Town Council Problem Solving Slides
Community Problem Solving
Facilitated Group Discussion
Town Council:
Fix Our Community!
Speak up, debate real neighborhood challenges, and decide what gets done first.
🏛️
Today, YOU are the Town Council.
Your Council Mission
Ground Rules
🗣️ 🤝 💡
“There is no single correct answer.”
Your job is to listen, share ideas, and explain your thinking to make our community safer and fairer for everyone.
Council Rule: Give everyone time to speak before moving forward.
Starting Discussion
Brainstorming
Question 1 of 3
What does a town council actually do?
Who is responsible for fixing problems in our community?
⏸️ Pause & Brainstorm as a group “A town council is responsible for...”
Starting Discussion
Brainstorming
Question 2 of 3
How does the town find out what people need?
Can regular citizens speak up when something is broken?
⏸️ Share your experiences “People can notify the town by...”
Starting Discussion
Brainstorming
Question 3 of 3
What makes a community a great and safe place to live?
What makes a neighborhood difficult or unsafe to get around?
⏸️ Share your thoughts “A great neighborhood needs...”
The 5-Step Council Formula
Our Discussion Guide
🔎
Step 1
What's the problem?
👥
Step 2
Who does it affect?
💡
Step 3
What could we do?
🏛️
Step 4
Who could help?
⭐
Step 5
What do we do FIRST?
We will use these questions to investigate each community scenario!
CASE #1
The Missing Sidewalk
Scenario
🚧 🚶♂️ 🚗
There is a busy road in your neighborhood. There is a sidewalk on one side, but it suddenly ends.
People walking have to walk through muddy grass or right next to moving traffic to get where they are going.
Listen to the situation carefully. Next, the council will analyze the problem.
CASE #1
The Missing Sidewalk
Council Question 1
👥
Who does this situation affect the most?
Think about strollers, wheelchairs, kids walking to school, and senior citizens.
Sentence Frame: “This affects ________ the most because ________.”
CASE #1
The Missing Sidewalk
Council Question 2
⚠️
Is putting up a warning sign enough?
Why or why not?
Council Debate: “A sign is / isn't enough because ________.”
CASE #1
The Missing Sidewalk
Council Question 3
⭐
What should the town do FIRST while waiting for a permanent sidewalk to be built?
Building a concrete sidewalk can take months. How do we keep people safe today?
Action Plan: “Our immediate first step should be ________.”
CASE #2
No Way In
Scenario
🏛️ ♿ 🚫
The community center is used for public classes, meetings, and activities.
The front entrance has several steep stairs, but there is no ramp, lift, or other accessible entrance.
Analyze the barrier and consider rights, access, and costs.
CASE #2
No Way In
Council Question 1
🚪
Should every person in the community be able to enter the public center?
What message does it send if some people cannot get into the building?
Council Opinion: “Everyone deserves access because ________.”
CASE #2
No Way In
The Budget Challenge
⚠️ Council Dilemma
What if the town says they do not have enough money to build a ramp this year?
What creative or temporary solutions could we do right now?
Problem Solving: “While we raise money for a permanent ramp, we could ________.”
CASE #3
Where Do We Cross?
Scenario
🚦 🛒 🏎️
There is a busy grocery store directly across a wide, fast road from a neighborhood.
People cross the road every day to get food, but there is no crosswalk. The nearest light is half a mile away.
Pedestrians are risking their lives for basic groceries.
CASE #3
Where Do We Cross?
Council Question 1
🚸
Why are people crossing here instead of walking half a mile away?
Think about carrying heavy grocery bags, bad weather, and physical endurance.
Understanding Residents: “People cross here because ________.”
CASE #3
Where Do We Cross?
Council Question 2
💡
The town says a full traffic light costs too much money.
What else could the town do to make this crossing safe?
Brainstorm Alternatives: “Instead of a full traffic light, we could install ________.”
CASE #4
The Giant Pothole
Scenario
🕳️ 🚙 ⚠️
There is a huge, deep pothole in the middle of a neighborhood road.
Cars are swerving into oncoming traffic to avoid it, and people are worried someone will get hurt.
Road damage poses immediate danger to drivers, cyclists, and pedestrians.
CASE #4
The Giant Pothole
Council Question 1
⏱️
You reported the pothole, but the repair crew says it will take two weeks to fix.
What should happen to protect people until then?
Temporary Safety: “Until the crew arrives, we should ________.”
CASE #5
It's Too Dark
Scenario
🌑 💡 🌲
A neighborhood park has several pathway lights that no longer work.
People still use the park in the evening to walk dogs and exercise, but many areas are pitch dark.
Park safety after sunset is a common community dilemma.
CASE #5
It's Too Dark
Council Question
❓
Is this just an inconvenience, or is it a serious safety problem?
Should the town fix the lights, or should they just close the park earlier?
Council Position: “This is a safety issue because ________.”
CASE #6
The Bus Doesn't Come
Scenario
🚌 ⏳ 💼
People in one neighborhood depend on the bus to get to work, stores, and doctor appointments.
However, the bus only comes once every two hours.
Think about how transportation affects everyday independence.
CASE #6
The Bus Doesn't Come
Council Question
🤔
If only a few people use this bus route, should the town still spend money to improve it?
What happens to someone who loses their ride to work?
Equity Debate: “The town should / shouldn't invest because ________.”
CASE #7
The Park Is Full of Trash
Scenario
🗑️ 🥫 💨
A community park has trash cans, but people keep leaving garbage on the ground and picnic tables.
The park is becoming dirty, smelly, and unpleasant for everyone.
Consider the difference between punishment, cleaning, and prevention.
CASE #7
The Park Is Full of Trash
Council Question
🧹
Is organizing a cleanup enough, or do we also need to solve WHY people leave trash?
What stops people from littering in the first place?
Long-Term Fix: “To stop this permanently, the community needs to ________.”
🔥 FINAL CHALLENGE
The Park Budget Showdown
5 Requests • Budget for Only 3
🪑
#1 Benches
Not enough places to sit and rest.
🚶
#2 Sidewalks
Cracked and broken concrete paths.
💡
#3 Lights
Dark pathways at night.
🗑️
#4 Trash Cans
Overflowing garbage in the grass.
♿
#5 Ramp
Entrance has no accessible ramp.
The town only has money to fix THREE things this year.
CHALLENGE
The Budget Showdown
Priority Choice
🗳️
Which THREE things should we fix first?
Debate as a council. Why do these three take priority over the others?
Council Vote: “Our council chose ________, ________, and ________ because ________.”
CHALLENGE
The Budget Showdown
The Hard Choice
⚖️
What did you decide NOT to fix this year?
How will you explain your decision to neighbors who wanted those items fixed?
Explaining the Choice: “We had to postpone ________ because ________.”
Council Takeaway
Summary
What makes something a good solution?
🛡️ Safe
Protects people from danger.
⚖️ Fair
Helps all residents equally.
💵 Realistic
The town can actually do it.
Great town solutions aren't just easy—they are safe, fair, and workable.
Final Council Reflection
Around the Room
🏘️ ⭐ 📢
“If you could change ONE thing about our real community, what would you change?”
You don't have to be in government to make a difference. The first step is noticing and speaking up!
Every voice matters in building a better community.
