1. Values To Action:
The Golden
Experience
Theresa Worsham
City of Golden
Sustainability Coordinator
Community Matters ’10
October 7, 2010

2. Who We Are
• 18,000 population, 15 miles west of Denver
• Unique geography, historic downtown,
scientific community, widespread recreation
• Beer and more beer

3. The Heart and Soul of Golden

4. Why?
• Inclusiveness and public engagement
• Value-based decision-making
• Guide City decisions
• Build community capacity

5. Golden Vision 2030 Planning
Process
Story Listening/
Value Harvesting
ValidationStorytelling
Fall 2009/
Winter 2010
Spring/
Summer 2010
Summer/
Fall 2010
Implementation
Spring/
Summer 2009

6. Story Listening – Block Parties
• Inclusiveness and Public Engagement
• Reaching those who don’t usually
participate
• Making it convenient

8. Story Listening - Group Story
Circuits
• Civic organizations, social groups, service clubs
• Relationship with city, with each other
• Build ties, share mutual understanding, find
opportunities

9. Focus Groups
• 10 citizen groups, 4 city
boards, one neighborhood
• Citizen participation to
identify values
• Many sets of eyes and
ears to watch each video
• Validity of results

10. Prioritizing Values

11. Golden’s Top Values
• Responsive Local Government*
• Controlled and Directed Change*
• An accessible and walkable community
• Active outdoors and the environment
• Safe, clean and quiet neighborhoods
• Support for local business and downtown
• Convenience and community amenities
• Support for our history, culture and education
• A family and kid friendly town
• Friendliness and appreciation of our neighbors
• Our sense of community
• Belonging/volunteerism
* Values so widely cited, they became Guiding Principles
2,000 Value
Statements
11 Themes

12. Decision-making changes

13. Cool Tools
• Online Bulletin Boards
• Keypad polling
• Scenario models
• Website communication
– Facebook, Twitter, YouTube,
streaming video of meetings,
surveys, e-Comment
i-Neighbors
Bringing your neighbors together.

14. Values In Action
• Clear Creek Master Plan
• New City Trash Program
• Driving communications
technology

15. Why It’s Worth It
• Values are unique to each community.
• Taking the time to define values can lead to
confidence in decision-making.
• Community values form the backbone of all other
actions.
• Increases two-way communication by
strengthening relationships between neighbors.
• Builds trust

16. What You Can Do
• Identify Values
• Use values to create, update, & inform plans and
policies

17. For More Information
Click on the Golden Vision 2030 link at the City
web site www.cityofgolden.net for more information
about the process and the draft Golden Vision
2030 document currently under review by the
community.