Laserfiche WebLink
Issue Brief GOVERNING <br /> I N S 7 I i U T E <br /> Improving Citizen Trust in Local Government <br /> How online tools spur communication, improve transparency and boost accountability <br /> Like corporatior�s, many local commur�ities are working effective�ob of announcing upcommg meetings Too many <br /> to bu�ld pos�tive brands A great brand acts like a magnet, cit�zens simply don't get the message. <br /> attracting dynamic businesses, visitors and engaged citizens Manual processes also make it hard and expensive to <br /> that make a community thrive. commun�cate w�th citizens Agency staff rriay spend hours <br /> One important way to build a community's brand is thro�gh prepanng agendas, minutes and supporting documents <br /> �strategy based on tr,�st A city or county that gains a rep��ta- After a rneeting, they spend more time—and money—f�eld- <br /> Uon for commun�cat�ons,transparency and accouniab�l�ty— mg requests for those documents and ihen mak�ng cop�es, <br /> �.nd for sorving the needs of its businesses and residenls— coliating and dislnbuting lhem <br /> w�ll f o�r�sh with c�i��ens who are used to access�ng�nfonnat�on Most elecied officials and government employees want to <br /> anyt�me,anywhere on a mobile device help improve constit�ents' hves, and many atilens are eager <br /> Legislafive meetings have tradit�onally provided an important to engage wlth them 1 he trick to nurtunng that relat�onship, <br /> opporiunity for communities to build irust Citizens who attend without inc�rr�ng undue expense, �s for governments to <br /> lhe meetmgs of their council or commissions quickly learn how prov�de tools that streamlme the process.allow�ng employees <br /> thc�r government is work�ng on the�r behalf If they're mvested to create and manage legislative information d�gitally and <br /> m particular�ssues,cit�zens can make the�r voices heard and share via channels that today's connected citizens are already <br /> understand their representatives'posit�on. using—the Web,social media and ema�i <br /> However, busy schedules, lack of child care or trans- <br /> portat�on, fears about travel�ng after dark and other factors Here's how mun�c�pal�ties can put those channels to work. <br /> can keep cit�zens o�t of the legislat�ve process and thwart Advance notice: Uoverni7�ent agenc�es can use email <br /> the�r efforts to stay �nformed Add�honally c�tizens who don't and soc�al media to prornote upcoming i7ieetmgs and <br /> attend rneetings but want to follow the discussion m,�st ens��re the �nfor��at�on reaches a broad cross sect�on ot the <br /> request m�nutes and other documents after the fact When populat�on Govemment employees may also use a special <br /> those documents only exist in hard copy, obtaining them can k�nd of software—a legislative management solution—to <br /> be slow and cumbersome for the citizen and labor-intensive publish agendas and supporting documents online, with <br /> and costly for government Constituents shouldn't have to access available through a public portal. The same portal <br /> str,�ggle to�oin the dialogue on issues that affect their lives. can provide information about special boards and com- <br /> E3ut too often,that's exactly what happens missions and allow potential volunteers to apply online for <br /> For governments to really ga�n trust,opportunit�es for cit�zen seats on those bodies <br /> engagement must extend beyond the co�7��7�ents per�od at Online access to meetings:E3y streammg v�deo of p�bl�c <br /> publ�c meetmgs G�(y and county of`�c��Is need to prov�de meei�ngs I�ve on the Intemet,a govemment allows anyone to watch <br /> modern, cosl-efiective options that increase transparency and lhe proceedmgs from any location,on a comp�ter,tablet or smart- <br /> enco�rage citizen partic�pat�on and engagement phone I'eoplc no longer need to travel to City Hall to enyage in the <br /> legislative process—technology brings City Hall�o them <br /> Communieations and Trust-Building Tools Making and sharing the record:Comprehensive so(t- <br /> Governmenls lhat rely on manual processes to manage ware soluf�ons allow clerks to easily capt,�re meetmg minuies <br /> and publicize meetings have a hard time build�ng tr,�st among eleclron�cally and index them Viewers can click on an agenda <br /> constituents The f�rst problem �s that signs, newspaper item and immed�ately watch that part of the meeting insiead <br /> not�ces, bullet�n boards and word of mouth don't do an of scanrnng thro�gh hours of v�deo Through the public portal, <br />