I would argue that these PR staff actually cost the city millions more when it came to the Crystal Pool project because they hindered communication (after all their training is to deflect or spin bad news to improve an employer’s image, not reveal bad news to let citizens tackle a conflict). Our city’s “engagement” staff projected an illusion, or a sales job if you will, that they were consulting the public. But they were actually making ads with Olympians, and consulting with swimmers from outside the taxbase on what tiles to choose — for years! Meanwhile locals were being told their land-use concerns were outside the scope of engagement. The result was the citizens got angrier, and the Mayor and council genuinely had no idea there was any opposition, nevermind risk of derailment happening. It really was a terrible loss of money, building plans, momentum and good will between neighbours.
A few PR staff probably have a place among staff, say if the city wants to nudge citizens in a particular direction, after knowing what citizens think and want. But as it is, the city is flying blind — and paying for the priviledge.

First is that engagement is the opposite of PR. One develops and communicates an official narrative and pushes it to the public. The other unbiasedly collects opinions from the public and informs policy makers. A PR trained “engagement” dept is actually counterproductive new-speak.

Second, the “engagement” dept directs their PR at the Mayor and Council. City staff use the PR to create a narrative that “sells” staff actions and priorities to our elected officials. This is less a conscious policy than simply the consequences of having a bloated PR dept. Just as the sword itself begets violence, a PR dept will sell a narrative. That’s what they do. Conflating PR with engagement simply exacerbates the problem.

This is not just a problem of finances it’s a problem for good democratic governance.

Communications with the taxpayers of Victoria is important, and there are huge demands from these citizens, to obtain a clear picture of “what’s happening at City Hall and how this will impact upon individual lives.”

My question is; “How can this huge volume of requests for information and the regular information releases pertaining to the activities of Council and bureaucrats/staff, best be handled without sufficient personnel to handle it?”
Having said that, I personally believe that we are all “at-risk” of being exposed to carefully crafted Media Releases that are designed to sway public opinion and mislead the public.

Who vets the information being put forward to the taxpayers of Victoria? How can we trust the Civic Politicians who, in the past, have been secretive, dishonest, and manipulative?