Meet with Austin's Code for America Fellows - Feb. 9
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austintexasgov
Jan 30, 2012, 7:19:03 AM1/30/12
to AustinGO Community Advisory Group
Hello -
Please join us for a meeting with Austin's Code for America Fellows,
6:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012, at the Communications and Technology
Management Department's headquarters at 1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX,
78704.
The Code for America fellows are here in Austin for the next month,
meeting with City employees from across the organization, learning as
much as they can about Austin and the work the City does.
This is a great chance to meet with the CfA fellows and offer
background and ideas about the groups you represent and their online
government needs. We can also update the group on the current status
of the City's new website and discuss next steps for the Community
Advisory Group.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for your help
and involvement as we move forward with new enhancements to
AustinTexas.gov.
Meet with CfA Fellows
6:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012
1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX, 78704.
Directions:
1. Heading South on IH-35 exit Riverside Drive.
2. Go through the light to cross Riverside Drive.
3. Make a right turn into the third driveway.
(There is a small sign marked 1124)
Upon entry into the site:
• Travel straight into the parking garage located on the right side of
the Housing Authority building
• Go to 3rd level of the parking garage and park
• Enter through the 3rd level door mark with a blue CTM City of Austin
sign (the entry is covered with a tan canopy)
• The entry is secured but there will be someone at the front
receptionist station to assist you
Please join us for a meeting with Austin's Code for America Fellows,
6:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012, at the Communications and Technology
Management Department's headquarters at 1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX,
78704.
The Code for America fellows are here in Austin for the next month,
meeting with City employees from across the organization, learning as
much as they can about Austin and the work the City does.
This is a great chance to meet with the CfA fellows and offer
background and ideas about the groups you represent and their online
government needs. We can also update the group on the current status
of the City's new website and discuss next steps for the Community
Advisory Group.
Please let me know if you have any questions, and thanks for your help
and involvement as we move forward with new enhancements to
AustinTexas.gov.
Meet with CfA Fellows
6:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012
1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX, 78704.
Directions:
1. Heading South on IH-35 exit Riverside Drive.
2. Go through the light to cross Riverside Drive.
3. Make a right turn into the third driveway.
(There is a small sign marked 1124)
Upon entry into the site:
• Travel straight into the parking garage located on the right side of
the Housing Authority building
• Go to 3rd level of the parking garage and park
• Enter through the 3rd level door mark with a blue CTM City of Austin
sign (the entry is covered with a tan canopy)
• The entry is secured but there will be someone at the front
receptionist station to assist you
Carol Lee
Jan 30, 2012, 5:16:00 PM1/30/12
to austingo-...@googlegroups.com
I did collect quite a bit of feedback on the new website at the Austin Neighborhoods Council membership meeting last week that I would like to discuss with you all. Unfortunately I have a quarterly BCCP Citizen's Advisory Committee meeting already scheduled for this date/time, so will not be able to attend the meeting with Code for America.
Carol Lee
ANC appointee to AustinGO CAC
--
ANC Communications Coordinator
Carol Lee
ANC appointee to AustinGO CAC
ANC Communications Coordinator
Jace Deloney
Jan 30, 2012, 5:35:21 PM1/30/12
to austingo-...@googlegroups.com
Carol,
What was the feedback that you received at the ANC? I noticed that some of my neighbors (BCNA) were having a hard time finding site plan permits and other similar documents. I was able to find the documents they were looking for fairly quickly, so I think the issue was mainly unfamiliarity with navigating around the new website. I imagine that this issue will dissipate as they become more acquainted to the site.
From what I have seen, I am very pleased with new website. One thing I think the city could do a better job at is integrating online forums. Check out this Austin American Statesman article that covers what the Texas Senate is doing to make online forums more interactive: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/senate-committees-push-boundaries-on-social-media-2134766.html. I would like to see something similar done with the City of Austin's Channel 6 web portal (http://www.austintexas.gov/department/channel-6). I will likely be discussing this and other ideas at the CfA meeting next week!
Jace Deloney--
Jace Deloney
Mobile | 409.289.2447
Email | jaced...@gmail.com
Twitter | @JaceDeloney
What was the feedback that you received at the ANC? I noticed that some of my neighbors (BCNA) were having a hard time finding site plan permits and other similar documents. I was able to find the documents they were looking for fairly quickly, so I think the issue was mainly unfamiliarity with navigating around the new website. I imagine that this issue will dissipate as they become more acquainted to the site.
From what I have seen, I am very pleased with new website. One thing I think the city could do a better job at is integrating online forums. Check out this Austin American Statesman article that covers what the Texas Senate is doing to make online forums more interactive: http://www.statesman.com/news/texas-politics/senate-committees-push-boundaries-on-social-media-2134766.html. I would like to see something similar done with the City of Austin's Channel 6 web portal (http://www.austintexas.gov/department/channel-6). I will likely be discussing this and other ideas at the CfA meeting next week!
Jace Deloney
Jace Deloney
Mobile | 409.289.2447
Email | jaced...@gmail.com
Twitter | @JaceDeloney
Carol Lee
Jan 30, 2012, 6:22:16 PM1/30/12
to austingo-...@googlegroups.com
I read the Texas Senate article with interest this morning and agree with Austin following that direction.
The ANC discussion was well attended and lively. Although there was positive feedback and agreement that the intention of the new site is to provide more open government the overwhelming feedback was that the deployment has been a failure. Citizens are having lots of trouble finding information (AMANDA, Community Registry, Boards & Commissions info, City Council and staff contact info, can't find how to select a park to volunteer for It's My Park Day, etc), they find many visual elements of the site user-vicious, and are running into numerous bugs and slow performance. But the more significant concerns I heard are with missing content, inconsistent content (such as getting different lists of what is supposed to be the same info depending on the navigation route), lack of CofA branding, and that it's up to individual departments to determine what info will be made available to the public. It was also reported that the new site has introduced steps for the 311 operators which is slowing their responsiveness to citizens, and that it doesn't display well on mobile devices.
Along with refining the interface it seems there needs to be more focus and standardization of the content (requirements & training for departmental liaisons?). The content problems will not be solved with acclimation to the new interface. That likely would require some changes in policy and authority rather than something Code of America or the AustinGO team can resolve alone.--
ANC Communications Coordinator
The ANC discussion was well attended and lively. Although there was positive feedback and agreement that the intention of the new site is to provide more open government the overwhelming feedback was that the deployment has been a failure. Citizens are having lots of trouble finding information (AMANDA, Community Registry, Boards & Commissions info, City Council and staff contact info, can't find how to select a park to volunteer for It's My Park Day, etc), they find many visual elements of the site user-vicious, and are running into numerous bugs and slow performance. But the more significant concerns I heard are with missing content, inconsistent content (such as getting different lists of what is supposed to be the same info depending on the navigation route), lack of CofA branding, and that it's up to individual departments to determine what info will be made available to the public. It was also reported that the new site has introduced steps for the 311 operators which is slowing their responsiveness to citizens, and that it doesn't display well on mobile devices.
Along with refining the interface it seems there needs to be more focus and standardization of the content (requirements & training for departmental liaisons?). The content problems will not be solved with acclimation to the new interface. That likely would require some changes in policy and authority rather than something Code of America or the AustinGO team can resolve alone.
ANC Communications Coordinator
austintexasgov
Feb 9, 2012, 7:52:15 AM2/9/12
to AustinGO Community Advisory Group
Hello - Just a reminder that tonight's the night for you all to meet
with Austin's Code for America Fellows.
We'll be at CTM's Riverside Campus at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
The Codies have been immersed in City Hall and Departmental viewpoints
for the last two weeks and they are VERY eager to meet with members of
the Austin community at large. This isn't just an opportunity to meet
with them - it's a chance for you to let them know about additional
opportunities for them to interact with Austinites, from your group or
others.
I really hope you can join us tonight. Please join us and bring your
ideas!
.Meet with CfA Fellows
the grounds, please feel free to call me at 512 - 784 - 1245.
with Austin's Code for America Fellows.
We'll be at CTM's Riverside Campus at 6:30 p.m. tonight.
The Codies have been immersed in City Hall and Departmental viewpoints
for the last two weeks and they are VERY eager to meet with members of
the Austin community at large. This isn't just an opportunity to meet
with them - it's a chance for you to let them know about additional
opportunities for them to interact with Austinites, from your group or
others.
I really hope you can join us tonight. Please join us and bring your
ideas!
.Meet with CfA Fellows
6:30 p.m. Feb. 9, 2012
1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX, 78704.
Directions:
1. Heading South on IH-35 exit Riverside Drive.
2. Go through the light to cross Riverside Drive.
3. Make a right turn into the third driveway.
(There is a small sign marked 1124)
Upon entry into the site:
• Travel straight into the parking garage located on the right
side of
the Housing Authority building
• Go to 3rd level of the parking garage and park
• Enter through the 3rd level door mark with a blue CTM City of
Austin
sign (the entry is covered with a tan canopy)
• The entry is secured but there will be someone at the front
receptionist station to assist you
If you get turned around trying to find the building or once you enter
1124 South IH-35, Austin, TX, 78704.
Directions:
1. Heading South on IH-35 exit Riverside Drive.
2. Go through the light to cross Riverside Drive.
3. Make a right turn into the third driveway.
(There is a small sign marked 1124)
Upon entry into the site:
• Travel straight into the parking garage located on the right
side of
the Housing Authority building
• Go to 3rd level of the parking garage and park
• Enter through the 3rd level door mark with a blue CTM City of
Austin
sign (the entry is covered with a tan canopy)
• The entry is secured but there will be someone at the front
receptionist station to assist you
the grounds, please feel free to call me at 512 - 784 - 1245.
Carol Lee
Feb 9, 2012, 11:45:28 AM2/9/12
to austingo-...@googlegroups.com
I'm very disappointed to miss this meeting. As previously reported I have a conflict with the BCCP Citizens Advisory Committee meeting, which is only held quarterly. Hope it's a great session.
Carol Lee
ANC rep to AustinGO CAC--
ANC Communications Coordinator
Carol Lee
ANC rep to AustinGO CAC
ANC Communications Coordinator
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