Public servants can rise above their current job descriptions. Reward those who make mistakes trying out new ideas or methods. The people who live in a neighborhood know how it works. They know how it came to be, who and what is important, and why. No professional planner or designer should make decisions or assumptions about a community's future without real input from the residents.
Language can get in the way.
Using techno-babble can obscure important issues. Each profession has its own confusing vocabulary and acronyms. Simply asking questions is a powerful tool. It will equip you to talk with other professionals knowledgeably, and to help them understand your own discipline or neighborhood. You can look through new eyes.