Community Engagement Charter

The City of Burlington Community Engagement Charter is an agreement between Burlington City Council and the residents of Burlington that outlines commitments, responsibilities, and fundamental principles related to resident engagement with City government.

At the core of democratic government are two pillars that also form the basis of effective citizen engagement:

• That government belongs to the community members within its political boundaries, and
• That the inhabitants of a city are “community members” with the rights and responsibilities of citizenship based on justice, human rights, fundamental freedoms and rule of law.

Engaging people on issues that affect their lives and their city is a key component of democratic society. Public involvement encourages participation, actions and personal responsibility. The goal of community engagement is to lead to more informed and, therefore, better decision-making.