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Transparency of government operations has always been an expectation—and a significant responsibility—of municipal clerks. Now more than ever, however, thanks to the proliferation of digital everything and a culture of “I want an answer right now, so I’m going to Google it,” today’s citizens want on-demand, self-serviceable access to everything from permits, to applications, to meeting agendas and minutes. Municipal clerks can spend hours collating documents, answering questions, making copies, and printing files—unless they follow these seven time-saving tips for ensuring document transparency.
[Updated] Inc. magazine has included CivicPlus® in the 37th annual Inc. 5000, the most prestigious ranking of the nation's fastest-growing private companies. The list represents a unique look at the most successful companies within the American economy’s most dynamic segment—its independent small and midsized businesses.
Website Design, all-articles, all-news, Procurement, Processes
When choosing a new local government website solution provider, best in class technology matters—but so does best in class service support. Especially at a time when local government budgets and staff resources are leaner than ever before, website content managers need the reliability of a service support team that acts as an extension of their department. If you are not getting the support you need from your website solution provider, it may be time for a break up. The kind that starts with you saying, “It’s not me. It’s you.” It may be time to break up with your municipal website vendor if they are not offering the following four mission critical service elements:
Website Design, all-articles, all-news
When our civic engagement and municipal website experts are talking to local government leaders, we increasingly hear the same statement: We need a government content management system (CMS) that can integrate with existing software systems. This need for digital file sharing is the result of a trend that has been evolving for over a decade. Budget cuts and staff shortages are forcing governments to do more with less. Government administrators can no longer afford to spend time on duplicate data entry or managing multiple disparate systems that house siloed data. In an era of needing streamlined systems and digital workflows that maximize productivity, local governments need solutions that enable data sharing between critical software systems. APIs and webhooks are two pieces of technology that allow the types of integrations that local governments want and need, especially in the emerging era of content as service.
Website Design, all-articles, all-news
State and local governments are expected to spend $103 billion on IT in 2018. According to recent research by Forrester, amidst tightening municipal budgets, and an expectation that every municipal department—especially tech—do more with less, local government chief information officers are finding ways to invest in new technologies that will help reduce their bottom line over time, and meet the growing expectations of digitally tethered citizens.
Website Design, all-articles, all-news
Today’s citizen engagement model is all about convenience and simplicity. Your citizens want intuitive and streamlined access to municipal services, and that includes remitting payment for everything from permits to taxes, to utility bills. To offer local governments an integrated and secure payment solution and a consistent, user-friendly experience for citizens, our product innovators created CP PayTM.
Congratulations to the latest in a long list of lauded communities that are leveraging technology to connect to citizens in meaningful and impactful ways. The following counties and CivicPlus® clients have received recognition by The Center for Digital Government (CDG) and the National Association of Counties (NACo) in their 2018 Digital Counties Survey. The survey identifies the best technology practices among U.S. counties, including initiatives that streamline delivery of government services, encourage open data, collaboration and shared services, enhance cybersecurity and contribute to disaster response and recovery efforts. Over one of every four digital community winners are CivicPlus clients. Congratulations to the following award recipients who are part of our #CPfamily:
all-articles, all-news, Communication, Emergency Notifications
Social media has proven to be one of the most impactful methods for local governments to engage citizens and distribute vital time-sensitive information. The nature of social media platforms lends themselves to the sharing of trusted information and instructions to a broad audience, which is a critical component of a multi-channel safety communication strategy. Like all reliable tools, however, your social media accounts need restrictions, especially when it comes to distributing potentially life-saving information when time every second counts.
all-articles, all-news, Agendas and Meetings
If you were asked to summarize your primary responsibilities in your role as a municipal clerk, it would likely be difficult to give a succinct answer. City and county clerks are responsible for everything from document management, to agenda and meeting minute management, to answering citizen inquiries, and managing elections. One of the most commonly overlooked—yet most vital—responsibilities of municipal clerks is the role they play as the official keeper of the community’s records. It is a task that encompasses both modern-day meeting minute documentation, as well as historical record archiving and preservation. In an era when citizens want unprecedented on-demand access to documents, records, forms, minutes, and agendas, the clerk’s role of document manager and preservation specialist has never been more vital.
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
How to Incorporate Diversity into Your Hiring and Retention Strategies
In Part I of this blog series, we discussed the importance of your local government’s human resources department establishing a diversity and inclusion (D&I) program. Not only do such programs foster a culture of inclusion and acceptance among employees, they build administrations that are reflective of the communities they serve. In Part II of this blog series, we provided step-by-step instructions for how to define the goals of your D&I program, implement a successful initiative, and measure its success. Part III of this series focuses on ensuring you continually maintain a diverse and accepting workforce through strategic hiring initiatives.
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
How to Implement a D&I Program in Your Local Government.
If you are reading this, you have hopefully read Part I in this blog series on the importance of establishing a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) program in your community. The creation of any wide-spread administrative initiative will take planning, commitment, and collaboration to be successful. When it comes to topics as crucial as diversity and inclusion, you must be thorough in your planning and implementation process to best serve the needs of your community and your employees. Follow these best practices when implementing your D&I program.
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
Why the Need for Diversity and Inclusion in Local Government?
Your municipality needs to be representative of the population it serves. That means you need to hire and retain a diverse pool of talent that brings with them unique experiences, opinions, and thoughts on critical local issues to help enhance your administration’s ability to serve the needs of its entire population. Implementing a Diversity and Inclusion (D&I) program in your local government can help to ensure you not only hire a diverse workforce, but are cultivating an environment of acceptance and appreciation for individuals of all backgrounds, beliefs, and experiences.
all-articles, all-news, Emergency Notifications
The safety and protection of your citizens is a top priority for your public safety department. At a time when it feels like a growing list of outside threats are continually placing your citizens in harm’s way, it is vital to ensure your community has procedures in place to guard against a threatening and unpredictable risk: that of wandering by elderly citizens or adults suffering from dementia, Alzheimer’s, or other cognitive disabilities. Your citizen mass notification system should serve as a critical tool in your emergency communication strategy to notify your community and expand your search efforts if a wandering citizen goes missing. With the proper, timely notification of a Silver Alert, you can leverage the collective awareness and care of your citizens to help reunite wandering residents with their loved ones.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
Experiencing a sense of teamwork and accomplishment and learning to embrace and enjoy routine fitness and physical activity are some of the most critical developmental lessons all young people deserve to enjoy. For the more than 3.5 million Americans living with an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), for whom social and physical interactions can pose a challenge, such experiences are even more necessary and valuable. Autism is recognized as the fastest-growing developmental disability, which is why for a parks and recreation department that is committed to ensuring equitable access to activities, facilities, and resources, it is essential that your offering include autism-friendly activities.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
An essential component of your parks and recreation management software is the ability to accommodate payments for registrations, classes, activities, and events. When it comes to digital payment transaction functionality, you may have heard two terms used interchangeably: payment gateway and merchant account. They do not mean the same thing, however. Instead, they are two components of a secure, digital transaction completion and approval process. To ensure your parks and rec software integrates the transaction system you need to manage citizen payments, learn the difference between these two terms, and how they work together to enable online transactions for your community.
all-articles, all-news, Communication, Emergency Notifications
It was started unintentionally, but led to the death of 16 citizens, the destruction of 2,400 homes, and $27 million in damage. On October 25, 2003, a lost hunter in the Cleveland National Forest in California started a small blaze he hoped would serve as a signal fire to rescuers. Fueled by low humidity and the dry, whipping Santa Ana winds, what began as a small signal fire intensified into the largest single fire in California's recorded history. What is now remembered as the infamous Cedar Fire injured 113 individuals, consumed more than 22 commercial buildings, and destroyed 280,000 acres, almost 30,000 of which were within the city limits of San Diego.
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
The Silver Tsunami is coming. Experts predict that as many as 40 percent of baby boomers are set to retire from public sector service in the next few years, and they threaten to take their knowledge, experience, and commitment with them. Do you have a strategy in place to recruit and onboard the next generation of municipal employees?
all-articles, all-news, Agendas and Meetings
The International Institute of Municipal Clerks (IIMC) has designated the 49th Annual Municipal Clerks Week to take place May 6 through May 12, 2018. At CivicClerk®, we fully support a week’s worth of events, education, and appreciation for the role that municipal clerks play in helping our local governments run efficiently and with the transparency and inclusion needed for success. This year, we want to give something back to all clerks across the country. Something they never seem to have enough of; time. Read on to learn why we’re celebrating Municipal Clerks Week, and how we’re giving you the gift of time.
Robert's Rules of Order is a long-standing, proven-efficient system for managing meetings relative to deliberation and debate. Roberts Rules of Order helps to ensure that the entire membership of an organization, board, or committee is informed and able to successfully collaborate. As a clerk, it is your job to ensure meetings are conducted following proper procedures and in a way that enables structured, efficient, and productive dialogue. If you are new to your position or are about to begin utilizing Roberts Rules of Order in your meetings, here are seven essential facts you need to know.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
April 22 may have officially been Earth Day, and for those of us in municipal parks and recreation management, we see the value in being green all year long. Still, Earth Day is one day out of 365 that gives every citizen a reason to pause and consider the impact their personal carbon footprint has on their community, and the world. If your parks and recreation department is like many across the country, you offer citizens and businesses educational information and local resources throughout the year to leverage sustainable solutions and minimize waste. Yet, even those of us closest to the need for environmental awareness can do more to protect our natural resources and make more significant strides toward sustainable operations.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
It’s officially spring, which means summer is fast approaching. Soon, the kids will be out of school, the days will belong, the sun will be out, and everyone in your community will be looking to get active and enjoy the natural resources of their hometown. Whether your community is known for its challenging hiking trails, family-friendly parks, crystal clear lakes, or desert rock climbing, you need a marketing plan to promote your local indoor and outdoor parks and rec facilities, and all the classes, leagues, and activities your community has to offer. To help you plan for a successful summer, we have your complete guide to promoting your summer events, no matter the size of your community, or your parks and rec staff.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
Your parks and rec department is committed to offering equitable access to activities and resources in your community for all citizens, regardless of their age or physical ability. Your staff works hard all year to ensure all facilities are compliant with requirements of the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and remain in safe, full operational order. However, what about your digital operations?
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
Is your municipality attempting to leverage an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for your human resource (HR) department needs? Too often ERP systems are foisted upon HR departments with the belief that the integrated HR modules will serve their needs. Instead, the result is the requirement to rely on a financial software system that creates disjointed employee data and leaves HR teams unable to identify, hire, and retain top talent. It's time you learned the key differences between ERPs and human resource management software (HRMS) solutions, and why only one is designed to identify, hire, and retain top talent.
all-articles, all-news, Emergency Notifications
Winter is finally ready to head back into hibernation mode, which means it is time to bring out the umbrellas, sunscreen, and bug repellant. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Zika virus is still a nationally notifiable condition throughout the United States. As of March 2018, across the U.S., there have been 433 symptomatic Zika virus disease cases reported. In five of the cases, the disease was acquired through presumed local mosquito-borne transmission in Florida and Texas.
Human Resources, all-articles, all-news
If your municipality is attempting to leverage an enterprise resource planning (ERP) software for your human resource (HR) department needs, we know you’re frustrated. At its core, ERP software is intended as a financial system to track revenue, expenditures, and goods. With personnel being part of a businesses revenue equation, some private and public sector entities are attempting to use an ERP instead of a fully integrated human resource management system (HRMS) solution. However, any HR manager knows that to hire and retain talent effectively, you need a people-based solution, not access to financial software. Too often ERP systems are foisted upon HR departments with the belief that the integrated HR modules will serve their needs. Instead, the result is the requirement to rely on a financial software system that creates disjointed employee data and leaves HR teams unable to identify, hire, and retain top talent.
all-articles, all-news, Emergency Notifications
The product innovators at CivicReady® are committed to continually enhancing our emergency notification system to accommodate all the channels that citizens use to receive information, and all the technical applications available to target those who could be in the path of danger. CivicReady’s latest enhancements aim to give citizens greater customization when receiving emergency alerts and to target subscribers based on hyper-targeted geolocation capabilities. When used in conjunction with CivicReady’s robust mass notification platform, local governments can provide the most powerful, and customizable emergency alert notifications possible to their subscribers.
all-articles, all-news, Communication, Emergency Notifications
2017 brought some of the most severe, and the most devastating natural disasters in modern American history. Not only did Hurricanes Irma, Maria, and Harvey wreak havoc in the Gulf and cause hundreds of billions of dollars of damage, but extreme weather was to blame for destruction and devastation from coast to coast. There were hailstorms in Colorado, Midwest tornadoes, and draughts that worsened conditions in California, leaving parts of the state destroyed by wildfires.
all-articles, all-news, Agendas and Meetings
The role of the city clerk is nearly as established and long-standing as local government itself. For decades, city clerks have served as an essential link between local government leaders and the people they serve. Over time, this role has evolved from handing out permit applications to walk-in residents to meeting digital transparency requirements through cloud-based agenda and meeting management solutions. As citizens become increasingly dependent upon digital technology, and the role of the city clerk remains steadfastly ingrained in our municipal operations, service-minded clerks must learn to adapt their workflows and approach their citizen engagements from a digital-first mindset. Here are four ways to be successful.
As a municipal clerk, your enemy is the clock. You have a slate full of responsibilities and live in a deadline-driven environment where you are perpetually working to pull documents, content, agendas, minutes, and other vital materials together before the next meeting, or respond to citizen requests expeditiously. One way that municipal clerks can expedite the agenda creation process and help to ensure well organized and efficient meetings is through the use of a consent agenda. This time-saving tool streamlines routine meeting item approvals and frees up meeting time for the discussion of matters that require the greatest amount of attention and deliberation.
all-articles, all-news, parks and recreation
The days are getting shorter, and the air is getting cooler. Coming off hot summer days and seemingly limitless possibilities to be active and explore your community, your parks and recreation department may be starting to see dwindling citizen participation numbers when you look at registrations in your parks and recreation management system. Don’t worry; it’s not just your community.
