Stephen Sostaric with the Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission (NIRPC) will be talking about NIRPC's 2014 Public Participation Plan and how it guides their engagement and outreach to the public. This includes the requirements for various types of projects and actions as well as how NIRPC works to make the process as accessible as possible to all residents and stakeholders.

1. NIRPC’s 2014
Public Participation Plan
South Shore Clean Cities Webinar
December 22, 2015

2. • Northwestern Indiana Regional
Planning Commission
• Created in 1965
• Council of Governments
• Metropolitan Planning
Organization
• Covers Lake, Porter, and LaPorte
Counties and their 41 municipalities
• Focus areas of transportation, the
environment, & economic
development
What is NIRPC?

3. • Regional Transportation Plan (RTP)
• Transportation Improvement Program
(TIP)
• Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP)
Transportation
Planning And Programming

4. NIRPC 2040 Comprehensive
Regional Plan
• Plan to 2040
• Create a Vision
• Make it Comprehensive
• Social equity, transportation, economic development,
environment and land use
• Engage the Region

5. NIRPC 2040
Comprehensive
Regional Plan
The CRP stresses a number of factors that
point to both our changing demographics
and our future opportunities with
recommendations for:
• Growth & Conservation
• Transportation
• Environment & Green Infrastructure
• Human & Economic Resources
• Stewardship & Governance

6. Importance of the Public Participation
Plan (PPP)
• Prior to 2014, PPP was last updated in 2007
• New plan includes updated outreach techniques &
essential accessibility features
• PPP guides how NIRPC shares information about its
projects and plans in the future
12/22/2015

7. Timeline
• January 2012
– Process of the PPP begins
– Presentation to the 3PC committee
• February 2012
– Presentation to the Environmental Management Policy
Committee
• March 2012
– Presentations to the Transportation Policy Committee and the
Land Use Committee
• April 2012
– Public Participation Task Force (PPTF) finalized
• 19 members from Lake, LaPorte and Porter counties
• May 2012
– Two meetings with PPTF (one face-to-face, one via webinar)
• June 2012
– One meeting with PPTF (via webinar)
12/22/2015

8. Timeline (continued)
• August 2012
– Final meeting with PPTF (face-to-face)
– Revisions to PPP begin
• October 2012
– Revisions to the Plan are finalized
– Plan recommended to the TPC for the opening of the Public
Comment Period on Wednesday, October 10
• December 2012
– PPP Public Comment Period extended until February 15, 2013
• January 2013
– Presentation made to 219 Green Drinks
– Revisions to the plan made based on Public Comments
• February 2013
– Public Participation Plan 2013 Webinar
12/22/2015

9. Timeline (continued)
• March 2013
– Public meetings in LaPorte and Porter counties
• Monday, March 25, Michigan City City Hall
• Wednesday, March 27, Valparaiso City Hall
• April 2013
– Two public meetings in Lake County
• Tuesday, April 2, Hammond Public Library (1:00 and 5:00 pm)
• Public Comment Period closed on Tuesday, April 2
• May 2013
– Recommendation for action by the TPC
12/22/2015

10. MPO Public Participation Process
12/22/2015

11. 12/22/2015

12. Increased Access to NIRPC Meetings
• Due to the lack of public transportation to get
across county lines & across most municipal
boundaries access to the NIRPC office is limited.
– Web-Casting Meetings - NIRPC will use its best efforts
to provide real-time meeting access through
equipment, staffing and internet capacity.
– Variable Meeting Locations - NIRPC will consider
rotating meetings of the Transportation Policy
Committee when significant transportation planning
decisions are on the agenda.
12/22/2015

13. NIRPC’s Transportation Improvement
Program (TIP)
• More open process for the public to comment
on TIP projects
– Minimum 7-day comment period for Minor
Standard Amendments
– Minimum 30-day comment period for Major
Standard Amendments
– Administrative Modifications
– Emergency Administrative Amendments
• Allows NIRPC Executive Director make a TIP
Amendment via letter to INDOT
12/22/2015

14. NIRPC’s Public Participation Matrix
12/22/2015
(Lower) Level of Participation (Higher)
Inform Consult Involve Collaborate
Public Participation
Goal
To provide the public
with balanced and
objective information
and to assist in their
understanding of
planning problems,
alternatives,
opportunities, and
solutions.
To obtain public
feedback on our
planning work,
analyses, outreach
efforts, and decisions.
To work directly with the
public throughout the
planning process to
ensure that their
concerns and aspirations
are consistently
understood and
considered.
To partner with the
public in every aspect
of our planning
process, including the
development of
alternatives and the
identification of
preferred solutions.
NIRPC’s Promise to the
Public
We will keep you
informed.
We will keep you
informed, listen to and
acknowledge your
concerns and
aspirations, and
provide feedback on
how public input
influences our
decisions.
We will work with you to
ensure that your goals
and aspirations are
directly reflected in our
planning work as much as
possible, and to provide
feedback on how public
input influences our
decisions.
We will look to you for
advice and innovation
in formulating
solutions to our
planning issues, and
incorporate your
advice and
recommendations into
our decisions as much
as possible.
Public Involvement
Techniques
Website, Facebook,
Twitter, Newsletters,
Press Releases, Legal
Advertisements,
Direct Mailings, Fact
Sheets, Display
Advertisements
Facebook, Twitter,
Surveys, Comment
Forms, Public Meetings
Open Houses, Group
Meetings, Webinars,
Surveys
Task Forces, Working
Groups, Youth
Outreach, Small and
Large Group Meetings
When These
Techniques Will Be
Used
On a regular and
frequent basis as
reminders and to give
people easy access to
important
information.
When NIRPC needs
feedback on its
planning activities.
To solicit public comment
and opinion about issues
and events.
To prepare for a major
planning process

15. Outreach Methodologies
– Website
– Newsletters
– Press Releases
– Legal Notices
– Email & Direct Mailings
– Display Ads,
Announcements, &
Flyers
– Fact Sheets & General
Information Documents
– Comment Forms
– Facebook
– Twitter
– Surveys
– Open Houses
– Public Meetings
– Public Hearings
– Webinars
– Public Outreach &
Inclusion
– Task Forces, Steering
Committees, & Working
Groups
– Alternate Formats
12/22/2015

16. Evaluation of the
Public Participation Process
• Staff will generate the following items after an
event:
– Meeting Report
– Public Outreach Form
• Appendix F: Essential Accessibility Features for
NIRPC Meetings
12/22/2015

17. Appendices
• Appendix A
– Glossary of Terms And Abbreviations
• Appendix B
– Public Participation and the 2040 Comprehensive Regional Plan
(CRP)
– Vision and Values Statement for the 2040 Comprehensive Regional
Plan
• Appendix C
– Commitment to Environmental Justice
• Appendix D
– 23 CFR §450.316 Interested Parties, Participation, and
Consultation. This is an excerpt from the current federal
transportation planning regulation requiring the development of a
public participation plan.
12/22/2015

18. Appendices (continued)
• Appendix E : Resources
– Easter Seals Project ACTION (ESPA)
– International Association for Public Participation
– Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century Act
(MAP-21)
– U.S. Department of Justice
– U.S. Department of Transportation
12/22/2015

19. Appendix F: Essential Accessibility
Features for NIRPC Meetings
1. Current parking spaces that are at least 8' wide with at least 5'
aisles next to them, or the ability to block off temporary spaces
for the meeting.
2. A walkway with a stable and firm surface at least 36" wide from
the accessible parking to the accessible entrance to the building.
3. If the accessible route is different from the primary route to and
through the building, have the ability to post signs with the
wheelchair symbol that show the route.
4. A doorway of the accessible entrance into the building at least
32" wide with a door that has a lever, push plate or automatic
door, or with a person to assist people to enter.
12/22/2015

20. Appendix F (continued)
5. An elevator or lift to the floor where the meeting is located if
the meeting is not on the ground floor.
6. Tables where the top is between 28" to 34" with clearance
around the table for a wheelchair to move, and where a
wheelchair can pull under the edge of the table.
7. Wide, accessible path to the restrooms or to an accessible
restroom.
8. A toilet stall or single occupancy restroom wide enough that
a wheelchair can enter and close the door behind with
interior space to turn around. This is an accessible stall or
room size of at least 60" wide and 56" deep with a door that
opens out. Rear and side grab bars are present.
9. The ability for a wheelchair to roll under the sink or to the
side of the sink.
12/22/2015

21. Appendices (continued)
• Appendix G : Outreach Evaluation Form for
Participants
– To gain feedback on outreach from participants
• Appendix H : Outreach Evaluation Form for NIRPC
Staff
– For staff to evaluate outreach activities
• Appendix I : 2012 Public Participation Task Force
Members
12/22/2015

22. 2014 Participation Plan Improvements
1. Specified comment periods for plans &
especially programs/ projects
2. Expected increased remote access to
meetings
3. Varied meeting locations
4. Essential accessibility features for meetings
5. New social media communication
6. Enhanced information on interactive website
12/22/2015

23. 2014 Plan Improvements (continued)
7. Public participation techniques to:
Inform; Consult; Involve; Collaborate
8. Useful references in appendix
9. Analyze meeting outcomes
10. Re-emergence of NIRPC newsletter
– Full-time NIRPC staff assigned for public
involvement & communications

24. Find NIRPC Online
www.nirpc.org
facebook.com/nirpcmpo
twitter.com/nirpc