03-08-2023 Workshop Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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adding/editing/and updating content. Park & Recreation communicates much more than any other department and this individual felt that could be improved by other department being assisted and prompted to be more engaged in sharing information via the website. Another individual thinks the City does a fine job based on his own personal preference which is to read a newsletter. Past surveys have shown that the newsletter is well read. This individual does not have any social media accounts and does not see the need for communicating through four or five different means. This individual does not believe that communications need be improved and feels more communication may irritate residents. The City typically hears from chronic complainers and more communication will not change that. Additional room for improvement in communications is the frequency and effectiveness of it. The newsletter has improved from stale articles to new and interesting information that residents appreciate. This requires more staff time, and it typically falls on one person. City staff are currently working on a refresh of the City website. The City has a good partnership with NineNorth, serving 10 communities, but has not fully utilized those public relation services, i.e. city videos. Additional opportunities for communicating include providing material in the quarterly utility billing invoices that are mailed to residents. In the past this has been used to communicate but was discontinued due to the additional expense. Staff from the Parks & Recreation Department do most of the communications work. Some other staff will send them material to post on social media and the leadership team helps with the newsletter. The City Administrator is the final review of the newsletter. 9)Do you believe that additional outreach and engagement with residents from the City would result in a greater sense of community and what would be examples of this additional outreach and engagement? Yes, most staff believe that more communication from City Hall will result in a stronger sense of Community for newer residents and those residents from a more diverse background. The diversity that currently exists within the community is not reflected in the staff or Council. The City has typically done a survey of residents which will be coming up in 2023 and a staff person hopes this will gather more input fro the City’s more diverse residents. Another staff member held the opinion that additional outreach will not result in any tangible results. In this person’s view, residents that want to be part of the community are already finding opportunities and being engaged whereas those that do not want to be involved will remain distant and are not open to seeing the good things that the City does for residents. 15 of 63