Community invited to help shape the future of Roanoke’s public engagement

The City of Roanoke is working with the Virginia Tech Institute for Policy and Governance to create a community engagement policy. This policy will guide how the City shares information, gathers feedback and works with residents on decisions that affect the community.

As part of Engagement Ready Roanoke, a 16-member committee will be formed. The group will include eight residents and eight City staff members. Together, they will build on what was heard during last year’s listening sessions and use that input to draft a clear and practical policy.

The policy will outline principles for public participation and service delivery. It will also focus on improving how the City notifies the public about projects and meetings and how feedback is collected and used.

Beginning in March, the committee will meet at least twice a month for four months. Members will prepare an initial draft, gather community feedback, and revise the document before submitting a final proposed policy to City Council for review.

Apply to Serve

Residents who are interested in serving on the committee may apply online at:
https://forms.office.com/r/BGLhB0rNAa

The application deadline is Sunday, March 1, 2026.

Final Listening Session

Before the committee begins meeting, a final public listening session will be held to review what was learned from previous sessions and to discuss the values that should guide public engagement in Roanoke.

All residents and City staff are invited to attend:
When: 6 p.m. on February 25, 2026
Where: Community Empowerment Center (40 Douglass Ave NW)

Residents who cannot attend may share their input through an online survey, available through February 15, 2026:
https://virginiatech.questionpro.com/roanokeengagement

Questions may be directed to Brad Stephens at bas615@vt.edu or Molly.Hunter@roanokeva.gov.