Principles to Help Guide PSRC's Public Participation Activities:
Adopted June 28, 2007

1. No major public policy decision is reached or large project implemented without significantly affecting someone.

2. Professionals do not have a monopoly on good solutions.

3. Even if a project or policy decision is sensible and beneficial, it must be arrived at properly to be acceptable.

4. People are much more willing to live with a decision that affects different interests unequally if the decision-making process is open, objective and considers all viewpoints.

5. If project or policy staff doesn’t provide all relevant information necessary for an informed decision, the public will rely on -- and trust -- others.

6. Interacting with an official representative of an organization or group is no substitute for interacting directly with that organization or group.

7. Effective public notification and participation takes time and effort, and can be expensive, yet is essential to sound decision-making.