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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-09-2010 packetA t. enda ,44'44 City of Lake Elmo City Council Workshop 3800 Laverne Avenue North Lake Elmo. MN S5042 February 9. 2010 6130 p.m. — 8:30 p.m. Update on Washinton County Sheriffs Office Activities and Issues 3. Update on Lake Elmo Forestry Program 4. Presentation on Citizen Request Management (CRM) Systems Adjourn ,eratamocEiconsaurn--.1., 7. /1 • 1, • I. V DATE: WORKSHOP ITEM #: DISCUSSION 2/09/2010 2.. AGENDA ITEM: Update on WashingtonCounty Sheriffs Office Activities and Issues SUBMITTED BY: Bruce A. Messelt, City Administra o ON BEHALF OF: Commander Cheri Dexter. Office of the Sheriff SUMMARY AND ACTION REQUESTED: This item has been scheduled in order to allow the City Council to receive an update on current activities of and issues facing the Washington County Sheriff's Office. especially as they relate to Lake Elmo, current law enforcement issues facing the City and County. and other related considerations. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The January 2010 Monthly contract Report is attached for City Council review and consideration. At the request of the Mavor and City Council, this Workshop Item has been scheduled in order to allow for a timely review and discussion of law enforcement issues as they relate to Washington County and the City of Lake Elmo, STAFF REPORT: Commander Cheri Dexter and perhaps additional Law Enforcement personnel will be present at tonight's Workshop to present current issues and considerations facing Lake Elmo, surrounding communities and Washington County. RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council receive the proposed presentation at tonight's Workshop and provide any further direction, as appropriate. ATTACHMENTS: January 2010 Monthly Report SUGGESTED ORDER OF' BUSINESS,- - Introduction of Item ........... ..... Administrator Report/Presentation ... Cheri Dexter, et al - Questions to/from Council...... ....... ........... _ .... _Mayor Facilitates - Public Input. ilAppropriate .............. .............. Mayor Facilitates Council Discussion Mayor & City Council pagc: 1 -- Lake Elmo Contract Monthly Report January 2010 Citations: During the month ofIanuary, there were a total of 53 citations issued: 13 — Movin2, violations (Le. Speeding, Pass on Right. etc.) 33 — Non -Moving violations (i.e. Driver's License violations, etc.) 6 — Other criminal acts (Assault. Minor Consumption, etc.) 1 — Park Violations (issued at Lake Elmo Park Reserve) Calls for Service: There were 314 ICR's created in the city of Lake Elmo. 3 — Fire Call 20 — Rescue Calls 8 — Permits/Licenses 3 — Warrants 280 — All other calls There were 5 DWI arrests There was 1 Motor Vehicle Theft report taken. There were 4 Burglaries/Attempted burOaries. Investigations are on -going. There were 3 Directed Patrols (i.e. Speed, Passing on Rights) No other major incidents occurred. /006000.000.0mrsagn.M00.04§0,,,,,,,. LAAKi,70 AGENDA ITEM: SUBMITTED BY: THROUGH: REVIEWED BY: L # 0"' DATE: WORKSHOP ITEM #: DISCUSSION Update on Lake Elmo Forestry Program Kathy NA-Tidin. Forestry Consultant Bruce A. Messelt. City Administra Carol Kriegler, Project Director 2/09/2010 3 SUMMARYAND ACTION REOUESTED: This item has been scheduled in order to allow the City Council to receive an update on 2009 Forestry Activities and to preview the proposed 2010 Forestry Program and other related considerations. BACKGROUND INFORMATION: The 2009 Forestry Report is attached for City Council review and consideration. Unfortunately, due to budgetary considerations, the proposed 2010 Forestry Workplan represents a sianificantly less ambitious effort than that undertaken in 2009. STAFF REPORT: Dr. Kathy Widin, the City's Forestry Consultant, will present a brief summary of 2009 activities and discuss proposed 2010 activities and related Forestry considerations. An1ona the items to be covered are the following: Forestry Program 2010 A. Public Trees - boulevards. parks. trails B. Private Trees - tel, calls, site visits - residents C. Outreach (other) - newsletter, website. seminar D. Tree City USA E. Oak Wilt - inspections. removal, mgt. recommendations F. Emerald Ash Borer - not here yet but coming G. DNR L,rrant - natural resource management plan - Sunfish Lake Park H. DNR grant - prairie restoration Sunfish Lake Park I. Buckthorn management/woodland restoration - Pebble Park J. Development Projects City Council Meeting Update on Lake Elmo Forestry Program February 9th, 2010 Workshop Agenda Item t 2 11. Oak Wilt — Enforcement, Inspections and Management 1. history of management before 2005 2. manauement 2005-2009 3. 2010 - management recommendations or requirements? III. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) Status A. Emerald Ash Borer 1. what is it? 2. why is it important? 3, what does LE need to do in 2010? B. Actions Recommended in 2010 1. ash inspection/inventory city parks 2. recommendations for treatment of ash on public property 3. update tree "disease" ordinance re: addition of EAB language 4. info. for residents 5. EAB seminar City Hall Thurs. April 29. 2010 6. update EAB management plan (Draft 2009) RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended that the City Council receive the proposed presentation at tonight's Workshop and provide further direction. as appropriate. regarding the proposed 2010 Forestry Program and Workplan. ATTACHMENTS: 2009 Forestry Program Report SUGGESTED 0 ER OF BUSINESS; Introduction of Item ......... ............ ...... ...... ...... ........ ..... City Administrator Report/Presentation ..... ..... ......... ............. Kathy Widin Questions from Council . ...... ....... ............ ......... ....... ........ ........ Mayor Facilitates Public Input, if Appropriate ....... . ......... .............. ...... ....... Mayor Facilitates Council Discussion ........... ......... ............. ...... . ..... ..... . Mayor & City Council Council Direction, if Appropriate ............ ......... ......... .......... Mayor Facilitates page 2 -- Forestry Pro2rarn Report 2009 City of Lake Elmo February 2nd, 2010 To: Honorable Mayor and Lake Elmo City Council Bruce Messelt, City Administrator Carol Kriegler, Program Asst, Parks Commission From: Katharine D. Widin, Ph.D. Plant Health Associates, Inc. Forestry Consultant City of Lake Elmo Public Trees & City Forestry Pro2ram: In 2009 I met with the Program Assistant and City Administrator, and other staff, as needed, to plan the forestry program activities and provide updates as to how the work of the program was proceeding. I attended City Council, Parks and other Commission meetings as needed. I kept records regarding forestry activities and contacts made with residents, I also completed tree inspections for oak wilt, Upon request, I inspected trees in boulevard and park areas for disease, insects, storm damage and potential risk situations, and made recommendations for maintenance. I reviewed landscape and planting plans for developments, made inspections and inventories, and met with developers and contractors, as needed, and prepared reports regarding these projects. Education and Outreach: A valuable part of the forestry program in Lake Elmo is the education and outreach component. In 2009 I wrote articles for each issue of the city newsletter on topics which included: Emerald Ash Borer, Oak Wilt, Healthy Trees for Our Landscapes Spring Seminar, Trees and Shrubs for Winter Wildlife Food, Risk Trees, Buckthorn and Woodland Restoration in Pebble Park, Tree Pruning and Garlic Mustard, The city newsletter and website are both important ways to provide residents with information on tree -related issues and events. I also answered telephone messages and made site visits to residents regarding questions about trees and tree health. In 2009, I responded to 162 telephone messages or personal communications from residents and made 86 site visits to look at trees (compared to 134 tel, calls and 87 site visits in 2008). In all, I spent approximately 51 hours on tel. calls and site visits to residents. A few calls and an additional 30 site inspections concerned oak wilt and are included in the hours spent on the diseased tree inspection program. Tree issues discussed with residents were: Dutch elm disease, oak wilt, white pine blister rust, tree removal for the gas pipeline, emerald ash borer, risk trees, tree decay and defects, declining trees, insect/mite galls on leaves, tree selection and planting, buckthorn and other invasive plants, Rhizosphaera needlecast on spruce, pine sawflies, winter injury, pine bark beetles, stem girdling roots, drought stress, tree and shrub identification and construction damage. — page 1 -- Lake Elmo Final Report — 2009 Katharine D. Widin, Ph.D. I prepared and presented a seminar in spring 2009 on "Healthy Trees for Our Landscapes", attended by a number of residents, and aired on the cable access channel. Tree City, USA Award Program: The City of Lake Elmo completed all requirements for the Tree City, USA award again in 2009. Earning this award designation is a very positive achievement for a city and indicates a commitment to trees and their care. Applying for this award does not require much beyond activities which the city is already involved in. Per the requirements of the Tree City, USA program, the city council issued an Arbor Day/Month Proclamation on Mar. 17, 2009. Native tree and shrub seedlings were planted in a buckthorn removal area in Pebble Park May 9, 2009. The MNDOT Landscape Partnership along Hwy. 5 served as the city's ceremonial tree planting. Twenty-eight trees, 246 shrubs and 146 perennials were planted by approximately 50 volunteers, staff, Council and Commission members on May 30, 2009. The Parks Comm. serves as the Tree Board for the city of Lake Elmo. $2.00 per capita in tree -related expenditures is required for this award. The total expenditures for tree -related activities in Lake Elmo in 2009 (trees, shrubs, perennial and seedling purchases, forestry consultant, contracted and in-house tree removals and tree pruning) submitted with the TCUSA application, came to $39,403.. I completed the TCUSA application in December and delivered it to the DNR. Tree Protection and Natural Resource Projects: Oak Wilt - Inspections for trees with oak wilt disease is an important part of the forestry program in Lake Elmo. About 1/4 of the hours I work for the city are spent on oak wilt. In 2009, 1 spent about 65 hours doing tree inspections (75 hours in 2008, including cost share grant administration),visiting as much of the city as I could, especially re -visiting areas with a high proportion of oaks and where oak wilt infection centers have occurred in the past. Some of the oak wilt infection centers were shared between several properties and were fairly large, while other infection centers consisted of only 1 or 2 isolated trees. There were oak wilt infected trees in Sunfish Lake Park again this year and 1 also found an area of dying oaks in Reid Park, both of which I will re -visit in 2010, using GPS to locate the infection centers. I will continue to monitor these infection centers and will recommend management practices, removal of wilting pin oaks (potential spore -producing trees) and root graft disruption to limit underground spread, if they are required in the future. I also met with property owners along Birchbark Tr. Jane Rd. and the Carmelite Monastery property and a rep. of Xcel Energy Line Clearance last fall to discuss removal of several diseased pin oaks and risk trees along a power line corridor. In 2009 -I was again asked by the MN DNR to re -inspect properties in the city which received oak wilt cost share funds in 2007 and 2008. I will continue to monitor these sites and provide a report to the DNR until 2011. The DNR provides funds to pay for these re -inspections and -- page 2 -- Lake Elmo Final Report — 2009 Katharine D. Widin, Ph.D. reports for the cost -share program. In 2009 I also attended an oak wilt management workshop, put on by the DNR for municipal foresters. Emerald Ash Borer - In May 2009, emerald ash borer (EAB) was found in St. Paul, near the St. Paul campus of the Univ. of Minn„ It has also been found on the Wisconsin side of the Mississippi River, across from Houston County, MN. This insect is native to Asia and was found in Detroit, Mich. in 2002, though it had been active there for at least 8 years prior to being identified. Since that time it has killed millions of ash trees in Mich., Ohio and Indiana and has spread to at least 13 U.S. states and Canadian provinces, including Minnesota and Wisconsin. There is virtually no natural resistance to this insect in ash planted in boulevards, parks and yards or ash occurring naturally in woodland areas. The insect has not yet been found in Washington County; however, Lake Elmo is within 20 miles of the St. Paul infestation and should prepare for tree damage due to this insect within the next five years. Tree removal and replacement will need to be done by both the city and private property owners. In 2009, I attended several seminars/workshops on EAB and its management. I prepared a draft EAB Management Plan for Lake Elmo, which 1 forwarded to the City Administrator. I have begun tree inventories in active areas of all city parks and will complete those by spring 2010. At that time, the EAB Management Plan can be finalized, with input from the city. In 2010, the tree disease ordinance should be re -visited re: language changes/additions related to the advent of emerald ash borer and other future serious tree pests. DNR Community Conservation Assistance Grant (to prepare a Natural Resource Management Plan for Sunfish Lake Park (10/09-5/11) - In 2009, I wrote a grant application to the DNR Metro Greenways Program for a DNR Community Conservation Assistance Grant to provide funding to prepare a natural resource management plan for the park. Last fall, the city received the grant for $8,306 with a required city cashmatch of $2,769.. The main objectives for this project will be to collect information on the plant communities in Sunfish Lake Park, their quality and impacts, such as invasive plants and soil erosion, which threaten their integrity. Plant community degradation also threatens wildlife habitat and diversity and water quality. A management plan will then be completed, which will address improvement of the plant communities by management of invasive plants, soil erosion and other factors as well as the addition of native plants into these areas to improve plant diversity and wildlife habitat. I plan to work with a plant ecologist from Minn. Native Landscapes, the company recommended to do the prairie restoration at SFL Park, the Washington Conservation District wetland specialist, Jyneen Thatcher, Valley Branch Watershed District and DNR plant specialists, as needed, to complete the field work and plan. The project work and plan need to be completed by May 30, 2011. Buckthorn Removal and Woodland Restoration — Pebble Park and Cooperative Weed Management Area Grant - Part of my duties includes providing recommendations to the city as well as residents on the identification and management of invasive plants. European buckthorn is the most common woody invasive, but there are also problematic herbaceous invasive plants, such as garlic mustard. I have found populations of garlic mustard in Lake Elmo and will work with residents, city staff and volunteers on the best ways to manage it. I applied for a Cooperative Weed Management Area grant, administered by the Washington Conservation -- page 3 -- Lake Elmo Final Report — 2009 Katharine D, Widin, Ph.D. District (WCD), in 2008. This grant was funded in 2009, and provided $350 for purchase of native tree and shrub seedlings which were planted in a buckthorn removal area in Pebble Park May 9, 2009. I inspected the site in August 2009 with Jyneen Thatcher of the WCD and there was good survival of the native tree and shrub seedlings. The grant also provided funds for purchase of an herbicide and sprayer to be used for a targeted application/dormant basal bark treatment of buckthorn saplings and re -sprouts. This past fall I wrote a letter of support for the Washington Conservation District to apply for another CWMA grant from which they can offer funding to cities, watershed districts and private property owners who are managing invasive plants in 2010. Prairie Restoration Sunfish Lake Park - In 2009, I reviewed a separate grant application to the DNR Metro Greenways program to plant a prairie restoration on 20 A just to the south of the wooded area of Sunfish Lake Park, N of Hwy 5. This grant was also successful and I provided input for the request for proposals which were sent out to companies which install native prairies. There still is a small prairie remnant near the area to be planted and the prairie restoration is an exciting project which will provide beauty, wildlife habitat and will be more sustainable than repetitive agricultural use on that site. Development Proiects: In 2009 I was involved with a number of development projects within the city. I reviewed landscape plans, made inspections, did plant inventories, if required, and wrote reports on my findings. A number of the development projects were old ones which the city was working to finalize due to non -compliant infrastructure and/or landscape issues. The development projects I worked on this year included: Farms of Lake Elmo, Emerson project, Sanctuary, Park Meadows, and Prairie Ridge Office Park. I was also involved in plan review, tree inspection and tree preservation recommendations for the Demontreville Ravine Stabilization project of Valley Branch Watershed District. Other Proiects: In 2009, I worked with the Fire Dept. in the spring re: the DNR Firewise program, providing residents with information about preventing wildfire damage to homes and properties. I wrote a press release on the program for local papers, and a handout on pruning and oak wilt as well as providing other input for the project. I met with Carol Kriegler and representatives of the Pollution Control Agency to check sites for placement of monitoring wells in Sunfish Lake Park. At several of the sites, monitoring well structures were simply being replaced. Monitoring wells were related to the landfill cleanup project to the west of Sunfish Lake Park. In 2009 I also met with residents of the Hamlet of Sunfish Lake and looked at trees on public and private property, identified problems and recommended tree care. I also adapted Tree Protection Guidelines written for another community to Lake Elmo and sent them to Kyle Klatt for review. Summary: 225 hours of forestry consulting were estimated for 2009. Actual hours were about 275 (compared to 236 in 2009). The increase in hours worked were due mainly to work on the emerald ash borer management plan and the grant for the natural resource management plan in -- page 4 -- Lake Elmo Final Report — 2009 Katharine D. Widin, PhD. Sunfish Lake Park. Development hours were estimated at 25 and came in at 25.5. A proposed forestry work program for 2010 has been submitted to the city along with this report and 225 hours are proposed for 2010. This does not include my hours for the Sunfish Lake Park Mgt. Plan project which will probably be about 100, 75% of that cost will be reimbursed by the grant. Costs for many forestry activities (newsletter articles and website info., EAB management plans, prairie management recommendations, seminars on municipal forestry issues, Coop. Weed Mgt. Area grants) are cost -shared with the other communities I work with in Washington County — Stillwater, Oak Park Heights, Mahtomedi and Lakeland — which reduces direct costs to each city. I have enjoyed providing forestry consulting for the City of Lake Elmo and look forward to providing these services to the city in 2010. -- page 5 r'r tt r:r t-tr• r t. 4 r ; DATE: WORKSHOP ITEM #: DISCUSSION 2'OQ 201 14 AGENDA ITEM: Presentation on Citizen Request Management (CRM) Systems SUBMITTED BY: Bruce A. Messelt. City Administrat AV\, ON BEHALF OF: Mayor Johnston and the Lake Elmo City Council REVIEWED BY: - NA - SUMMARY AND ,ACTION REQUESTED: This item has been scheduled at the request of the City Administrator Nilesselt in response to conversations with the City Council regarding potential purchase and utilization of Citizen Request Management system. The City Council is asked to receive an on-line and telephonic demonstration of GovQA. which has widespread success and strong support among a variety of local and regional governments, including with smaller. more rural communities. Of note. the LMNC has partnered with GovOffice, a competing CRM platform. which the City will also evaluate tonight. However, the LMNC is re-evaluating this partnership and several Minnesota cities have effectively utilized other CRM systems. BACKGROUND INFW:,A. T ON: Ton41ht's Presenter, Chris Muselak, is the Regional Representative for GovQA, the leader in Citizen Request Management (CRM). Its platform handles inbound and outbound citizen communication for populations ranging from 3.000 to more than a million. They serve l -50 customers in 23 states and are the selected CRM partner of The Texas Municipal League and the National Association of Government Webmasters. Local governments choose GovQA to act as, or enhance. 3-1-1 information environments because it is a complete platform for growth. It has a low monthly fee for unlimited users. It is accessible by all channels: phone. web, email or in person. 11 can customize to specific city functions, vet can report centrally. GovQA easily integrates with existing office environments and websites. looks and acts like part of the government website, and offers a live support option to handle off -hour or high -volume citizen calls or emails. STAFF REPORT: City staff recommends scheduling of this presentation. especially given Lake Elmo's interest in strong ecommunity serviee. City staff has some experience with CRM pace -- City Council Meeting, Presentation on Citizen Request Management iCRM) Systems February 9th, 201 0 Workshop Agenda Item 3 systems, though not with GovQA, and have found them to be an effective tool, if properly structured, deployed and utilized. RECOMMENDATION: Based upon the above and attached background information, it is recommended that the City Council view the proposed presentation and engage in a discussion regarding CRM systems. No specific Council action is required or recommended at this time, though direction regarding potential consideration of acquisition of a CRM system is requested. Alternatively, the City Council may elect to forgo some or all of the proposed presentation and discussion, as appropriate, and or determine if additional follow-up activity is warranted. ATTACHMENTS: 1. Background information on GovQA Citizen Request Management (CRM) System 2. Background information on LMNC' s Partnership with GovOffice CRM System SUGGESTED 0 ER OF BUSINESS: Introduction of Item ............ • ..... . ...... ....... ........ City Administrator Report/Presentation.... ............ .........Mr. Chris Muselak (via internet/telephone) Questions from Council to Presenter ..... Mayor Facilitates Public Input, if Appropriate .............. ..... ................... ...... ........ Mayor Facilitates Discussion. ...... ........ .......... .............. ............ ..... .......... Mayor & City Council The GmvQAPlmtfonn QnvOAunites four distinct modules hosupport all incoming citizen request for Service and Information, all outgoing Communications for notification and feedback, and any off -hour or high volume Live Support, These modules are accessible to citizens and |nco| governments by phona, web, omoU or in peemn, oponifio to meet each department's needs, centralized to provide a complete view of all government support activities and completely automated to|mpmv�efficiencies and o�oam|inacco�.GovQAnpe,�aain1O languages and also supports video broadcasts', pormitting, code enforcement and lost @found. Ease of Use: GovQA's hosted system easily integrates with any local government's call center and website. GovQA requires only internet access: with no hardware to buy or complicated software to learn. Access: Administrators access GovQA through a browser to manage inbound arid outbound citizen communication, Pricing:8ovQA pricing starts at a few hundred dollars per month for unlimited use 'and is based upon GovQA Features OPERATION. Type Central ized Database &Knowledo ebase Uses workflow & reporting tech nolo di e:s Handles all inbound citizen co mmunicatio ns Handle all outbound citizen cornuni cat o rio Web _Based - hosted —no hardware/software Ent erp rl se wide Sup port Ca II Center &MrninLfun.diors Access :Phone: Staff captures :inbound call info. Walk -In: Staff captures citizens data on site Email: auto captures/track.s incoming entails Web: Citizens self-service themselves on web User Impact Accessible wi a any browser Citizens' &Staff have only one spot to go to: Citizens see easy -to -use, simple. screens Staff sees standard &familiar folder formats taff has Dashboard: Snapshot all activity In:sta IItwn Same and feel as covernment website Seamless :integration.: alveays feels like on site. Secure,. redun,dant, backed -up, with fall -over SCOPE and RANGE Specific to Departments Cirstoni reg ilest. messages, contolair forma Marta ger can Vie vy unlimited staff users Departmental repo rtin:g Centralized for overall Management Access to an department operation Access to any citizen, file Central rep-orting Reporting at all levels, Standard reports by topic, department, etc. Graphic -reports Customizable reports Analytic; and trend 'mapping Security at all levels Several levels to manage staF access Ch naea ble access without co nta cling vendor Privacy' of information Strategic Extensions GIS Code:Enforcement Permitting lost and Founds Complete Intettration wain Other System 3-1.1 Call Centers Work Order systems FUNCTIONS In bound Information' requests n owlet) eba s e for intern a & exter Nal use Tracks ,shows top questions AsSist ,s earthing by keyword,. phrase Auto- assigns question to departntent or staff Captures netv que-stion Checks knowledgebase for an sveer if no answ,er,. routes &tracks 'until re,solve:d Uses configurable roLIteF timing frule. Iodic Auto email response to, verify receipt :informally collect; feedback Dynamically acids QM to knoveled geb as, e, 'Knoveledoebase grows for future use Inbound Service requesIS Tracks until resolved Auto-a5ligns request to department or Staff configurable route, timing and rule logic Sends alerb so cases are notneolecteci Collect information on quality of response Inbound Messages / Corn -plaints Captures ntessacia; / complaints Uses configurable mute, timing and rule or Tracks until. raol'ed Auto-assions to department or employee Auto entail response to acknowledge receipt Collect information on quality of resi.)onse Outlinuirid keig istrafirin Can 'capture: entail address, address...phone Can capture- areas of Interest, events, etc. .Entirely configurable Outbound Melts, & Notifications Send normal newsletters, notificatiorn, etc, issue Alert notifications Ind ud e. attach m ertts , notes,. link. a nythi no Outbound Surveys Create formal survey Administe,r survey Capture, report and surve.y resutts Use anal tools tol e,valuate results 1Citizett Ma nage me nt Track status on requests for smite On requests for information On messades / complaints Like Service BaOkup for Tr a toed agerito kno GovQA operihons; Off -hour citizen management Hi h- p e air, citizen m n no ern ent Platform Benefits QnvQA'ucapabilities benefit both the city and the citizens. Some benefits include: City Benefits include: Is Initiates a Strategic Expandable and Cost Effective Platform that can be rolled out among departments as desired. ^Handles All Inbound Requests Over phone - OverwehnremoU - Ovoroounter|npomon - Coptumoinwamefomnat -Cuptumain central system - In 10d|fferend languages ,|eCustomizable byDepartment - Oondeterminodatahonoptum - cmnnreatemwnvmrkflown 'Can onnfiUumown Know|odgebaoe ^Provides Central Control 'Offers central reporting Keeps service format consistent Keeps answer format consistent -Keeps answersc^/viste," Improves inter -agency coordination ^Increases Efficiency -Offers accessibility from anywhere - Cenbeunedbyuutsidnoonhactors 'Streamlines request processing 'Auto -updates information for public - RodumsoinoominOoaUxande'moi|n - Leteadminanm*erqueot|ona 'Gathers feedback for fine-tuning ,Creates Proactive Communication 'Register citizens (ewonts.etoj -Inform cItIzene(newu|e#wm etc) 'Survey citizens for feedback ^ |oEasy and Cost Effective - HaoumaU,pormonthphcing - Suppnrtoun|imiteduoors - Nohondwmreorooftwamtobuy - Easy to learn: uses standards - EeoytointmgnatewUhwebnKo-EauyforooUnonkem to use Can be expanded with other GovQAmodular functionality: permitting, code enforcement, overnight parking registration, lost & found, etc, Citizen Benefits include: ^ Creates Sense ofImproved and Expanded Service for Citizens ^Provides oFamiliar and Consistent Format: 'Over phone (staff asks familiar questions) 'Over web (see familiar questions) Over email |Unrpnoneoaing) - |npomnn(ntaff asks familiar questions) '|n 1Qdifferent languages ^Increases Service Speed and Efficiency: 'Have place bn go onweb for everything Can service self 'Can request service 24/7 -Can access information 24/7 'Benefit from automated processing ^|mpnoveoCommufteUon - GotnonhnnaUonnumbomnna||nequests 'Get email updates onservice requests - Getamoi|moponontu questions Get communications: alerts/notices ^Offers Individuals AVkm*ofAll-Interaction -Can view status nfall service requests - ConvimmotatunufoUquooNonn Can view all communication (alerts, etc.) ^Creates Channel For Input 'Captures feedback onall interaction Also captures feedback via formal surveys ,Creates Channel For Receiving Information 'Can register for notices /events ^ The Citizen View GovQAprovides citizen access through any workstation with ebrowser, That way, citizens can access GovQA from home; government call centers can access GovQA on behalf of a citizen phoning in, and citizens can access BnvOAthrough apublic workstation ategovernment location orlibrary, Typically an "Online Service" area on a government website takes citizens to GovQA's hosted service, It looks just like |t|npart of the government website and displays a simple window with functional areas that are easy for citizens tounderstand, GovOAallows gnvemmnniatoinclude some all nf the following components for inbound and outbound communications and ongoing status: " Inbound: For Information: GovQA uses three techniques to handle citizen questions quickly with little outside assistance. 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Turn forms into full e-government tools and take payments online in a secure environment. . Save time and money by creating paperless council packets. . Communicate with residents through surveys and bulk e-mail. Learn more and take a brief GovOffice tour Try GovOffice for Free A free, 30-day trial will help you determine if GovOffice is right for your city. For More Information GovOffice is the nation's leading web site for local governments. Easy to use, affordable, and powerful, take a free, 30-day trial to find out if GovOffice is the right choice for your city's web site needs. Contact GovOffice Sales http ://www .lmc.org/page/ 1 /govoffi ce.j sp 2/4/2010 GovOffice Web Site Development Page 2 of 2 ' (612) 617-5709 (877) 564-4979, press 3 www.govoffice.com/contact www.govoffice.com Copyright ©2010 League of Minnesota Cities, 145 University Ave, W, Saint Paul, MN 55103-2044 I Phone: (651) 281-1200 I Toll -Free: (800) 925-1122 http://www.lmc.orgipage/l/govoffiee.jsp 2/4/2010