Public Involvement

Public Participation Plan: Seneca Nation
A PPP is a document that determines the 

appropriate level that the public should be 

involved in the development of a project and 

how the public should be engaged. This plan 

is a tool to help gauge public interest in an 

effort to progress projects in an effective 

and meaningful way. Public Participation Plan 

(PPP)

Staff, Elected Officials, AND Public

• Know the Project Goals

• Appropriately Engaged
General Information

Primary Project Information

• Project Name / #

• Anticipated Start and Completion Date

• Lead Agency

• Partnering Agency

• Primary Consultant

• Primary and Secondary Contact
Step 1: Project Description

Provide a clear project description to lay the foundation for a

successful and achievable public participation process within

the timeline, geographic area, staff and budget limitations of

the overall project. This information will be used to explain

the project to those persons subsequently engaged in public

participation activities of the Plan. This will also help

communicate the boundaries of public participation in

planning, program development or decision processes.
Step 2: Assess Level 

of Public Concern

• Assess the degree to which the 

public considers the issue 

significant. The public will become 

involved according to its 

perception of the seriousness of 

the issue. To assess public interest, 

complete the public assessment 

worksheet.
Assessment Table Assessment Questions

Very 

Low 

Level 1

Low 

Level 2

Moderate 

Level 3

High 

Level 4

Very 

High 

Level 5

1. What is the anticipated level of conflict, concern 

controversy, or opportunity on this or related issues?

2. How significant are the potential impacts to the 

public?

3. How much is being invested in the project? (No cost, 

1-50k, 50k-several hundred k, < 

4. What degree of involvement does the public appear 

to desire?

5. What is the potential for public impact on the 

potential decision or project?

6. How significant are the possible benefits of involving 

the public?

7. How serious are the potential ramifications of NOT 

involving the public?

8. What level of public participation does SNI Council 

and Executives desire or expect?

9. What is the possibility that the media will become 

interested?

10. Is there a new route, facility, building, or significant 

change in surrounding area? 

Count number of checks in each column 0 0 0 0 0

Multiply number of checks by level number 0 0 0 0 0

Total of all 5 columns 0

Divide by 10 to calculate the desired level of Public 

Participation 0

**Round .5 and above to the next level
Step 3: Determine Level 

of Public Involvement

After assessing the level of public

interest or concern using the public

assessment worksheet, determine

the level of public involvement

necessary. The Public Participation

Spectrum illustrates the 5 levels of

public participation:

Increasing Level of Public Participation

(1) No Action (2) Inform (3) Solicit Input (4) Involve (5) Collaborate
Step 4: Determine 

Effected Areas
Step 5: Identify Stakeholders

Who Should we Notify?

• Departments

• Elected Officials

• State(s)

• Federal Government

• Public Interest Groups

• Municipalities

• Key Demographics
Step 6: Select Tools/Activities to Reach the Public and Receive Input

Who Should be Involved?

Tools/activities:

• Level 1

o No Action

• Level 2

o SNI News Paper Post

o SNI Webpage Post

o Local Newspaper Post (50 mile Radius)

• Level 3

o Online Public Notice (Contract Reporter, ext.)

o Public Meeting

o Agency Meeting

Level 4

o Public Survey (Include ESRI crowdsourcingwhen plausible)

o Internal Survey

o Provide Draft Copies (Administration Buildings, Community

Centers, Website)

Level 5

o Public Workshop

o Public Meeting +1

o Public Hearing

• AdditionalOptions

o Necessary Board or Committee Vote?

o Radio Broadcast

o Social Media
Crowdsource Map

• The Seneca Nation has a 

great resource, the GIS 

Division. Utilizing GIS, we can 

create crowdsource 

mapping through ESRI. 

• An interactive map is 

provided within a digital 

public survey. Community 

members can drop points 

with corresponding 

comments on the map to 

show key areas of concern. 
Step 7: Prepare a Rough Project Schedule

After determining your tools/events to be utilized for public involvement, copy each outlet and 

provide any key dates, and times, and/or range of dates

Section 6 Tool to be utilized Description and Date

Level: ___________
Step 8: Identify Roles and Responsibilities

Who is Involved?

1. Identify public participation 

manager responsible for tracking 

progress and completion

2. Identify name/title of everyone who

has a role and/or responsibility in

the planning and development.

3. Identify who your “ultimate decision

makers” are regarding the project.
Step 9: Funding Source

I. Identify funding source:

a. General Fund

b. Grant

c. Other: (Identify)

d. Mixed: (Identify all that apply)

I. Determine funding source public

input policy and requirements

a. Does the SN PPP overrule source

requirements?

• For example, FHWA recognizes tribal

self-governance and allows tribal

governments to set/follow their own

policies while the FTA has policies

and clauses of their own that must

also be followed.
Step 10: Gather and 

Disseminate Input 

and Results

• Identify how input 

from the public will be 

tracked, recorded, 

and implemented into 

the overall project?
Step 11: Evaluate Effectiveness

1. Record all responses into a public input database for the project

2. Determine number of public participants/ responses

3. Record input that affected project

4. Record input that did not affect the overall project – Include

Explanation

5. What public input tool produced the most results and why?
Nya:weh

Thank you!

Ben Anderson

716-640-6976

Benjamin.Anderson@sni.org

Seneca Nation DOT