LEWISTON – The City of Lewiston provided more details about the intended use of the $36,000 additional funding for the Lewiston Community Park Project, that had City Council Members evenly divided at Monday’s Council Meeting. According to the City of Lewiston’s FaceBook Page on February 17, 2023: During the Lewiston City Council’s regular meeting held Monday, February 13, 2023, the council approved $36,000 in funding to be used on public engagement related to a bond that is planned to go before the voters in November for phase one of the Lewiston Community Park project.Learn more about the project by visiting lewistoncommunitypark.com “Public engagement is important with any ballot measure,” Mayor Daniel Johnson said. “It is not the responsibility of the City to advocate for any ballot initiative. However, it is the responsibility of the City to engage with its citizens and provide educational opportunities so that the voters can make the best-informed decision.” Parks and Recreation Director Tim Barker said during his presentation to the Council that the funding will assist with, “additional services related to public engagement and education within the community, which is going to be a vital part of what we are looking at for a bond election this next November.” Barker further explained that this includes being able to get out and engage with the public through surveying, finding out where community members sit as far as support for the bond/project. Engagement and educational opportunities will include, but will not be limited to:• providing educational materials via the city website, city e-newsletters, city magazine, and various other city publications,• press releases distributed to local news media outlets, and working with members of the media on coverage for the project,• advertising the project website and interactive site map across various platforms,• social media posts and interactive online engagement,• public surveys,• open house events, and handing out educational material and speaking with residents at other community events Staff will also be exploring a variety of funding sources, including community partnerships and possible donations, prior to establishing a bond amount. You can review the agreement with Clearwater Financial, LLC, and the engagement plan proposed to the council, here: https://lewistonid.portal.civicclerk.com/event/63/overview
Original coverage of story: https://www.bigcountrynewsconnection.com/idaho/council-approves-36-000-to-promote-lewiston-community-park-bond-approves-roundabout-for-10th-burrell/article_8e9994f0-acac-11ed-b957-53f68c42d58e.html,
