To address concerns about the decline in civility in our national public discourse as reflected in Evanston, the LWVE Civil Discourse Committee conducted an assessment of the current state of civility in Evanston government to report to and share its findings with the LWVE, Evanston government leaders, and the community during FY2023-2024. The project proceeded in three phases.
Phase I: Data collection, September 2023–January 2024
Following initial consultation with the Mayor, members of the Committee asked the Mayor, City Manager, City Clerk, city government staff, and city residents to answer the three questions below while the LWVE Local Government Committee
asked City Council members to answer questions 1 and 3. All interviewees were assured their individual responses would be anonymous and data would only be reported in the aggregate.
Phase II: Review/assessment, January– February 2024
Committee members reviewed interview responses to identify:
• the level of concern among stakeholders
• the nature of the incivility exhibited
• common recommendations.
Phase III: Report/share findings and recommendations, March 2024
Following reporting to, and with the approval of, the LWVE Board, the Committee then expects to share its findings and recommendations with Evanston government leaders for their commitment to improving civility in our public discourse through the means developed and reported. LWVE’s Communications Committee will release a public statement on the project and our report to local media and the Mayor’s office or City Council may then issue a joint public statement announcing our findings and Evanston’s commitment to the proposed remedies.
Interview Questions
Question 1: Is there a problem with civility in Evanston public meetings/discourse or government offices?
While respondents had differing views on the source of a decline in civility, there was general agreement that there is a problem. Several suggested it had become a concern since 2015-2016, reflecting national trends.
Question 2: If yes, how has it manifested itself?
There is general agreement that all parties have become less patient, less courteous, and more confrontational which impacts elected officials, staff at all levels, and citizens. This is evident in social media posts, emails, mail, and inperson interactions. Social media, especially with increasing mis/disinformation, and online as well as public accusations of incompetence and self-dealing have heightened tensions. Some staff have reported concerns about their personal safety.
Citizens’ concerns about the lack of a community engagement process beyond the limited Comments period at the beginning of City Council meetings, perceived inequities in opportunities for citizens to express themselves, and insufficient communications from the City, especially on contentious issues, have contributed to a growing distrust in city government which is reflected in their public discourse.
Question 3: What are your recommendations/suggestions to improve the level of civility in Evanston city government?
City Council members have all taken an Oath of Civility, which is perceived to have been helpful, and efforts by the Mayor and City Manager to encourage civility in City Council meetings have been appreciated. The following additional steps have been recommended by interviewees:
1. develop/implement early and continuous engagement strategies for citizen interaction with City Council and staff
2. improve communications/transparency in decision-making processes, especially for significant projects and votes
3. review/revise public comment protocols to:
a. ensure fairness in representation of views
b. provide feedback from the City to citizens on the issues raised
4. develop/implement strategies for moderating online discussions
5. implement regular training for all parties on:
a. how city government works
b. each party’s appropriate role in the governance process
c. how each party can contribute to a respectful, civil environment
6. hold regularly scheduled problem-solving meetings/forums among
managers and staff
7. conduct random audits of customers/residents feedback built into opportunities for public interaction
8. include, if it isn’t already, customer-service feedback as an element of performance reviews for all employees.
Additionally, the League of Women Voters of Evanston can:
1. provide regular (annual or semi-annual) training for residents on the roles/responsibilities of our city, county, and state governments and how/when citizens should interact with each
2. through the LWVE Local Government Committee provide an annual status report on civility as observed in City Council and other city committee meetings
3. through the Civil Discourse Committee assess progress in a follow-up study in 6 months
4. recommend training resources.
Civil Discourse Committee: Mary Jane Chainski, Ginny Darakjian, Joni Dobson, Lonnie Dunlop, Michelle Jordan, Betsy Soete