Why is the City of Golden engaging online?

    We love meeting you in person and this website doesn't replace that, but not everyone can attend public meetings when they're scheduled. Guiding Golden offers an alternative way to engage. Here's what Guiding Golden can offer:

    *It's a quick and convenient way to have your say on a range of issues and topics, anytime that suits you.

    *With easy access to supporting documentation and resources right there on the project page, you can learn all about the issue and be better informed.

    *You can see what neighbors and other community members think about an issue and offer your own view.

    *The allows for a range of different people, with different views to come together and discuss matters that may impact their community.


    Why all the questions when I register? And why is registration required anyway?

    Registration is not required to view conversations on Guiding Golden or even to participate in some polls, but it is necessary for many of the more in-depth engagement opportunities. Here's why:

    *It promotes accountability and encourages civility and a more thoughtful approach to engagement when feedback has a name attached to it.

    *It allows us to keep in touch with the people engaging on the consultation by sending out an email when something new happens.

    *It allows us to better understand the data when we know who it's coming from. Which brings us to the questions asked when you register!

    During the registration process we ask a few questions including your age range and neighborhood. We're not just being nosy, promise! These questions help us better understand the feedback we receive from you. For example, if a lot of people in a particular neighborhood where a hot issue is being discussed feel one way about the issue while folks outside of that neighborhood are leaning a different way, it's good to understand there's a difference of opinion.


    Why should I subscribe to different pages?

    At the bottom of each project page, you'll have the option to subscribe to that project. If you are already a registered participant and signed in, you will automatically start receiving updates when they go out. If you are not a registered participant, you may still follow projects with nothing more than an email address. You won't be able to participate in the conversation or offer feedback unless you are registered, but you will receive email updates on the project when they go out. You will simply have to follow a confirmation link sent to your email address and you'll be good to go.

    How will my feedback be used?

    As a part of the Golden community, your voice is important. City staff make the best possible decisions based on the information they have, but without your feedback, they cant know what the community is thinking or feeling about any given issue. Through the tools provided on Guiding Golden, staff can collect your feedback and actually incorporate it into their planning processes. The platform we use for the website provides powerful background analytics so we can actually understand the data and feedback you provide and apply it to plans moving forward.

    Every tool chosen for each conversation on the site is carefully selected to based on different engagement levels. We encourage you to have a look at our Community Engagement Planning Guide for a better understanding of how our city staff approaches engagement on each project.

    Is my privacy protected?

    Yes! Your privacy is absolutely protected, and the City will only use your email to contact you with updates. Neither your email address nor any demographic details will be distributed to any third party or used for any other purpose. We do not ask for your personal details or require them at any time as part of your participation. For more information, see the Privacy Policy.

    Are comments on the site moderated?

    All public comments are moderated 24 hours a day, seven days a week. vetting for inappropriate language, comments that disrespect other participants and/or city staff, and for comments that are off topic or offensive.

    All moderation is carried out by Bang the Table and is independent of the City of Golden. The moderators do not edit or alter any comments and will only remove comments deemed to be significantly off topic, or offensive or malicious, in which case they are removed from the site immediately and the person who posted the comment is advised by email. See the moderation policy for more information.