As of March 2009, the Public Involvement Advisory Council (PIAC) has organized into three working groups. These working groups were created based on an assessment of the major themes that emerged from past public involvement recommendations.  Working groups will report back to the larger PIAC at each monthly meeting and request feedback from other members.  Any recommendations created in working groups will need to be adopted by the larger PIAC.  The name and goal of each working group is: 

• Policy Group: Develop citywide policies that advance quality public involvement. 
• Process Group: Design internal City guidelines that guide and support bureaus in implementing quality public involvement processes.
• Best Practices Group: Support and increase the City’s skill and ability to engage the community through educational tools and resources.

	The PIAC's Policy Group has completed the City's new Public Involvement Principles, the new Public Involvement Questions for all resolutions, ordinances, and reports.  The group is now preparing to conduct an Annual Bureau Public Involvement Assessment.
	The PIAC's Process Group has conducted a review of the City bureaus’ budget advisory committee (BAC) process, conducted interviews with staff and community members and evaluated budget materials.  Based on this review, the group is now creating recommendations that would improve future processes.
	The PIAC's Best Practices Group (formerly known as the Community Empowerment Group) will be developing short public involvement best practice guides.  The group has began a draft of Equipedia, an online, interactive guide for City staff seeking support with engaging underrepresented communities. The group has developed a proposal for a central location for City public involvement opportunities to be posted online so that any community member can easily access the various ways they can be involved with the City.

The previous Community Empowerment group has been transitioned into the new Best Practices Group as of October 2011.  

To view the meeting notes for these small groups, please visit: http://www.portlandonline.com/oni/index.cfm?c=49221