In an effort to provide another avenue for public participation in local government, the City of East Lansing has launched an exciting new online civic engagement platform entitled e-Town Hall, www.cityofeastlansing.com/eTownHall.
City of East Lansing officials and staff plan to use the forum as a means of garnering public feedback on a variety of posted topics - everything from redevelopment projects to environmental initiatives, proposed ordinances and more. Once a topic is closed, City officials and staff will then consider all of the input garnered in their decision-making processes. Further, the City aims to empower citizens by providing them with information on each issue to enrich online comments and to provide more opportunities for civic engagement.
The first two topics have been posted on the website, including a downtown visioning question and a question regarding the future of the Bailey Community Center building. Community members are encouraged to check out the topics and weigh in with their feedback. City staff will continue to update the platform with new topics on a regular basis.
"Much like the public comment period during East Lansing City Council meetings, this civic engagement platform will provide our citizens with an opportunity to voice their opinions on a variety of City-related topics," said East Lansing City Manager George Lahanas. "A great advantage of this new online tool is that citizens can share feedback anywhere, anytime and don't necessarily have to take the time to attend a meeting to have their voice be heard.”
Peak Democracy, a non-partisan company based in California, developed the online platform. Their mission is to broaden civic engagement and build public trust in government. About 100 other cities and counties across the country are using the platform, including Arlington County, Va.; Saint Paul, Minn.; Ann Arbor, Mich.; Palo Alto, Calif.; and Salt Lake City, Utah.