A new online civic engagement platform recently launched by the City of East Lansing provides citizens another venue for public participation in local government.
City officials and staff say they will use
e-Town Hall to garner public feedback on posted topics, including redevelopment projects, environmental initiatives, and more. Citizens can input comments for a set period of time that will later be considered by city officials and staff in decision-making processes. The platform site will include information on each posted issue to enrich online comments and provide citizens increased opportunity for civic engagement.
"Much like the public comment period during East Lansing City Council meetings, this civic engagement platform will provide our citizens with an opportunity to voice their opinions on a variety of city-related topics," said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas. "A great advantage of this new online tool is that citizens can share feedback anywhere, anytime and don't necessarily have to take the time to attend a meeting to have their voice be heard.”
The first two topics posted through e-Town seek public feedback on downtown visioning and the future of the Bailey Community Center. City staff will update the platform with new topics on a regular basis.
Peak Democracy, a non-partisan company based in California, developed the online platform with the mission of broadening civic engagement and building public trust in government. About 100 cities and counties nationwide are using the platform, including Arlington County, Va.; Saint Paul, Minn.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Palo Alto, Calif.; and Salt Lake City, Utah.
Source: George Lahanas, City Manager, East Lansing
Writer: Ann Kammerer, News Editor
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