Woodstock’s Citizen-First Culture

Recently, I was asked to answer a question for an award that Woodstock was nominated for regarding how City staff and Woodstock's elected officials prioritize listening to the community. Throughout my time as an elected public servant, I've held more open town hall meetings than any other elected official in Georgia, so this question felt near and dear to my heart. As I endeavored to answer the question, I was happy to discover the many ways that our City officials and staff engage with the public, but I was most excited to rediscover the central role that collaboration plays in Woodstock's ethos.

I'm often asked who we should credit for Woodstock's outlier success. There is no shortage of great leaders past and present, but the truth is that our city is a community-driven effort. It's a bold, authentic, and collaborative venture between elected officials, business owners, citizens, and City staff to create a place that reflects the lives and passion of the incredible people who call Woodstock theirs.

Our leaders are focused on being public voices in Woodstock, and that only happens because listening is prioritized. The City of Woodstock's 220 employees are stakeholder focused. I'm consistently amazed by the level of effort they put into serving and spending time with the public to better understand the vision that stakeholders have for the Woodstock of tomorrow.

Our Community Development Department has won myriad awards for planning efforts like the Livable Centers Initiative, Smart City planning efforts with Georgia Tech, and achieving platinum status with the Atlanta Regional Commission's Green Communities program. The Department's work to develop these plans always begins with public input — prioritizing in-person contact with constituents through organized events — and by spending time in venues throughout the city to solicit feedback.

Our police department has held a monthly "Coffee with a Cop" event for years, which is hosted by coffee shops throughout Woodstock, so residents can sip coffee with officers, ask questions, and share feedback. This informal opportunity allows citizens to get to know Woodstock's officers and provides time for them to engage in important dialogue about the relationship between public safety and the public that isn't driven by national headlines or social media feeds.

However, opportunities for the public to provide feedback are only productive if they have access to information. Woodstock's GIS department answered this call by developing interactive mapping tools through which citizens can access information on all major transportation and development projects happening in the city. Gone are the days of driving by a project site and wondering what it will become. The information is now just a few clicks away on WoodstockGa.gov.

Among the highest responsibilities of Woodstock's government is the proper budgeting and stewarding of public finances. Unfortunately, government budgets are rarely intuitive or easily understood. So, every year, I leverage my monthly column in Woodstock Family Life to share a plain English summary of the budget, so everyone can see what is prioritized in Woodstock's checkbook.

Each of these initiatives, and so many more, is evidence of a city focused on driving toward a community vision. Woodstock has become a vibrant regional destination and a national example of downtown revitalization while remaining organic and authentic. That's because the city we see today is a product of the dreams and visions of its stakeholders. As long as our community makes collaboration a priority, tomorrow's Woodstock is sure to be just as bright and vibrant.