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where people can ��;'�.. "
<br />voice their opinion �� a� y
<br />and see an instant �� �� �,��
<br />..:��'���;��. _
<br />running total of `'�
<br />res� - also a com- ""° "'"
<br />. . �`L9.4'.�A�JB 'tC �
<br />mi in on main- �
<br />�.:: � �:
<br />stz-eazn Web portals �� �
<br />such as MSN.com. �° � ��s�
<br />�.
<br />. � _ �. � �':
<br />• E-mail newsletters. $ : �
<br />Xou can ask visitors if �
<br />ehey wanc to be ���� �� � ��� �:
<br />informed of general ��������,,,�
<br />news or highiights on ��'�� � �'`� � �
<br />topics of special
<br />interest. Newsletters
<br />can be sent as plain
<br />text in the main body of the e-mail, or as
<br />rich text that lootcs almost like a Web
<br />page in newer e-rnail packages ehat sup-
<br />port the latest multimedia formats. As
<br />an alternative, constituents can be asked
<br />to click on a linlc inside the e-mail that
<br />then loads their Web browser, talring
<br />them direedy to the newsletter on your
<br />site,
<br />The Abilene, Texas, Comprehensive Plan Site aiIows for• easy dotivnload-
<br />ing of docuntents
<br />� "Notify Me" options. Visitors who
<br />click r.his linlc are asking ro be notified
<br />or '�ded in brief e-mails about
<br />im�._: � ant events such as upcoming
<br />l�earings.
<br />• Documents, Most sites make planning
<br />documents, such as ordinances, maps,
<br />minutes, and master plans, available in
<br />popular iormats for viewing online or,
<br />depending on the organization's policy,
<br />for dowziloading on the visitor's own
<br />PC.
<br />• Discrxssion Groups. Residents can
<br />toss around ideas and argue hot issues
<br />by typing comments into a dedicated
<br />"space" on the site (also sometimes
<br />called a bulletin board or chat
<br />room). Planning officials can � ��
<br />join in; somet�mes thep must to �
<br />l �
<br />maintain order and correct fac- �
<br />tual errors. (On the mainstream ; �
<br />Web, owners of very active dis-
<br />cussion groups assign real mod-
<br />� �
<br />erators to keep order.) Experts �� ��
<br />say many planners forego dis- ��'
<br />cus�=--+ groups because they're �
<br />co :ed that potentially
<br />Iibe�.; u� statements and misin- ,
<br />fnrma [ion wi] l open them to
<br />tegal liability, or at the least create nega-
<br />tive publicity. 5teps must also be taken
<br />to ensure that any Web mechanism
<br />advertised as part of the formal pubiic-
<br />input process meets legal requirements
<br />— typically by requiring participants to
<br />identify themselves.
<br />"BLEEDING-EDGE" INiERACTIVITY:
<br />GIS A�1D STREAMING �!IDEO
<br />With mare money comes the latest
<br />technology, and for the mast part, that
<br />means new, gee-whiz ways to interac[
<br />with audiences. But the lack of New
<br />Yark-size budgets isn't the only thing
<br />keeping next-generation features off the
<br />sites of small lacaliries. In many cases,
<br />tI�e technology simply hasn't evolved to
<br />the paint where every horne PC user can
<br />tap a rich, multimedia pipeline to the
<br />plannii�g department.
<br />Take geographic information sys-
<br />[ems (GIS), the interactive layered maps
<br />and databases [hat axe taking Iand-use
<br />cnnfinued on page 16
<br />Ittter���et iiisC�zaction at u Se«[tle ser�ior cente;:
<br />,::,: ._:.. ,. .. _ .
<br />Editot's Noie:
<br />`�h� "Di��#a� �l��d�°'
<br />One of the most important issues fac'sng com-
<br />munities providing oniine govemment ser-
<br />vices is how to ensure access by all segments
<br />of the community, including lower-income
<br />citizens and seniors. The concern is fo avoid a
<br />"digitaT divide" between citizens with access
<br />to (and kno�whow about) che online world,
<br />anct those wiEhout.
<br />"Commnnity netv✓orks" are one r�sponse
<br />These ne[works are typically partnerships ;�S°
<br />between local govemments,. schools, libraries,
<br />chambers of commerce, and other organiza-
<br />tions, designed to provide onIine access and: .
<br />training. Richard Lowenberg, Fxecutive Direc-
<br />tor of the Davis, CA, Communiry Network,
<br />notes that comtnuniry networks are especially
<br />important for rurat. communities, "since they
<br />provide a means of aggregating demand."
<br />This; for example, allows For more beneficial
<br />arrangements with Internec seevi.ce providers,
<br />as well as for.the developmezzt of shared use
<br />facilitaes.
<br />Some localiues,,sueh as SeaCtle, have
<br />drawn on cable tetevisian franchise fees to
<br />help suppare online access by resideiits. In
<br />Seattle,: free Iriternet access terminaLs can be
<br />found in 22 branch libraries and 21 other .
<br />pubtic buildings. According to David Keyes
<br />Commnnity Technology Pianner:in Seattle's
<br />Department of Information Techno�og}; the
<br />' City also has a growing networiz qf neiglibox
<br />hood "community technology centers.° Under -
<br />[I�e guzdaz�ce oE a citizens advisory board, the -
<br />,Ciry proyides matching funds that. have . -
<br />allowed these centers to open in low-income
<br />hausing projecfs, in senior citizen centers,
<br />' and in the offices of other non-profit'commu
<br />nity service providers. Community technolo
<br />gy cen[ers not only provide for access, but
<br />aLso train residents in ehe use of computers -
<br />and how to access online resources.
<br />For more infonmation, go to the Web sites
<br />: of the Association for Communzry Network
<br />ing <wvwr,afcn.ozg> azid the Community
<br />Technology Centers' Network
<br /><www ctcnet.org>. Bath offer a �vealth oE .
<br />resonrces. Also definitely woreh a visit are the
<br />Web pages of Seattie's Cammunity Technology
<br />Program <www.ciryofseattle.net/tech/> .
<br />(including their excellent Information Tech-
<br />nology indicators report,.available for down-
<br />Iaading) and the bavis Communiry Network
<br /><w�,vw.dcn:org>. You can also.reach David
<br />Keyes at: <david.keyes@sea[tle.gov>, and
<br />i2ichard Lowenberg at: <zl@dcn:org>.
<br />PLANNING COLVIMISStONERS JOURNAL / NUMBER 51 / SUMIvIER 2003. '�._;.;,.`;`.;::; -
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