Agenda Packets - 2012/05/07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item No: 5 Meeting Date: May 7, 2012 Type of Business: WK Administrator Review : ____ City of Mounds View Staff Report To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Jeremiah Anderson, Housing/Code Enforcement Inspector Item Title/Subject: Citizen Mobile Access Application for Code Enforcement Date of Report: May 2, 2012 Introduction: Staff is requesting this item is discussed at the City Council Work session. Background: In January 2009 the City of Mounds View entered into an agreement with Comcate that authorized an exclusive license to use the Comcate Code Enforcement Manager (CEM) application. The CEM application allows staff to access the Code Enforcement Database via an application that runs on the internet. This brings mobile access into code enforcement where staff can access the application directly from a laptop computer while on the inspection site and print correction notices directly from a printer connected to a laptop in a vehicle. This innovative application has allowed staff to increase efficiency and respond more effectively to resident’s requests for code enforcement services. The first year of use staff opened 456 code enforcement cases and last year staff opened 621 cases using the CEM application. Comcate has continued to improve the CEM application by releasing 2 major upgrades per year. During this time Comcate has developed and made available a forward facing application available for the public to use that provides a method to report their concerns regarding conditions throughout the City using an application or “app” that can be downloaded and used on a “smart phone”. This new application is appropriately named Citizen Mobile Access or (CMA). Discussion: Over the last several years wireless smartphones have become widely accepted in the mainstream consumer market. The simplified user interface and numerous applications (apps) available to download onto iPhone and phones that operate on the “Android” operating system have fueled their popularity. The decreasing cost to own and operate smart phones has also been a large factor in their increasing use and popularity. Consumers have embraced numerous apps that can be used on their phones to find real time traffic information for their commute or locate the cheapest gasoline prices at surrounding filling stations. Numerous projections have mobile internet access via smartphones taking over from PC’s within the next 5 years. In response to this trend toward mobile internet and smartphone technology, there has been a growing trend in government to establish communications with smartphone users via specialized apps that allow citizens to utilize some services or enhance their communication with local government officials. These apps are referred to as public facing apps.