One of the important goals of your City Council is to create a continuous outreach effort that will make the city government more comfortably available to you. It is important that each person can easily get the information, services, and involvement that they desire.
Over the last several years, we have restructured and re-staffed our city organization to do just that. Under Steve Toler, our Administrative Services Director, we have created an Information Technology group that has provided you with our City web site with all the information the public needs to assess just what?s going on. Steve has also developed our Foster City TV function with all the programs that you can view at home. I guess you would say Steve?s group is providing the tools with which we can reach the public.
Kristi Chappelle, our Assistant City Manager, has a complimentary responsibility. Kristi has a staff dedicated to providing public information using these new tools. Public announcements, new programs, and press releases are example of information brought to the public by this activity in a continuing effort to keep everyone informed.
The following is an abbreviated list of technology enhancements that have made it easier for the public to interact with the City right now.
We have an enhanced web site that makes it easier for the public to get information that affects them,
Full Council agenda packets are now available on the web,
Web-based calendar of events are shown for things going on in the community,
Live input is accepted electronically during select Council study sessions, and
FCTV is now available 24x7 on the web, so that everyone with an internet connection can view FCTV, not just AT&T Broadband cable TV customers.
Then over the next several months we will provide the additional ability for you to:
Register for recreation classes,
Pay utility bills,
Make applications for building permits, and
Request vacation drive-bys by our police.
Again, the whole focus here is to make it easier and more pleasant to interact with your city so as to obtain the information and services you need.
You know, I am beginning to believe that this electronic stuff may be here to stay.
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