Fa la la la la, la la la la!  (Yes, the long-rumored missing seventh verse of Deck The Halls now applies to the efforts of Decatur city government.)

After a few months hiatus, Decatur’s Open City Hall is once again a happening place.

On the heels of asking questions about the city’s pending Cultural Arts Master Plan, the city has posted a question about railroad crossing improvements.

How would you redesign the existing railroad crossings at Candler and McDonough Streets to improve the safety and health of Decatur residents and visitors?

Already this question is bringing in the comments, with 18 responses and counting.  Jump over and let your voice be heard!

If the open-ended questions on Open City Hall aren’t your thing, the city has just posted a mostly multiple-choice survey on the Cultural Arts Master Plan.

Click here to give your input!

In so many ways, Decatur’s got it buttoned up.

Our budget is top-notch; just ask our creditors.  The city lives and dies by the 10-year strategic development plan.  It’s in love with many of the ideas in it’s newish Community Transportation Plan.  It has an Athletic Facility Master Plan, AND Greenway Plan. And it often pays solemn homage to the grand-daddy plan of them all, The Town Center Plan.  (It’s kind of like our own Federalist Papers of the 1980s)

But in a town of self-proclaimed creative types and smarty-pantses, our arts scene doesn’t have a cohesive purpose down on paper…what you might call an um, plan!  That’s why the city is currently in the process of developing a Cultural Arts Master Plan.

But of course you already know that because you attended Decatur’s Cultural Arts Master Plan meeting a couple weeks back, right?

No?

Well, you might just want to watch this Decatur eLife video on the meeting and listen to what Linda Harris has to tell you…

…and then head on over to the city’s Open City Hall program and give your “official” feedback to the city on the following questions…

What cultural offerings in Decatur are you most proud of? Which offerings have you participated in? What would you like to see in the future? Did you attend a public input session?

After a 3 month pilot of “Open City Hall“, the city has decided to extend its contract with “Peak Democracy” for at least another year.  Here’s the city’s press release from Linda Harris.

The City of Decatur announces its commitment to being one of the first cities in the world to add an on-line option to its public comment process.

‘We know a lot of residents are interested in alternatives for participating in the public process,” says Decatur Mayor Bill Floyd, ‘and we wanted to provide another option for civic engagement.’ After a 3 month pilot, they’ve decided to continue their ‘Open City Hall’ project for at least another year.

Release is continued after the jump…

Read the rest of this entry »

Catherine reports that there are two new questions posted on the city’s “Open City Hall” webpage.

The first question sounds like its in anticipation of updating the city’s strategic plan for 2010:

Should the City continue it’s Smart Growth strategy in downtown Decatur?

The second sounds like its looking for affirmation on a big part of the city’s existing Community Transportation Plan:

Should major intersections be rebuilt to promote bicycle and pedestrian uses, even if motorists are inconvenienced?

For those new to this feedback system, answers are ultimately compiled and presented to the city commission for consideration.

Oh, by the way – yes and yes.

So reports the AJC in an article about the city’s new open forum.

I wonder who could possibly be held responsible for this recent, intense online initiative by the city (cough, cough).

We sure have come a long way since I wrote this back in January as part of a plea to the city to embrace new online technology to improve help improve communication…

I believe that in the 21st century, Decatur residents shouldn’t have to wait for a monthly newsletter or for a questionably factual article to be written in the AJC to find out what going in around town. We want to know about the issues as they are happening, so as many residents as possible know about the destruction of Decatur Stadium or the PATH through Mason Mill Park to be able to speak up about them before its too late. Though this more efficient spread of news and info may at times compel more folks into the commission room at city hall, hopefully they will also better informed.

I also believe that it is in the city’s interest to have a voice in this new, online dialog. City government should be able to respond to issues when things on the internet get too heated or misconstrued. They should use it as a way of getting the word out about events and meetings. Opening this channel will go along way to “improving communication” between the city and its residents, which is a key concern among residents today.

Looking back on it…we’ve seen huge changes in the online space over the past 12 months.  Everyone from city employees to bloggers to online participants are to be commended!

Linda Harris writes in to let us know that the first two questions in the city’s new “Open City Hall”forum are now posted online at the city’s website.

This beta public forum will allow residents to voice their opinions directly to the city regarding issues currently being considered by the commission.   You can only post once, so its not really a forum for discussion, but can go back and edit your opinion if you end up changing your mind down the road.  Also, you are required to input your name and address, but have the option of remaining anonymous to site viewers and the city if desired.

The first two questions ask for your stance on annexation and urban farming.   (I might suggest reading through the city manager’s new report of annexation before commenting on the former) Also according to Linda, “The next two questions will be related to transportation and downtown development and the final two will be taxes and greenspace.  We will post them during the next month and leave them up for three months.”

Click here to get right to it!