Interim Portal Development Plan May-Nov 2007 Neighborhood & Community Portal Project

What is a “Community Portal”? Community portals present local content, community link directories, community event calendars, and more. They are designed in the public interest to make community content more accessible. —DoWire, Democracy.org

Example of a Regional Portal (Ontario) “…a partnership between business, government, community organizations and community members…

….created to leverage the benefits of information and communications technologies (ICT) for the cities of Coquitlam and Port Moody (Ontario, Canada)” Level II: Neighborhood Info

What is a “Civic Garden”*? A select group of public sector websites, online applications, and resources that all Minneapolis residents can access via the Community & Neighborhood Portals. Residents need not be subscribers or customers of the USIW network to access the portal pages or any of the civic garden content! * Previously called the “walled garden”

Sample Civic Garden Content Full Internet Access Limited, Free Access

Initial Portal & Civic Garden Development

There will be six “regional” portals at network launch (winter 2007). Interim portal pages will link to existing community and neighborhood websites and resources… Initial Portal Strategy (v1.0)

6 build-out regions within the City; 6 semi-customized Portal pages

Civic Garden Content --What is appropriate content for the “civic garden” ? --Who will select the initial civic garden content? --How can community leaders & residents participate in this project?

Civic Garden content must serve the public interest, (non-commercial/non-partisan) and provide access to essential public services and information. Civic Garden Content An online community information channel…

--The Digital Inclusion Coalition & Task Force reports provide a comprehensive list of websites (from public meetings in ) --Community input gathered at current public meetings will be forwarded to DIF advisors for review -- Residents can submit links and ideas for future civic garden content via the City’s website Civic Garden Content

A Portal Policy Committee (comprised of Digital Inclusion Task Force members and City residents) is currently developing content & advertising guidelines-- and will select initial Civic Garden websites and content. Who selects & approves initial civic garden content?

--Solicit community input at seven City-sponsored public meetings and via an online /offline survey -- Meet with DIF Advisors to share community ideas and feedback --Work closely with USIW to implement the Portals in advance of network launch How is the City engaging the community in this project?

Future Plans The goal of this project is to ensure that over time, every Minneapolis neighborhood will have a presence on the Wireless Minneapolis Community + Neighborhood Portal.

How Can Minneapolis Residents Access the Portal? Anywhere within the City with a wireless-equipped computer. (Signal strength will depend on many factors, i.e. inside or outside, etc.) At city libraries and community technology centers-- or using your home computer.

What if I can’t afford an account, or I want to “test drive” the network? The City/USIW contract stipulates that 5% of the City’s geographic area have limited-time, free Internet access… Outdoor public spaces such as parks, plazas and “commons” areas will become designated free WIFI zones (2008).

Sustainability --Develop long term plan to identify, engage, support, & train community content producers, and manage portal ad sales /sponsorships --Identify additional revenue opportunities to support the project Ongoing Portal Development

Timeline May-June 2007 Civic Garden sites selected & approved (DIF Board) Citywide community meeting held (CE Team) Regional community meetings scheduled (CE Team) “Acceptable Use” Guidelines Approved (DIF Board) June-July 2007 Community meetings held in Phase 1 & 2 neighborhoods Community portals launched: Phase 1 & 2 August-Sept Community meetings held in Phase 3 & 4 neighborhoods Community portals launched: Phase 3 & 4 Sept- Oct 2007 Community meetings held in Phase 5 & 6 neighborhoods Community portals launched: Phase 5 & 6 November 2007 All portal sites and civic garden links operational Sustainability Plan Completed

Community Meetings Neighborhood/AreaDate & TimeMeeting Location Downtown and Cedar Riverside/Seward Neighborhoods Thursday, June 14 + Community Technology Celebration 4 - 6:30 p.m. Downtown Central Library Nicollet Mall, Doty Board Room Midtown & South Neighborhoods Thursday, June 28 5:30-7 p.m. Midtown Global Market Lake Street & Chicago Avenue Southwest Neighborhoods Thursday, July 19 th & Wednesday, Aug. 15 5:30-7 p.m. Lyndale Farmstead Park 3900 Bryant Ave. S. North Minneapolis Neighborhoods Thursday, Sept. 13 5:30-7 p.m. Shingle Creek Commons 4600 Humboldt Ave. N. Northeast & SE Neighborhoods Thursday, Oct. 18 5:30-7 p.m. Logan Park th Ave. N.E. South and Southeast Neighborhoods Thursday, Nov. 1 5:30-7 p.m. Nokomis Community Center 2401 E. Minnehaha Pkwy.

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