Successful examples of citizen participation in the local government service delivery decision-making process are widespread among professionally-managed communities. Because professional local government management offers government of the people, by the people, and for the people, it sets the stage for citizen activism by encouraging open communication between citizens and their government.
As policy-makers, the City Council routinely relies on appointed citizen committees and boards for assistance in areas such as budget, planning, parks, downtown redevelopment, and for special projects. In the City of Klamath Falls, the Mayor does have the authority to appoint citizens to these various boards and commissions. Because political power is concentrated in the entire governing body rather than one elected official, more citizens have an opportunity to be elected to a position in which they have significant influence over the future of their community.