Community Technology Profile Topeka, KS: City of Topeka Web Site: Presented By: Heather Ice

Strategy – IT Department The information technology department (IT) implements all of the technology that the city of Topeka uses. They don’t jump on the ‘bleeding edge’ of technology, but instead settle for the ‘cutting edge’. They control an estimated 80% of the city’s technology.

Strategy – Internet/Media The information is gotten out to the people through the Internet website: They have an intranet website for city employees only at: The local newspaper always includes the web address in all of the job opening advertisements that they run.

Strategy – Internet/Media The commercial TV stations in Topeka (ABC, CBS, FOX, and NBC) all use the address at the conclusion of their nightly newscasts. Maintain a presence on the local cable TV system through a government access channel (4) and produce TV shows and programs of local interest and air them on that channel.

Strategy - Phone Have the capability of ‘pushing one button’ and causing every telephone in Topeka (or just certain neighborhoods) to ring and a recorded message to be delivered to each phone.

Strategy – Training Programs The people learn to use this technology through the Information Technology Department Offers classes to city employees on a regular basis Classes are offered during the regular business hours and employees are able to attend during their work hours. Classes cover: Excel, PowerPoint, , Internet (search engines) Classes on how to fill out the telephone billing spreadsheets that they use.

Strategy Adoption Charge for adoption has been led by the Information Technology Department for the City of Topeka. Bill Stephens said, “We want to ‘keep up with the Jones’ without going overboard (streaming video, audio, flash, etc).” They grew from the ‘early days’ in the early 1970’s when all they had were dumb terminals that gave them black screens and green letters in courier type font. Began to move to the PC’s in the late 1980’s and now maintain nearly 800 PC’s throughout twenty city facilities (city hall, water plants, fire stations, police stations, engineering and metro planning facilities, etc.)

Strategy Adoption – Cont. By adopting this technology it allows the City of Topeka’s employees: Maintain records more easily Share the wealth of data records and information that is kept and stored on file Make their jobs easier Allows for providing better services to the citizens of Topeka either in person or through their electronic portal:

Tangible Evidence of Impact First went online in 1994 Because of the website there seems to have been an increase in people knowing what is going on in the community Information Technology Departments server logs Show that the site receives an average of 55,000 visits per monthwww.topeka.org More than half of these are from outside of the city offices. When information is updated Hourly if pertaining to news Whenever anything needs to be added or deleted. Bill Stephens said there isn’t a day that goes bye that he isn’t updating a web page.

Strategy is Transferable It would work just about anywhere that it is possible to connect to the Internet Wonderful idea to have this extensive of a web site for cities that have broadband (at least 56K) capabilities. Requirements City offices to be connected and the employees to be able to handle this type of activity. An Internet provider in the town

Strategy is Transferable – Cont. Not recommended where: If there is not an Internet provider If connection speeds are still way to slow Would keep in mind and begin planning for such a possibility to come to the town. Why is it helpful to employees and citizens Gets information out very quickly A person doesn’t have to do an extensive amount of searching to find this information making it possible for anyone in the world with an Internet connection to be able to search and find out information about the City of Topeka.

References City of Topeka Information Technology Department. City of Topeka, KS. 24 Sept Stephens, Bill. Personal . (25 Sept & 1 Oct. 2001). Addition information on questions and conversation can be found at Community Technology Profile – hip/CommTechPro/ hip/CommTechPro/