended
 Recommendations were accepted by the county and
DEQ

21. The Story

22. Creating a Vision for the Community’s Future

23. Activities
 Winter of 2013-14 – Met with Bend 2030
 Developed materials for Latino conversation
 Held first conversation in April 2014 (small groups)
 Held second conversation in June 2014
 June 29 conversation focused on community center

25. Bringing Latino Voices to the
Conversation

27. Other Links
 YouTube videos
 Civilsay.net
 ConceptsCaptured.com
 Uses of Graphic Recording
 World Café Graphic
 Moment of Oh Book ebook

28. Observations about visuals
 Visuals should be simple & understandable
 Use visuals to focus the group
 Use visuals to display complex information
 Use visuals to maintain context
 Visual stories allow people to start where they want
 Reuse content when you can

29. Thank You for Coming!
 John Blakinger, Blakinger Associates
Helping Communities Reach Durable Decisions
CivilSay.net
John@Blakinger.com
541.593.9394
 Teresa Blakinger, Concepts Captured
Visual Facilitation, Graphic Recording
Teresa@ConceptsCaptured.com
541.647.8029