Brisbane Wins a Voice of the People Award for Excellence in Housing/Planning!
Commitment to resident-centered decision-making earns the City national recognition, presented by ICMA and Polco.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
October 3, 2023 – The City of Brisbane has won a 2023 Voice of The People (VOP) Award for Excellence in Housing/Planning! The VOP Awards honor local governments that best engage residents and include public opinion in community decisions. This is the 15th year of the awards, presented by Polco and the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
In a time of fading public trust and polarization, community-centered governance is more important than ever.
“There are acute challenges disrupting local government today. Collaboration, resident participation, and data-informed decision-making are the only ways to solve these complex issues. These amazing communities are national models for taking on pernicious problems in government. It’s why the VOP awards are so important – these organizations are making the blueprint to better democracy in an era of profound transition," said Nick Mastronardi, CEO of Polco. “We are so excited to honor the hard work of these deserving communities.”
“Hearing from our residents when planning for housing needs in the City of Brisbane was paramount when our 2023-2031 Housing Element Update process got underway in early 2022,” said City Manager Clay Holstine. “The community’s input helped guide the development of the City’s Housing Element Update, and Brisbane’s revised Element ended up being the second in all of the County to be certified and found compliant with State Housing Element Law.”
Many award recipients were nominated after receiving the highest or most improved ratings from residents on The National Community Survey (The NCS). The NCS is a nationwide community livability assessment with the largest database of its kind and nearly a thousand participating municipalities throughout the last 30 years. The database represents the perspectives of more than 50 million Americans, and well over 100 jurisdictions conduct the survey each year.
Other winners demonstrated outstanding online engagement or the innovative use of simulation-based technology to educate and connect with residents. The simulations, provided by Balancing Act from Polco, allow residents to show what they value most by ranking budgeting and other priorities. In our case, it was visualizing and identifying where new housing development should be prioritized in the City of Brisbane, and the appropriate density (measured by the number of dwelling units per acre of land) of new housing development.
VOP Award categories include excellence or transformation in economy, safety, natural environment, health and wellness, mobility, education, parks and recreation, utilities, housing, finance, and online engagement.
Polco, a community engagement and civic analytics technology company, presents the Voice of the People Awards in partnership with ICMA. The full list of winners was released at the 2023 ICMA Annual Conference in Austin, Texas.
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About the City of Brisbane
Nestled in the slopes of San Bruno Mountain, Brisbane is a small city located immediately south of San Francisco on the Peninsula with a large industrial area and growing biotech sector. Brisbane enjoys a sunny climate, fine views of the Bay, and a diverse, small-town atmosphere. The residents highly value the unique charm and natural beauty of the mountain setting and close-knit community spirit. Brisbane is facing the challenge of dealing with future growth in a positive way that will enhance and preserve its small-town character.
About Polco
Polco brings people and data together to help build stronger, healthier communities - all on one award-winning online platform. Backed by an expert service team and in-house data science lab, Polco is the first and only platform to offer access to clear insights from industry-leading surveys, polls, government performance data, and interactive engagement simulations. Polco allows leaders to engage residents around their most important topics, align goals, and strengthen public trust.
