Case Study: City of Benicia achieves inclusive public engagement on a contentious ordinance with Go Vocal

Supporting the City of Benicia, CA, in constructive engagement on a contentious topic

The City of Benicia, CA worked with Go Vocal to engage residents on a highly contentious industrial safety ordinance tied to a local oil refinery. With past controversies having eroded trust, the city needed a way to gather constructive input, reach beyond the usual outspoken participants, and create a transparent process for a topic that affected public health, safety, and the local economy.

Using Go Vocal’s engagement platform, Benicia launched the Engage Benicia platform with surveys, an idea wall, document annotation, in-person meetings, and low-barrier participation options like anonymous feedback and no registration. Go Vocal helped the city broaden participation, collect both quantitative and qualitative input, and close the feedback loop with residents and council. The result was a year-long engagement process that culminated in the Industrial Health and Safety Ordinance being unanimously approved, while also rebuilding trust and improving the quality of public dialogue.

City of Benicia, CA

Sophie Zinn

Government Success Manager, North America