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consolidation option with Community Transit. While there have been informal conversations about this <br /> possibility, it is important to understand community perspectives at an early stage. <br /> Task 2.1 Community Engagement Strategy and Plan (March-April 2020) <br /> The first step of the process is to construct a community engagement plan that carefully lays out the <br /> strategies, objectives, tactics, and timeline for each phase of outreach. In assembling this outreach plan <br /> it is important to recognize that the City has other important outreach efforts that are directly related to <br /> the direction for public transit.Those efforts include Rethink Housing and Rethink Zoning. It will be <br /> important for this outreach plan to complement and integrate with these other City initiatives to <br /> improve resident's ability to participate in multiple City outreach efforts at one time and avoid cross <br /> confusion between topics.This approach also has the advantage of building on the communication <br /> channels already in place to engage Everett's residents.To be clear, this does not necessarily mean the <br /> "Rethink Everett Transit" project will depend on existing City resources to execute the outreach plan. <br /> The concept is to use the structure,tactics, and communications already in place to facilitate outreach <br /> on the project.The approach will also coordinate with Community Transit where applicable to share <br /> project information. <br /> • Deliverable: Public Engagement and Outreach Plan for"Rethink Everett Transit" (One draft, one <br /> final) including: <br /> o Identification of public input opportunities by phase <br /> o Coordination with existing"Rethink Everett" planning efforts and other events/activities <br /> that can be leveraged <br /> o Coordination with Community Transit outreach and marketing efforts <br /> o Role of social media and online platforms <br /> o Equitable engagement opportunities, including accessible materials and activities, <br /> transcreation and coordination with community-based organizations <br /> Task 2.2 — Public Engagement and Outreach Efforts (April 2020 — February 2021) <br /> Each of the phases would include the elements necessary to build touch points with different audiences <br /> including the Administration, Council, Stakeholders (this may happen both as groups and as individuals, <br /> depending on topic), and the general population.The tactics used to communicate with varying <br /> audiences will be different, but the intent will be to use the same tactics being deployed by the <br /> "Rethink" initiatives and utilizing the same communication channels.The project team anticipates the <br /> current restrictions on public gathering due to the pandemic and as a result, outreach tactics will be <br /> limited to virtual and on-line engagement. <br /> In all phases of this effort, it is crucial to understand that at the core of either the Long-Range Plan <br /> Growth option or the Unified option, it is ultimately a voter-based decision to potentially increase tax <br /> rates. This means that all communications on the topic must carefully comply with Washington State <br /> law and regulatory guidance on such matters. Detailed and continuous guidance and monitoring of <br /> outreach messaging and materials will be a necessity to ensure Everett stays within the bounds of the <br /> law. An essential tenet of the effort will be the need to present clear and unbiased information. The <br /> importance of this aspect of outreach cannot be under-estimated or overlooked. Envirolssues will be <br /> responsible for this task, with support provided by other core team members, as needed. <br /> Page 5of17 <br />