I see what you mean! Using Visual to solve tough community problems case studies
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John Blakinger and Teresa Blakinger discuss the use of visuals, such as videos and graphics, to address complex community issues like groundwater contamination. They outline various solutions for managing drinking water and groundwater, emphasizing the importance of data and community engagement in decision-making. The presentation highlights the recommendations developed over six months after outreach to over 250 citizens, culminating in accepted proposals by local authorities.
I see what you mean! Using Visual to solve tough community problems case studies
- 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
Editor's Notes
- #3: Do poll questions here.
- #4: Before the county created the ordinance there was a community meeting with Sheriffs for security There were law suits and one commissioner was not re-elected. Much mis-information, opaque scientific information During the first couple of meetings we spoke about golf courses, livestock, bad data, bad science, nitrates as not a health risk, pharmaceutical as a health risk, costs of the ATT systems, Financial distress of the community, cluster sewer systems, leaking old systems…. It was a pinball machine – we needed focus
- #5: To focus the committee created a shortened version of the graphic Asked committee members to add post-its to expand lists Then added the post-it items to the list getting this graphic
- #6: One of the keys to the coming up with recommendations was first coming up with questions and then over time answering the questions (or deciding a questions was not important/relevant)
- #7: The well test data was very difficult to view and get an understanding of. Some self proclaimed experts said they looked at the data and there was no issue (trust me I know) It was important to let residents make up their own mind by seeing the data in an understandable way Real Estate Transaction well tests Blue less 1mg nitrates/liter (10 is above public water maximum) Green 1 – 3 Yellow 3 – 6 Orange 6 – 10 Red 10 and above
- #8: Every individual experiences a progression of reactions or stages when confronted with a problem. These stages are a gauge of the level of commitment the person has toward resolving the problem First: What “What are you talking about?” Second: No “No! That is not a problem for me – I’ve got other things to worry about” Third: Oh “Oh that will impact me, I guess I need to do something” Fourth: Whoa “Whoa, are these the only alternatives – I don’t like any of them” and Whoa we need more people to get to Oh before we talk about solutions. Fifth: Let’s Go “Let’s go, we picked the best alternative” Where are you on this curve?
- #9: After answer many questions over 2 years all committee members were beyond Oh on the curve. We then had to come up with solutions. As with the first few meetings were easily got into the weeds with specifics so we came up with high level scenarios. The do nothing scenario is key to help define why we need to do something.
- #10: Defining the do nothing scenario is essential to describing why something must be done. It helps people at No to get to Oh Be up front about what we don’t know
- #12: Goal 11 is a State land use rule that states public systems cannot be installed in rural areas Describe the difference between drinking water and groundwater
- #17: The next 3 slides are from the beginning of our outreach presentation.
- #18: The curve is described in an earlier slide. Start the meeting with the curve. Explain the curve in 1 minute, ask attendees where they are. Starting with a question to each person opens up the room, and people see that others are in different places, and depending on the response you may adjust the focus of the meeting. If most are at No focus on why we need to do something if most at at Oh or higher focus on possible solutions. After that each committee member then described there “moment of Oh” – a piece of information that made them think “Oh I (we) really do need to do something about this” We also had 3x5 cards of the curve handed out and asked that participants circle where they are at the end of the meeting, add any questions/comments to the back of the card and return to us.
- #19: Over 113,000 doctors surveyed The point to this slide is that we learn over time and what was ok years ago may not be ok now.
- #20: When I was a kid, I thought the ground magically took care of the stuff I poured on it. Now I know better.
- #21: Final outreach meeting for groundwater
- #22: The final graphic was developed from the recommendation document. I presented to the local Citizens Action Group 3 times. (This group led the overturn of the county ordinance and brought legal action) The first meeting I tried the ‘corporate’ approach with power point – not good The second meeting I tried flip charts, a bit better but I didn’t get very far (this group has a lot of people at No) The last meeting I hung this graphic. The response was amazing. 1 person adamantly against said at the end of the meeting he supports all the recommendations. Others said I can see the whole story here.
- #25: The vision diagram was developed from the Bend 2030 website and materials.
- #26: Example of hand out. Digitize the graphic and then you can use pieces of it in other materials.
- #27: Community Center Graphic left a lot of space for people to add what they think a community center should be about.