Guidelines for Citizen Assistance

For many years, 1000 Friends of Oregon has provided assistance to citizens engaged in planning matters, many of whom cannot afford an attorney. We understand that citizen assistance can be an important part of the identification and education of the citizen activists who are so important to local implementation and defense of the planning program. Many of these citizen assistance requests become the source of the implementation/enforcement work done through the Cooperating Attorneys Program and other staff. Finally, citizen assistance requests are an important source of information about local planning matters, some of which are of regional or statewide significance.

However, we have found that the demand for this assistance is much greater than we can supply without sacrificing work on the higher priority matters (described above). Focusing on citizen assistance means fighting many small battles while losing the war over the policy decisions which control the individual decisions.

In addition, we find that some citizens do not fully appreciate the nature of the commitment required to prevail, i.e. that a single victory at a hearing or in an appeal is not sufficient to assure them of the final outcome they desire. Too often we are asked to assist in matters where the citizens are not equipped to ensure that our investment of time will affect the ultimate outcome or have a lasting community benefit.

Therefore, we will provide assistance to citizens on planning and permitting matters, provided:

1. There is staff time available and funding for that time; and

2. The assistance is consistent with our mission statement and the 1000 Friends' annual strategic plan; and

3. If the matter is a judicial or quasijudicial matter, we believe the citizen's legal argument has merit; and

4. We believe our assistance will have an effect on the long term outcome; and

5. The citizen is going to contribute something of their own to the desired outcome and has given some thought about how to assure that outcome; and

6. The assistance will foster the development of land use skills and activism in the community that will outlast the particular matter.

Tips on Successful Involvement in Land Use Decisions

1000 Friends Citizen Guides on Involvement in Land Use Proceedings and Appeals

Request for Assistance Form (pdf)