2018 On The Table Initial Results
Preliminary results were initially shared at January 2019’s Breakfast With The Mayors.
“Three age groups identified the same top next steps for action, which are to learn more about the issue or solution, get more involved in the community, and build relationships and collaborate,” Tate said. “We are an organization with a mission to engage the community, foster collaboration, and then advocate for a shared vision for the future of Franklin. It is encouraging to see a strong desire by citizens to be engaged in identifying and discussing issues which may exist and then working together toward partnerships and new ideas.”
From the survey, Franklin Tomorrow learned:
- 66% of respondents believe they can have a moderate to big impact on making Franklin a better place to live;
- 45% are already involved in issues they care about, while 39% said they are too busy
- Additionally, 24% said they are unsure of how to get involved
- 48% met people they did not know while participating in the On the Table events
“Franklin Tomorrow was founded in 2001 and has conducted several visioning and citizen engagement activities since that time,” Tate explained. “In the 2018 On the Table initiative, the top three opportunities for improvement in Franklin, identified by those completing the post-event survey, were similar to those identified in previous efforts, but with a new perspective.”
“This issue of housing rose to the top when asked to identify the top three opportunities for improvement in Franklin today, but the focus was less on affordable housing for low-income individuals, but more fully reflecting on the need for attainable housing options for people in various stages of life and at various income levels,” Tate added.
Second, was the broad topic of transportation, with a desire to see greater connectivity and more pedestrian access between residential neighborhoods, downtown and Cool Springs, and “to morph land planning away from such a strong focus on the car.”
Third was the theme of growth and development, with a strong desire to see the city’s small-town charm maintained while recognizing that growth will, and should, continue.
Additional information gleaned from the survey includes:
- 84% of respondents said they always vote in local elections;
- 71% left with a better understanding of how they can personally address the challenges/opportunities facing the community;
- 42% of respondents had lived in their current home for less than five years, with more than half (53%) living in their current residence for 10 years or less.
In 2019, Franklin Tomorrow is making plans on how to continue the conversations which started with On the Table and the community is invited to participate in those activities as they occur, whether they were a participant in the original On the Table conversations.
Ideas being explored include:
- A civic book & media league, with different circles focusing on topics such as leadership & civics, design & society, and history & culture quarterly, while also offering a citywide reading and discussion topic;
- Partnering with Hands On Nashville, United Way of Williamson County and its partner agencies, and other local nonprofits to provide a clearinghouse for citizens to learn about volunteer opportunities;
- Specific programs to reconvene conversations begun through On the Table, utilizing other civic engagement platforms, as well as through a second On the Table event in Fall 2019.
“These ideas are just the tip of the iceberg of what can be done in a community like Franklin, which has an engaged citizenry and active business community,” stated Tate. “We had a series of wonderful partners in 2018 for On the Table, including the City of Franklin, Williamson Inc., Franklin Special School District, the Williamson County Association of REALTORS, and a number of local businesses and nonprofits. We want to reconvene with them in February and work toward continued momentum from this effort toward the common goal of maintaining and enhancing Franklin’s great quality of life.”
Follow the link below to see the presentation to the City of Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen or view the video from the Jan. 22, 2019 meeting through this link.