Blog: Life After Measure A: A Mediator's Perspective

By David Mallen, Attorney and Mediator

After Measure A, a large part of the community of Redondo Beach may want to talk about what happens next. City council may feel the need to put aside political differences to ensure that the council can continue to do council business effectively. Council members on the losing side of Measure A may want to reassure voters that the Council accepts the will of the people and intends to uphold the rule of law. Neighbors may wish to reinforce the idea that we all share a mutual interest in what is best for the city and its residents, even if we disagree on the best path to get there. AES Southland may want to continue to negotiate its best possible outcome with the city, because AES has a never-ending duty to maximize the profits of its shareholders. All community stakeholders deserve to be heard on Measure A and its consequences.

Like many important elections, Measure A has splintered segments of our community and pitted neighbor against neighbor. How do we, as a community, begin the “healing” and continue the discussion on Measure A with the goal of better decision-making? As a mediator trained to resolve litigation disputes as well as community disputes, I recommend the process of community facilitation.     

Community facilitation can improve the decision-making process by:

• Outlining and establishing agreement on the “rules of engagement”
• Summarizing the work that has been done;
• Keeping the discussion and process on track
• Stimulating creative input
• Keeping discussions fair
• Encouraging solutions that accommodate the concerns of minority opinions
• Documenting the process
• Evaluating results

Community facilitation is usually accomplished by trained professional known as "facilitators." These folks have no power to make decisions or define decision-making power. Rather, facilitators move the discussion along, provide a long-term process for building consensus through cycles of debate and revision, and ensure that the interests of all of the stakeholders in the community are respected and heard.

Here in Los Angeles County we have a hidden gem that offers community facilitation services for free. The Los Angeles County City Attorney's Office of Dispute Resolution, funded by public and private grants, trains hundreds of mediators and community facilitators each year. The Office of Dispute Resolution assigns these trained volunteers to resolve community disputes and to help civic leaders talk, understand, negotiate and agree on issues of public importance. I recommend that.

Many of us have listened to plenty of opinions and done plenty of talking. Now is the time to begin community facilitation with the goal of building understanding, trust, and agreement about how our community will look and feel after Measure A. 

Are you listening, city council?