I think it would be a great idea for the city to periodically schedule a community forum.

Every other week, or every month, anyone who wants to attend would meet at a specified place. Probably at the University, where a large amount of people could easily congregate.

Here is what I would propose as a structure:

1) At the meeting, current project proposals would be presented. Leaders would be allowed to speak without interruption so that every detail can be presented and their thoughts would not be disrupted.

2) The group of attending citizens would be split up into groups of 5-10 people. A leader would be elected or selected. Each group would discuss differing views and opinions about each project. No one would be judged, shunned, or put down. No matter how different the opinion from each member of the group, each opinion would be considered by the group.

W/in group meeting, each member would be allowed 1 or 2 minutes to present their opinion.

3) After group meetings (a reasonable amount of time MUST be allowed for groups to evaluate each project) the citizens would return to the main area.

4) The representative from each group come to a microphone and present the opinions, suggestions, and questions of each group. Each opinion, suggestion, or idea would be recorded for future evaluation by officials and leaders in the planning department. Additionally, similar opinions would be noted so as to suggest to leaders that multiple groups had the same idea, indicating that citizens broadly support a certain issue or idea.

5) Leaders respond to questions and ideas.

6) Groups return to meetings and deliberate about ideas they heard from other groups, and responses generated by leaders and officials.

7) Repeat steps 3, 4, and 5.

8) Again, representatives present, and leaders reply.

9) Meeting would end.

Basically, this is a way for the community to invest in the rebuilding and future development of the city.