Jim Compton Seattle City Council Consejo de la Ciudad de Seattle Seattle Democracy Portal Seattle Democracy Portal Puerta de Entrada a la Democracia en la Ciudad de Seattle A Vision for Electronic Communication between the City and its Citizens Visión para Establecer Comunicación Electrónica Entre el Gobierno Local de la Ciudad y sus Ciudadanos

seattle.gov Award winning website Award winning website 80,000 pages of information 80,000 pages of information Model for others Model for others But we wanted to do more

Citizen Commission 2001 Citizen Commission Commission work led to the Democracy Portal initiative. Commission work led to the Democracy Portal initiative.

Democracy Portal Mission To inform and engage citizens about government, civic, and cultural affairs through compelling use of television and Internet.

Seattle Channel US Cities can have cable channels US Cities can have cable channels Most cities have TV operations, broadcasting City Council meetings and some other local programming Most cities have TV operations, broadcasting City Council meetings and some other local programming

Seattle is the Right Place Known for our civic activism. Known for our civic activism. High Internet (over 80%) and broadband access (over 30%). High Internet (over 80%) and broadband access (over 30%). Award winning website (500,000 user sessions and 3 million page views a month). Award winning website (500,000 user sessions and 3 million page views a month). Award winning TV channel run by City government Award winning TV channel run by City government Elected officials really want to hear from citizens. Elected officials really want to hear from citizens.

This is an example of how the City Council uses the website to encourage citizen participation. This site seeks citizen opinions on the performance of a City department.

Comments can be submitted anonymously or with a name. Comments can be submitted anonymously or with a name. Can require address to establish local residence Can require address to establish local residence

City departments also use the website to get citizen comments. City departments also use the website to get citizen comments. This site seeks input on the qualifications for a department head. This site seeks input on the qualifications for a department head.

Core component is new website Focused on Issues Issues Video Streaming Video Streaming Interactivity Interactivity

Issues Site takes topics of interest and explores them as issues. Site takes topics of interest and explores them as issues. City Inside/Out TV program explores issues weekly. City Inside/Out TV program explores issues weekly.

Videostreaming One of our central features is videostreaming. One of our central features is videostreaming. We have 24 hour- a-day live video of our City Council and TV signal We have 24 hour- a-day live video of our City Council and TV signal

Video On-Demand About 500 videos available About 500 videos available 160 are Council meetings 160 are Council meetings Includes news programs, features, press conferences, etc. Includes news programs, features, press conferences, etc.

Interactivity The site encourages interaction between City government and citizens. The site encourages interaction between City government and citizens.

Polling Polling is not scientific, but a way to involve users and gauge opinion. Polling is not scientific, but a way to involve users and gauge opinion.

Other interactivity access to all City officials and staff access to all City officials and staff Join one of lists Join one of lists Volunteer Opportunities Volunteer Opportunities Call-in/ in hearings and TV programs Call-in/ in hearings and TV programs Chat is coming Chat is coming

Are People Using It? 26,000 page views in December 26,000 page views in December Two months last summer Two months last summer 1151 viewers of City Council live stream 1151 viewers of City Council live stream 915 viewers of channel live stream 915 viewers of channel live stream s to City Council about budget s to City Council about budget

Conclusion Many cities, including Barcelona, include some of these features on their websites Many cities, including Barcelona, include some of these features on their websites We package video and web features together, emphasizing two-way communication We package video and web features together, emphasizing two-way communication We want to listen and respond We want to listen and respond Many new applications appearing Many new applications appearing