Anyone who lives or works in King County is invited to register as a Citizen Councilor

How to register?

Go to http://communityforums.org/be-a-citizen-councilor/(outside link), click on REGISTER NOW, and follow the instructions.

Why register?

You need to register to receive notices of upcoming forums.  Only registered citizen councilors are eligible to participate in the forums.

Where and when are the forums? Forums are organized by fellow citizen councilors in homes, workplaces or libraries 2-4 times a year during a one-month participation window. When notified of an upcoming round of forums, you will be able to conveniently select the time and place that works best for you by viewing the map page of the Countywide Community Forums' website.   Click "FORUM" and "IN-PERSON" to display all existing forums in King County. If you prefer, the Citizen Councilor Coordinators will help you choose the most convenient forum over the phone at (206) 296-1633.

Are you unable or uninterested in attending an in-person forum?

You now have the option to take the survey online.  It will take about 40 minutes to watch the video and complete the survey and you will have many opportunities to leave comments.

Do you want to get more involved?

If you would like to be more involved in Countywide Community Forums, you can volunteer to be a Community Forums Host. Hosts find a convenient meeting place and conduct a forum session.     You can organize your own group or volunteer to convene a group of citizens who have already registered.  Hosting does not require any special skills, since the forum introduction video and all materials include clear explanations of what should be happening during the forum.  Please register as a host by clicking the HOST A MEETING button or contact us to let us know that you are interested.

There are also opportunities to get involved as an outreach volunteer.  Outreach volunteers help spread the word about the community forums to their community or organization.  In particular, we are looking for outreach volunteers in South King County.

Contact us by email or by calling (206) 296-1633.

What to expect at a forum? At each forum meeting, 4-12 participants: Watch a short video and/or review a brief written summary of the key facts and different perspectives on the issue under discussion. Take two minutes each to state their views on the topic, uninterrupted by other members of the group. Participate in an open group discussion. Complete an “Opinionnaire®”: a confidential survey tool that asks specific questions about the current topic and the forums process.

Why should I participate in a forum?

The Countywide Community Forums challenges King County residents to learn about and engage in conversations about timely policy issues.  It is designed to support public participation and  inform policy-makers.  It also builds social capital and community by offering an opportunity for county residents to meet one another and have thoughful discussions on important topics.

Will I need to recruit others?

Not unless you request it. If you register as an individual, you will be matched by the forum coordinators with other citizen councilors in your area and given a choice of meetings to attend at places and times that are convenient to you.

What is a citizen councilor?

Citizen councilors are King County residents who have registered to participate in Countywide Community Forums.  Just like in voting, citizen councilors are a self selected group of people.   Registration is necessary for the integrity of the process.  Each opinion is valuable, but we only want to hear once from each forum participant.

Who are the Citizen Councilor Coordinators?

Citizen councilor coordinators are community volunteers who independently run the day-to-day operations of the Countywide Community Forums.  They are appointed, based on their interest and qualifications, by the King County Auditor who also insures the integrity of the program and its operations.

John Spady, Carrie Shaw and Maurice Ward are Citizen Councilor Coordinators for the Countywide Community Forums.  They can be reached by email or by calling (206) 296-1633.