Participatory Budgeting in Cambridge
Cycle 2: June-December 2015
Steering Committee Information
The City of Cambridge is preparing to launch its second Participatory Budgeting (PB) cycle from June-December
2015. This time, the City will set aside $600,000 for capital projects to improve the community. We are seeking
volunteers to serve on the PB Steering Committee to help oversee the process and work with City staff to ensure
that the PB process is transparent, fair, and inclusive.
Steering Committee Member Responsibilities
Members serve throughout the PB cycle (June-December 2015) by:
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Overseeing the PB Cambridge process by reviewing the rulebook, deciding who can participate in the
process and how, helping to plan idea collection and voting events, and determining voting goals/targets
Attending at least 5 of the 7 monthly committee meetings
Volunteering for at least 2 idea collection events in August
Volunteering for at least 2 voting events in December
Promoting PB through their networks, social media, and at community events
Helping to recruit volunteers to serve as Budget Delegates
Steering Committee Schedule
Committee meetings will generally take place on Thursday evenings from 6-8pm in a City facility. Organizations
should nominate an alternate to attend meetings if/when the primary representative is not available.
Event
Date
Location
831 Mass. Ave.
basement
Central Square
Library
SC Meeting 1
6/25
SC Meeting 2
7/16
Idea
Collection
August
SC Meeting 3
8/6
SC Meeting 4
9/10
SC Meeting 5
10/8
SC Meeting 6
11/5
SC Meeting 7
12/3
PB Vote
Dec. 5-12
citywide
Results Party
12/17
TBD
citywide
831 Mass. Ave.
basement
Central Square
Library
Central Square
Library
831 Mass. Ave.
basement
831 Mass. Ave.
basement
Tasks
Introductions; review and approval of the PB rulebook; SC
members determine and join subcommittees
Discuss idea collection events/methods; sign up to staff idea
collection events; make outreach plans in subcommittees
SC members promote idea collection through their networks,
social media, and by volunteering at 2+ events
Check in about idea collection outreach & staffing; set Budget
Delegate recruitment targets
Review idea collection phase; explain proposal development
phase and role of Budget Delegates
Updates on proposal development phase; brainstorm voting
sites & events; determine goals for the vote
Sign up to host/staff voting events; make voter outreach plans
Prepare for the vote!
SC members promote the PB vote through their networks,
social media, and by volunteering at 2+ events
Winning projects are announced!
How to Apply
Please see the next page for application information. Applications are due by 5pm on Friday, June 19th. The
City Manager and his Finance team will review applications to ensure that selected candidates represent the
city’s diversity and will announce Steering Committee members on Monday, June 22nd. Please mark your
calendar now for the first Steering Committee meeting on Thursday, June 25th.
Participatory Budgeting in Cambridge
Cycle 2: June-December 2015
Steering Committee Application
If you are interested in serving on the PB Cambridge Steering Committee, please fill out this form and submit it
to the City of Cambridge Budget Office via email, mail, or hand delivery by 5pm on Friday, June 19, 2015.
Budget Office
Cambridge City Hall, 1st floor
795 Massachusetts Avenue
Cambridge, MA 02139
pb@cambridgema.gov
(617) 349-3266
Name:
Email:
Phone:
Address:
Organization (if applicable):
Position in organization (if applicable):
Why do you want to serve on the Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee?
Which neighborhood(s) do you primarily work with or identify with?
Which demographic population(s) do you primarily work with or identify with?
Please review the schedule on the previous page. Can you commit to attending at least 5 of the 7 Steering
Committee meetings?
Can you commit to volunteering for at least 2 idea collection events in August, and at least 2 voting events
in December?
Thank you for supporting the second cycle of Participatory Budgeting in Cambridge.