Was staff listening?
Quote from the 2009-2010 Mayor's Budget message,
"As I look to the future, it is clear to me that we will not be able to operate with the number of employees that we have even today. We must become dependent on technology to lead us into the future. Computers don’t require cost of living increases or ever increasing health benefit packages. We need to allow for Edmonds residents to do all their business with the city online. Receive and pay their utility bills online, file building permits and pay for them online, obtain city licenses online as well as what we already do online with giving our citizens the ability to select and pay for recreation classes online and be able to do all their correspondence with city employees online. Our website is sorely lacking in customer service capabilities and it needs upgrading to facilitate becoming the interface between citizens and city employees. In order to make that happen in the future, I have added 3 positions to our IT department budget. The work that needs to happen to make us more dependent on the web can be accomplished with these additions."
Our Planning Department and the City Attorney have recommended changes to the ECDC prohibiting the public from filing of an appeal and making comment on a SEPA or Development Applications by either email or fax. This new requirement appears to be backward and contrary to the Mayor's Budget message. The staff reason for this language change is "to eliminate electronic malfunction argument for late comments".
The federal court system has gone to a completely electronic document filing system. Most State Courts are in the same process of going to a electronic document filing system. This is a very "green" initiative, saving trees, energy, and worker time. The question for your staff is, has the electronic malfunction argument ever been made and what kind of proof would be required to resolve such as issue and same with postmark. If an appeal or comment is lost in the mail for 22 years, like the following news item about a graduation announcement and invitation, who's fault is it?
In this article the postmaster takes credit for the "very unusual and very unfortunate" circumstance.
The invitation was in the mail - for 22 years
By Associated Press Monday, February 23, 2009 http://www.bostonherald.com/ West
LA GRANDE, Ore. - An Oregon woman finally received an invitation to her nephew’s high school graduation in New Jersey, but she may be a little late - it was in 1987.
Theresa Schlossarek of La Grande found the invitation last week in her mailbox. The envelope, which had been opened, was postmarked June 2, 1987, from Toms River, N.J., where her brother, Hermann Ilnseher, lives.
Ilnseher said the lack of response from his sister was noticed but dismissed. “We just thought that she lived so far away, she couldn’t come,” Ilnseher said. “She usually would send money, though, so we did joke about that later on, that maybe she could send some and add interest for the years passed.”
Peter Hass, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Portland district, called the delay “very unusual and very unfortunate.”
Hass said the envelope could have been stuck in machinery or misrouted and delivered to the wrong address. But he said no matter the age of the mail, “if it’s postmarked, we’re obliged to deliver it.”
Schlossarek’s nephew, Michael Ilnseher, now an assistant principal at an Atlanta-area high school, said he didn’t remember his aunt not receiving an invitation.
“I never realized something could be lost for 22 years like that,” he said.
Let's use all the "tools" in the 21st Century toolbox to communicate with each other. Using the internet and email is fast, efficient and most importantly green! In this instance, the Mayor was right. Maybe the City staff wasn't listening to or comprehending the Budget Message.
"As I look to the future, it is clear to me that we will not be able to operate with the number of employees that we have even today. We must become dependent on technology to lead us into the future. Computers don’t require cost of living increases or ever increasing health benefit packages. We need to allow for Edmonds residents to do all their business with the city online. Receive and pay their utility bills online, file building permits and pay for them online, obtain city licenses online as well as what we already do online with giving our citizens the ability to select and pay for recreation classes online and be able to do all their correspondence with city employees online. Our website is sorely lacking in customer service capabilities and it needs upgrading to facilitate becoming the interface between citizens and city employees. In order to make that happen in the future, I have added 3 positions to our IT department budget. The work that needs to happen to make us more dependent on the web can be accomplished with these additions."
Our Planning Department and the City Attorney have recommended changes to the ECDC prohibiting the public from filing of an appeal and making comment on a SEPA or Development Applications by either email or fax. This new requirement appears to be backward and contrary to the Mayor's Budget message. The staff reason for this language change is "to eliminate electronic malfunction argument for late comments".
The federal court system has gone to a completely electronic document filing system. Most State Courts are in the same process of going to a electronic document filing system. This is a very "green" initiative, saving trees, energy, and worker time. The question for your staff is, has the electronic malfunction argument ever been made and what kind of proof would be required to resolve such as issue and same with postmark. If an appeal or comment is lost in the mail for 22 years, like the following news item about a graduation announcement and invitation, who's fault is it?
In this article the postmaster takes credit for the "very unusual and very unfortunate" circumstance.
The invitation was in the mail - for 22 years
By Associated Press Monday, February 23, 2009 http://www.bostonherald.com/ West
LA GRANDE, Ore. - An Oregon woman finally received an invitation to her nephew’s high school graduation in New Jersey, but she may be a little late - it was in 1987.
Theresa Schlossarek of La Grande found the invitation last week in her mailbox. The envelope, which had been opened, was postmarked June 2, 1987, from Toms River, N.J., where her brother, Hermann Ilnseher, lives.
Ilnseher said the lack of response from his sister was noticed but dismissed. “We just thought that she lived so far away, she couldn’t come,” Ilnseher said. “She usually would send money, though, so we did joke about that later on, that maybe she could send some and add interest for the years passed.”
Peter Hass, spokesman for the U.S. Postal Service’s Portland district, called the delay “very unusual and very unfortunate.”
Hass said the envelope could have been stuck in machinery or misrouted and delivered to the wrong address. But he said no matter the age of the mail, “if it’s postmarked, we’re obliged to deliver it.”
Schlossarek’s nephew, Michael Ilnseher, now an assistant principal at an Atlanta-area high school, said he didn’t remember his aunt not receiving an invitation.
“I never realized something could be lost for 22 years like that,” he said.
Let's use all the "tools" in the 21st Century toolbox to communicate with each other. Using the internet and email is fast, efficient and most importantly green! In this instance, the Mayor was right. Maybe the City staff wasn't listening to or comprehending the Budget Message.
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