For Immediate Release, Tuesday, July 27, 2010
Contact:  Carrie Shaw (425) 344-1787

Access to Information and Open Government Top Countywide Survey

Respondents give good review on accessing information, public participation

Poor review on county openness and “willingness to listen”

SEATTLE - King Countyʼs nationally recognized Countywide Community Forums (CCF) released today the survey results from Round 5 forums on customer service and public engagement. Results showed people viewed the county as providing opportunities for public engagement and easy access to information, but lacking in a “clear and open” public process and demonstrating a “willingness to listen and to be influenced” through citizen feedback. Of those who had an opinion, about half -- 52 percent -- rated their recent experience with King County as satisfactory or very satisfactory.

To obtain the King County Auditorʼs report and survey demographic information, go to http://tinyurl.com/ccf-reports

“Improving customer service is one of my top priorities, and these survey results provide valuable insights that will help us make government more transparent and accessible, and improve the way we listen to the public,” says King County Executive Dow Constantine, who made “public engagement” a key goal in the King County Strategic Plan that was adopted July 26 by the King County Council. “My thanks to all those who took the time to participate. We will do our part to develop channels of communication that allow all residents to give their input and be heard, while continuing to provide the more traditional face-to-face community meetings that forum participants overwhelmingly say they prefer.”

The report compiles responses from 306 people who either filled out an in-depth survey online, or participated in one of 33 forums hosted throughout King County by volunteers between May 1 and June 13, 2010. The Round 5 topic and questions were chosen jointly by Executive Constantine and the King County Council and titled “Public Trust: Customer Service and Public Engagement.”

Full press release appears below. Google login may be requested: