A Public Engagement Firm specializing in CEQA, Housing, Planning & Land Use
Public Engagement & Conflict Resolution Services
Public engagement is more than letters, postcards, and conducting a public meeting. Efforts in the post-COVID world need to include engagement that meets more people where they are and at a time convenient for them. Depending on your needs, a combination of services may be provided or custom efforts made building on one or more of these areas.
Also, public engagement now most certainly include some form of conflict resolution. Conflict sand disputes come in many forms. They can be simple - which restaurant are you going to eat at tonight with your significant other.
Or complex - you are on the verge or already been sued by a former associate or business partner.
I believe, as do the American Courts, that most civil issues should and can be resolved through alternative means other than a lawsuit.
​
Because of my background, I specialize in land use and community conflict; however,
don't be afraid to seek me out for other areas and any type of disputed.
I have helped a commercial business understand a pending lawsuit, reviewed their documents (they had a binding arbitration agreement with their client), and recommended a course of action.
​​
Below is a listing of main types of Conflict Resolution Service areas that I provide assistance in.
The list is not all inclusive and is only intended to provide an overview of the main areas.
Depending on your needs, a combination of services may be provided or custom efforts made building on one or more of these areas.
General Public Engagement ​​
Public or Community Engagement is different from both Conciliation and Consensus Building. Community engagement is just that, helping you to identify the community and methods to engage them to the fullest. General outreach, identification of other interested parties or supporters, conducting meetings across multiple formats (in-person and electronically), and detailing the results of that outreach are one of DPD Solutions' favorite areas to assist clients.
Arbitration *
Arbitration in the involvement of a neutral third party (the arbitrator) to review the information, hear witnesses, hear from the parties about the dispute and render a decision/award to one party over the other. Selection of an arbitrator or arbitration panel is part of the process, and I can either be that person or provide guidance on the overall process, whether it be through the institutional providers or an ad hoc basis.
* Due to ethical, legal, and contractual obligations with FINRA, I am unable to provide arbitration services for anyone within the securities or FINRA-covered industries.
Conciliation
Conciliation is about building a relationship between parties for the long term and in a positive manner. The conciliator helps with establishing communications, assisting to correct misconceptions or misunderstandings, dealing with strong emotional issues and personalities, and building trust between parties for cooperative problem-solving and future relations.
Consensus Building
Consensus building is one step beyond public engagement. Imagine a dispute or issue that has evolved into a clear set of options that everyone generally supports but has minor nuances that don't make them acceptable to everyone. You need help leading the groups to reach an informed decision -- that's consensus building and where DPD Solutions can assist. I can work with you and the entire community to reach a consensus on the issues at hand. This can also be about conflicts or proposals for development that may not be easily accepted or have a history of controversy.
Early Neutral Evaluation
Early Neutral Evaluation (or ENE) is where the independent neutral evaluator reviews the case of one or both parties in advance of formal litigation (or other dispute resolution method) and renders a non-binding decision about the facts and where it is anticipated that a case may land should it proceed through other dispute resolution method or formal litigation. The evaluator may provide insight to both parties about their respective strengths and weaknesses, with the hopes that the parties may mediate or resolve the dispute themselves without more formal action. I can provide that ENE in areas that I have expertise and provide a fresh set of eyes to the dispute to improve your position or better understand the other side’s perspective.
Facilitation
Facilitation uses various techniques to improve a situation, flow of information, or process improvement amongst an established group or newly connected parties, all with the hopes of addressing the situation cooperatively and avoiding the creation of a dispute.
Fact Finding
Fact finding is the use of an impartial party (expert or group of experts – panel) selected by the parties, agency, or individual with authority to appoint the fact finder to establish the “facts” relative to the dispute. The fact finder needs to be impartial, be able to review the entirety of the situation, and establishing the facts with the expectation that their opinion will provide the parties with a trusted and impartial view of the materials/issues to the dispute. The fact finder generally doesn’t assist with the dispute resolution, but settles the “facts” to the dispute so that the parties may pursue resolution.
Mediation
Mediation is the involvement of a neutral third party (the mediator) to assist the parties in resolving a dispute betw​een them with the intent of also preserving the relationship. The mediator’s role is not to decide the case, but to assist the parties to reach their own resolution to the dispute. I can be an initiator to the process for you and on your behalf with another party in which mediation can move the parties forward.
Negotiation
Negotiation is the interaction of two or more parties, who have both common and conflicting interests, for the purposes of reaching a mutually beneficial agreement, without the assistance of outside parties. I can serve on your team, help with strategy, and step in to assist with other issues and greater understanding.
