Seattle City Councilmember Bruce Harrell

Our recent discussions regarding how the City responded to our ice and snow covered roads have brought to my attention the City’s methods in disseminating critical information to its citizens and whether it is maximizing its use of technology. This is part of my work plan for 2009. Certainly, King County should share this concern. The lack of clarity on how to get bus routes and conditions disseminated effectively reminded me of the incredibly funny skit performed by Bud Abbott and Lou Costello, “Who’s on first. What’s on second and I Don’t Know is on third.” Of course Lou Costello would ask, “But who’s on first” and Abbott would reply “Who.”

In all seriousness, the City must pride itself on how well it informs citizens of their responsibilities, rights and safety conditions. For example, each citizen should know it is their responsibility during a period of snow and ice to make sure the sidewalk in front of their home or business is clear. What technology exists that can maximize our ability to do so? The City controls a 911 system and the general numbers (206) 684-3000 and (206) 625-5011. It controls the Seattle Channel 21 on cable and offers live streaming and video-on-demand via www.seattlechannel.org.
It offers Podcasting. It can use television and radio coverage in the commercial markets. It can offer RSS news feeds (Really Simple Syndication) and of course electronic mail for news releases and releases to neighborhood blogs. It has e-mailing lists and a Community Notification System which uses an outdialer, otherwise referred to as a Reverse 911. Also, there are newer technologies such as RPIN (regional public information network), text messaging, social networking such as FaceBook, LinkedIn, MySpace and Twitter. Last, the City has a state-of-the-art Emergency Operations Center.

In order to communicate public service announcements and emergency information in the most effective manner possible, we must coordinate the deployment of technology within a plan that guarantees maximum information outflow. If money were not an issue, there are more capital intensive solutions such as hardwired kiosks, but I am suggesting a plan that takes advantage of the cost effectiveness of new technologies. The area of my interest is not limited to emergency communications. I am also concerned as to how public service announcements are communicated, such as the digital television transition which is scheduled for February 17, 2009.

This year, I will begin with an examination of our interdepartmental communication strategies, understanding how and when one department knows what the other is doing in respect to certain situations that will occur. Then, we will define our means of communication with citizens and develop a plan where cutting edge technology is incorporated. Our goal should be to ensure that citizens are kept in the loop by all means possible in the event that some mediums are unavailable. This could be a situation as simple as when a citizen is not around a television, radio, or computer, or, it could be as extreme as a power outage or some sort of natural disaster. For example, a text messaging scheme to communicate important information to citizens should be examined as an effective means to keep them in the loop. It is our job as a policy making body to ensure that citizens are well informed. By examining this issue and developing a plan, I believe that we can move in that direction and that is what I am working on now.

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