Communication: a two-way street

Thomas Jefferson wrote, 'An enlightened citizenry is indispensable for the proper functioning of a republic.” I believed this to be true before I was elected to public office and more fully understand the meaning after nine years of serving.

Effective council communication is a two-way street. Council should maximize opportunities for this exchange.

When I ran for council for the first time in 2005, I was asked to answer a series of questions regarding the proposed change from a commission form of government to a council-manager form of government.

One question was, 'What do you see as benchmarks to measure progress of the city's new form of government?” These ideas stood out in my answer: Council accessibility and public awareness and input.

Effective communications and responsiveness are critical to gain the majority's interest in city issues. 'I would like the new government to be more inclusive,” I answered back in 2005, adding that while that type of communication can't be accomplished by the city council alone, the council must take the leading role in providing opportunities for such communication.

That's why, shortly after taking office, I began to hold quarterly district meetings to offer residents an opportunity to give me feedback. I learned that residents want more information about city issues. Through these meetings I am able to provide information and my perspective. After our conversation, residents often better understand how decisions are made and feel more comfortable with the outcome - whether or not they agree.

Residents also must take responsibility to take action on their own behalf.

Since January 2008, I have scheduled council conversations - accepting invitations to visit with citizens and their neighbors in their homes. For these conversations I have no planned agenda, we just talk about what is on their minds. Many times, residents only have some of the facts on an issue and the conversations provide an opportunity for me to fill in the gaps.

I have had the opportunity to discuss city issues with thousands of residents - and to learn their ideas and concerns. This exchange has been the easiest part of my job as a City Council member.

Communication is the most important element of an elected official's job - both informing constituents and being informed by them. I have learned that residents who become informed on the issues are great deliverers of the message to others in the community.

Often I have been told that reasonable people given the same information will generally come to the same conclusion, or at the very least understand a conclusion. Because I believe that to be true, my role as a city council member is to make sure as many residents as possible have information on city issues available to them.

It has been said that an informed public is easier to govern. More importantly, an informed public makes the decision-making that we do as a council far easier because our decisions can be made with their input and a better understanding of community needs.

' Kris Gulick has served as District 1 Cedar Rapids City Council member since 2006. Comments: kris.gulick@cedar-rapids.org