GLOSSARY
Budget Assemblies - events in which community stakeholders learn about the City budget and propose project ideas.
Budget Delegate - an individual who discusses, categorizes and prioritizes initial project ideas. A delegate makes initial determination on project proposal eligibility and develops full project proposals.
Budget Delegate Committee - a group of budget delegates appointed develop specific projects related to their committee-s category. These committees also aim to distribute tasks to create manageable work.
Capital Improvements/Infrastructure - the basic facilities, services, and installations needed for the functioning of a community.
City Briefing - a meeting held at City Hall to provide information to the community.
City Budget - Approved by the City Council every fiscal year, it determines who is taxed, the amount of taxes, and where to spend the funds for capital infrastructure improvements and programs and services (i.e. public safety, housing, public works, and economic development).
Civic Engagement - the encouragement of the general public to become involved in the political process and the issues that affect the community.
Civic Organization - group comprised of individuals with common interests and typically provide services to fill an unmet societal need.
Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) - a program funded by the federal government that provides communities with resources to address a wide range of unique community development needs. CDBG ensures decent affordable housing, to provide services to the most vulnerable in our communities, and to create jobs through the expansion and retention of businesses.
Cycle - the complete process of participatory budgeting which includes: idea collection, proposal development, voting, funding approved projects, implementation, evaluation and monitoring.
Durables - long-lasting products that do not have to be purchased frequently. Durables for participatory budgeting must be accessible to the public.
Evaluation - the analysis of a completed or on-going activity to determine or support management, effectiveness and efficiency.
Facilitator- a person responsible for leading or coordinating the work of a group.
Implementation- the process of executing or putting a decision or plan into effect. In PB, implementation is the executing of a PB project proposal chosen by voters approved by City Council.
Implementing Partner - an organization or agency that has been approved to carry out and oversee project implementation.
Measure B - a one percent (1%) sales tax revenue approved by voters to enhance City of Vallejo projects. Measure B funds are used to resolve both resident and City Council identified issues and concerns within Vallejo.
Open City Hall - an online forum for civic engagement in which citizens can participate in local governance voluntarily and confidentially. City officials read and considers input given by the citizens and incorporate them into the decision-making process.
Participatory Budgeting- A democratic process in which community members recommend to the City Council how to spend part of a public budget. It enables taxpayers to work with government to make the budget decisions that affect their lives.
Partner Fair- a gathering of contractors, non-profit organizations, City and County agencies (i.e. City of Vallejo, GVRD, VCUSD, Solano County), who potentially serve as implementing partners.
Private Property - owned by individuals or firms over which their owners have exclusive and absolute legal rights, such as land, buildings, and money.
Programs - a planned, coordinated group of activities, procedures, etc., often for a specific purpose, or a facility offering such a series of activities.
Service - an activity that is intangible and does no result in ownership, such as the transfer of goods and the use of expertise or experience.
Projects - a set of interrelated tasks that is carefully planned and designed to achieve a particular aim. Projects for participatory budgeting are to benefit the public-at-large and must be permanent and tangible.
Proposal - a formal written plan put forward for consideration or discussion.
Public Benefit - Providing a tangible, permanent benefit to the public at-large and has broad public access.
Public Organization (Public Non-Profits) - an organization dedicated to the furthering of a particular social cause or advocating for a particular point of view, that obtains most or all of their financial support through donation they receive from the general public.
Public Property - items, facilities, or premises owned by a community or government, and not by any person or private entity.
Research- an investigation or study aimed at the discovery and interpretation of facts.
Resolution - a statement, decision, or course of action decided upon by a group or organization. In the City, resolutions are always approved by the City Council.
Rulebook -rules and guidelines developed for Participatory Budgeting by the Steering Committee with the input of City staff and approved by the City Council. These rules and guidelines are based on the understanding of the unique needs, issues, and interest of our local community.
Satellite Voting - the ability to vote on projects throughout the City of Vallejo at various locations within the timeframe of the voting process.
Stages of a Cycle (5) - stages of a cycle includes idea collection, project proposals, voting, project funding, and project implementation.
Stages of Review Process (3) - the review and vetting process of project proposals conducted by City staff and Steering Committee which provides feedback on eligibility issues and concerns. This process vets the total number of projects through screening and determining the of project.
Stakeholder - one who is involved in or affected by a course of action; a person who holds an interest or concern in something.
Stanford Crowdsourced Democracy Team (CDT) - an organization that aims to help communities increase the efficiency of Participatory Budgeting through the aid of digital communication platforms and designed algorithms.
Steering Committee - the committee that oversees the PB process, which includes designing the rules, planning public meetings, and conducting outreach with diverse communities.
Summary Report - report provides an analysis and evaluation of the current cycle. It includes a details analysis of methodology, findings, conclusions, recommendations, and limitations of the report.
Vetting- to appraise, verify, or check for accuracy, authenticity, validity, etc.
Voting Expo - a presentation of final project proposals to the community held before the official voting process.
Workgroup - a team of individuals that work interdependently to achieve a common goal as designated by the Rulebook.
ACRONYMS
CDBG - Community Development Block Grant
CM - City Manager
CMO - City Manager-s Office
COV - City of Vallejo
NPO - Non Profit Organization
PBSC - Participatory Budgeting Steering Committee
City - City of Vallejo