City Council Minutes 2012 03 06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes March 6, 2012 Page 9of12 Planning Director Russ explained the City is beginning the 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update process and the City Manager wanted to make the Council aware of the sole source contract with Socialmentum, LLC, a Nebraska Limited Liability Company (a.k.a MindMixer). The City Manager intends to approve the contract to provide the Planning Division web based community outreach support for the 2012 Update. MindMixer will develop, support and maintain a website capable of hosting web-based town hall meetings and related projects promoting an exchange of information and ideas related to the development and completion of the City of Louisville's 2012 Comprehensive Plan Update. The technical expertise and unique focus and platform of MindMixer will engage public involvement enabling the City to get the best value on the work the City needs with an Interactive Community Outreach. MindMixer is the only virtual town hall service dedicated to municipal and government projects. The simple platform generates a broader audience and creates more effective community participation, leading to measurable results and invaluable insights for community leaders and elected officials. Louisville's existing model for civic engagement is community meetings requiring citizens to physically attend. This model expands on Louisville's civic model by providing citizens digital access to share ideas, solve challenges, and interact with community leaders at any time, from anywhere. This contract will not exceed ten thousand dollars ($10,000). The 2012 Budget includes $150,000 for professional consulting services. Under the City's Purchasing Policy, the City Manager has the authority to approve this project. The City Manager wants to increase the awareness of this particular effort to expand public outreach and involvement. Staff recommended Council approval of the contract with Socialmentum, LLC in an amount not to exceed $10,000. COUNCIL COMMENT Councilor Keany inquired how this information would become part of the public process. City Attorney Light explained the Comprehensive Plan Update is not a quasi-judicial process, but rather a legislative process. This tool will work in a legislative process. The program organizes the comments and puts them in an organized form of accountability, which the Council could use to make decisions. Planning Director Russ explained the input from the public would be put in an indexed report format. He noted there will still be other forums of public input including the stakeholder's one-on-one meetings, and the outreach meetings and public meetings. Councilor Keany asked if staff will condense and compile the comments and bring them before the Council. Planning Director Russ confirmed they would. Councilor Keany asked if Council engaged in this process, would this become an electronic meeting. City Attorney Light stated the open meeting law recognizes an