REPRESENTATION IN COMPREHENSIVE PLANNING - AN ANALYSIS OF THE AUSTINPLAN PROCESS

This article examines the representativeness of the process, known as Austinplan, by which the City of Austin involved over 1,000 citizens i n preparing a new comprehensive plan. The participants were more afflu ent and better-educated than most Austin citizens; their views, howeve r, were similar to those of the general public on problems, urban cond itions, and values. On the other hand, significant differences occurre d between these groups on some important public policy positions, perh aps resulting from knowledge gained from prior participation in civic affairs, or participation in Austinplan itself. Differences on policy between participants and the general public could lead to conflict abo ut specific plans and strategies. This may be an instance of a classic issue: should representatives act as delegates of a citizenry less in formed than they are about the subjects at hand, or should they act as trustees on behalf of the civic good as they perceive it to emerge fr om the process of deliberation?