To: The City Council Of Corning, New York

From: Concerned Residents Of Corning, New York

We, the undersigned residents of Corning, New York, respectfully petition the City Council to amend the current system for city committee membership to allow for the inclusion of city residents to serve in a participating and voting member capacity.

Currently, city committees lack direct citizen participation in their decision making processes. The membership of each committee is limited to three City Council members. While residents can voice their opinions at public hearings and the public speaking period during City Council meetings, this format often provides limited opportunity for in depth discussion, collaboration, and the integration of diverse perspectives.

While we appreciate the dedication of these City Council members, we believe that allowing residents to participate directly would offer several significant benefits:

1. Direct resident participation would provide valuable insights and knowledge to committee discussions, leading to more well rounded and informed decisions, as well as ensure that the committees reflect the diverse perspectives and experiences of the community they serve.

2. Direct resident involvement in the decision making process would foster a more transparent and accountable government, leading to greater trust between the community and its representatives, as well as ensure a stronger sense of citizen ownership of the community and its resources.

3. Direct resident participation would foster open communication between residents and city officials, offer committees a deeper understanding of the needs and concerns of the community they serve, and would contribute to more informed and effective committee decisions.

Therefore, we respectfully urge the City Council to consider the following:

1. Establish a clear, transparent, and accessible process for residents to apply for and be appointed as participating and voting members on city committees.

2. Develop a clear, transparent, and accessible set of guidelines and expectations for participating and voting resident members, including training and conflict of interest protocols.

3. Expand the number of seats for each committee and allocate a designated number of seats on each committee for resident members, and provide resources and support to participating and voting resident members to ensure they can effectively contribute to the work of the committee.

We believe that empowering residents through direct resident participation in city committees is essential for creating a more inclusive, responsive, and informed local government. Direct resident participation will strengthen our democracy and our community, and lead to a more vibrant and responsive local government for all residents of Corning.

We urge the City Council to consider this petition and take steps to implement these changes. Thank you for your time and consideration.