AFI GovNews

Panama City FL Partners with CrimeReports.com for Online Crime-Mapping

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:24:43 -0500

The Panama City Police have partnered with the nations largest and most comprehensive crime-mapping provider. Enter your address or just simply enter your zip code for a detailed mapping of incidents that have occurred in our City. This service also tracks sexual offender and sexual predators. CrimeReports provides comprehensive local crime-mapping data to some 750 police departments, including cities such as San Francisco and Boston, and the entire states of Maryland and Utah. Depending on their size, clients pay between $100 to $200 a month for data on homicides, break-ins, auto thefts and other crimes occurring in their...

Prosper, TX Gets High Praise from Business Journal Book of Lists

ejurado@transformgov.org — Sun, 05 Feb 2012 17:11:16 -0500

The Town of Prosper received prominent ranking in a number of categories highlighted by the 2012 Dallas Business Journal (DBJ) Book of Lists. The Book of Lists is the annual roll call of the highest performing, largest or fastest growing entities in a wide variety of industries, businesses, commercial interests in the private sector and local or regional communities, according to Mike Land, Town Manager and Interim Executive Director of the Prosper Economic Development Corporation (PEDC). "The Town of Prosper and the Prosper Economic Development Corporation are pleased to be listed in these top categories again this year. The...

City of Collinsville, IL Recognized for Financial Reporting Efforts

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 19:21:54 -0500

For the second consecutive year, the City of Collinsville has been recognized by the Government Finance Officers Association of the United States and Canada (GFOA) for its comprehensive annual financial report (CAFR) for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2010. According to GFOA, “The Certificate of Achievement is the highest form of recognition in the area of governmental accounting and financial reporting, and its attainment represents a significant accomplishment by a government and its management.” To earn the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting, the City of Collinsville had to substantially conform to the program’s demanding criteria,...

Maricopa, AZ Sees Success in Paperless Meeting Pilot Program

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 17:04:24 -0500

In spring 2011, the Maricopa City Council, in an effort to reduce paper waste while increasing mobility and information access, took part in an innovative beta testing program that utilized the use of iPads and an app called iLegislate. The program sought to reduce paper agendas and supporting documentation during City Council meetings and work sessions. “We wanted to take full advantage of the latest innovation in government technology to save natural and financial resources while providing our Council members a more convenient and efficient way to view agendas and prepare for meetings,” said Mayor Tony Smith. “The iLegislate...

Virginia Beach, VA Re-accredited by the International Economic Development Council

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:53:25 -0500

The Virginia Beach Economic Development Department has been recognized by the International Economic Development Council (IEDC) as an Accredited Economic Development Organization (AEDO). Virginia Beach is one of only 29 of the 22,000 economic development organizations in North America to have earned this distinction. The AEDO program measures economic development organizations against commonly held standards in the profession. It evaluates the structure, organization, funding, program and staff of the candidate organization. “The Virginia Beach Economic Development Department displays the professionalism, commitment and technical expertise that is deserving of this honor,” said IEDC President and CEO Jeff Finkle. “We...

Active Network Powers Chicago Park District

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:55:55 -0500

The Active Network, Inc. (NYSE: ACTV), Clarity Partners and the Chicago Park District have teamed up to launch a new e-commerce recreation management system for facilities throughout more than 8,100 acres of Chicago Park District property. Launched this month, the robust online system manages facility usage for many of the Chicago Park District’s assets including 280 staffed park recreation centers, over 500 baseball fields, 26 indoor and 51 outdoor pools, 71 fitness centers, 22 artificial turf fields, 8 gymnastic centers, and 2 conservatories. Furthermore, the system allows patrons the convenience of browsing park programs and events and registering...

GreenPlay LLC Discusses Urban Camping and Taming the Concrete Jungle

ejurado@transformgov.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:36:07 -0500

The online Urban Dictionary defines Urban Camping as “camping in an urban setting by sleeping on rooftops, under bushes, and in public parks.” Not surprisingly, in a creative adaptation of an activity that was once considered the domain of hippies and the homeless, “urban camping” has recently become a mainstream recreational program for many cities, non-profits serving youth, the outdoor industry and state and national park systems in the US and around the world. Park professionals and others organizing city style camp outs say that urban camping is a good way for tourists and locals to get a taste...

Hampton, VA Offers Training on Flood Insurance for Local Agents

ejurado@transformgov.org — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 17:22:56 -0500

With about half of all land in Hampton located in the 100-year flood plain, flooding is an issue that affects a large segment of the city's population. Currently over 11,000 Hampton households have a flood insurance policy. The City wants to ensure that its residents are receiving the latest information from their insurance agents regarding flood insurance options, coverage details and FEMA guidelines. The City maintains flood insurance rate maps online at www.hampton.gov , and has paper copies available at the Hampton Main Library. For residents who have flood insurance, FEMA requires insurance agents to provide...

Allen, TX Ranks 9th Safest City in US for a Third Time

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 17:16:31 -0500

Allen Police Chief Bill Rushing announced that for the third time in four years, Allen is ranked among the 10 safest cities in the United States. A City Crime Rankings study, published by CQ Press, a unit of Congressional Quarterly Inc., was based on the FBI’s 2010 statistics report. The report examined more than 400 communities with at least 75,000 people based on per-capita rates for homicide, robbery, rape, burglary, aggravated assault and motor vehicle theft. Nationwide, Allen is ranked 9th overall (cities with a population of more than 75,000) and 8th in their population category (cities with...

Douglas County, NV Introduces New Emergency Medical Dispatch System

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 16:51:46 -0500

In mid-December, 2011, when a 77 year old Douglas County resident collapsed at his home, a new emergency medical dispatch system was activated. The Douglas County public safety dispatcher assisted the 911 caller with CPR instructions, the precise emergency medical equipment and personnel were sent to the home, and the patient was safely delivered to the hospital with a pulse and breathing. The new Emergency Medical Dispatch system is the result of a cooperative effort between the Douglas County 911 Emergency Services Department and local fire and EMS agencies to implement the National Academy of Emergency Dispatch medical priority...

Fishers, IN Opens Art in Town Hall Gallery

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 12 Jan 2012 19:04:20 -0500

On Thursday, January 12, a new art gallery opened in the Town of Fishers. Unlike any other art gallery in the area, this one has transformed a municipal building lobby. Fishers Town Hall, located at One Municipal Drive, will be the home of a permanent art gallery that is open to the public. Art in Town Hall will feature exhibits of up to 60 works of visual art by local artists. The exhibit inside the gallery will rotate throughout the year to feature new artists' works. Art in Town Hall is the collaboration of the Fishers Arts Council and...

Lemont, IL Police Department Offers First Combined Citizen’s Police Academy With Illinois State Police

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 17:23:17 -0500

Ever wondered what it would be like to be the person behind the badge? TV shows and movies about police officers are staples in the entertainment industry. But how accurate is the information they provide about law enforcement? Have you ever wanted to find and lift a fingerprint, give a DUI field sobriety test or test your reactions in a shoot/don’t shoot situation? (Safely, of course!) The Lemont Police Department and Illinois State Police would like to welcome citizens who are interested in learning about the law enforcement profession to attend their first combined Citizen’s Police Academy. The Academy’s...

City of Portsmouth, VA Fire and Rescue Announces Record Breaking Success for 2011

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:51:11 -0500

At the beginning of 2011, Portsmouth Fire, Rescue and Emergency Service set some high goals, including zero fire deaths and a reduction of fires by 10%. Thanks to the citizens of Portsmouth and a dedicated fire prevention staff, these goals were not only met, but exceeded. There was a 12% reduction in fires, and this is the first year since 2005 where the City of Portsmouth has had zero fire deaths. New fire prevention programs created opportunities for enlightenment and education, which was central in meeting these goals. A Home Safety Survey Program, where citizens can request for...

City of Aspen and Pitkin County, CO Examine New Environmental Initiatives

ejurado@transformgov.org — Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:30:57 -0500

There has been lots of media attention over the past few years on natural gas production and specifically, the process of high volume horizontal hydraulic fracturing or "fracking." So what's all the buzz about? Fracking is a process in which millions of gallons of water, sand and chemicals are injected into gas wells at high pressures to force open fissures in underground shale layers to release trapped gas for extraction. There are growing concerns about the potential impacts on air and water quality of this process and with more than 7,800 active gas wells in neighboring Garfield County; it's an...

City of Gresham, OR Boosts Service with Online Code Compliance Tracking

ejurado@transformgov.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:40:12 -0500

The public now has the ability to monitor the progress of code compliance cases online with the City’s new case tracking system. Online visitors can review cases by file number, address or last name. Available information includes: property owner, actions taken, violations found, when the case was opened and when the case was resolved. Code Compliance responds to community concerns about City code violations. Examples of code compliance cases include graffiti, abandoned vehicles, clear vision issues, overgrown vegetation, illegal tree cutting and signage. To access the new case tracking system visit GreshamOregon.gov/CodeCompliance . The website also features...

Plano, TX Recognized for Promoting Clean Air Choices

ejurado@transformgov.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 17:14:33 -0500

The City of Plano was recently recognized by Air North Texas as the winner of the Outstanding Achievement Initiative Award. City staff effectively used social media, such as Facebook and Twitter, to generate excitement and support for the organization’s second annual Clean Air Action Day – “7.7.7.7.” Newsletters and web content on both the Live Green in Plano and City of Plano websites supported the event’s promotion and encouraged residents to participate. Via print publications and hyperlinks to the Air North Texas website, people learned more information about air quality and its impact on daily living. “One of...

Olathe, KS Runs Third Annual Holiday Pet Adoption Drive

ejurado@transformgov.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:48:43 -0500

For the third year, the Olathe Animal Shelter will participate in the National Home for the Holidays pet fostering program. Across the country, over 13,000 pet rescue organizations are encouraging adoption by allowing residents to foster an animal during the holidays in hopes of giving the animal a permanent home. The program opened to Olathe residents only on Saturday, December 17. Pets could be returned to the animal shelter on Tuesday, December 27. You can view animals online or at the shelter. The goal for...

Catawba County, NC Announces Innovative Plan to Address the Needs of Aging Citizens

ejurado@transformgov.org — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 16:23:17 -0500

The Catawba County Aging Leadership Planning Team presented its findings to the Board of Commissioners. The commissioners created this group in 2009 to suggest ways the community can meet the needs of the growing number of senior citizens living in the county. According to the U.S. Census, Catawba County’s age 60+ population is growing rapidly as baby boomers reach retirement age and people live longer. During the last decade, the number of people age 65-74 years old grew by 28.3 percent; residents who are 75-84 years old grew by 14.0 percent; and those 85 and older grew by 43.8 percent. These numbers compare...

Douglas County, NV Provides Interjurisdictional GIS Services

ejurado@transformgov.org — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:36:44 -0500

Douglas County, NV took on the role of providing centralized GIS services to three of its neighboring Nevada jurisdictions. Carson City, Storey County, and Lyon County have agreed through Memorandums of Understandings (MOU) to establish the Douglas County GIS Division as their de facto GIS office. This arrangement offers immediate economies of scale for all involved, and avoids duplication of services at a time when public budgets are shrinking on a yearly basis. Clearly GIS lends itself to a regional approach. However, such an arrangement is not without its inherent challenges. Each of the four participants has their own...

Blacksburg, VA Named Best Place in the U.S. to Raise Kids by Business Week

ejurado@transformgov.org — Tue, 13 Dec 2011 15:29:23 -0500

More than half the population of Blacksburg, Va., is Virginia Tech students, so it may be easy to mistake this town of 41,383 as just another college town. Yet this small community, between the Blue Ridge and Allegheny Mountains, also has the makings of a great place to raise children, according to Business Week. Excellent schools draw many families to Blacksburg, which also has such amenities as a community center with sports, fitness, educational, and social activities; an indoor pool; and even a nine-hole, 54-acre municipal golf course. “There’s very little crime. There are kids’ programs, green space, trails....

Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, MN Join Forces with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

ejurado@transformgov.org — Mon, 12 Dec 2011 15:58:29 -0500

The mayors of Bloomington, Edina and Richfield, and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) today launched an 18-month project to improve the health of their communities by making changes that support healthy eating and active living choices. The initiative, called “do.town,” focuses on preventing illness caused by unhealthy eating and physical inactivity, which combined are the second leading cause of death and disease in Minnesota. The mayors of Bloomington, Edina and Richfield announced do.town today at a meeting of community leaders from across the three cities. The goal of the do.town initiative is to make the...

Delray Beach, FL Education Programs Showcased in Video Documentary "Partnering for Excellence in Schools" by the International City/County Management Association

ejurado@transformgov.org — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:35:40 -0500

The City of Delray Beach’s local government education programs have been featured in a video documentary “Partnering for Excellence in Schools,” which was produced by the International City/County Management Association (ICMA) - a professional membership organization for City and County Managers around the country and world. The video highlights the City’s 20 year partnership with local elementary, middle and high schools as well as the School District of Palm Beach County. The five (5) minute documentary was presented at the September 20, 2011 City Commission meeting and was featured at this year’s 97th ICMA Annual Conference in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, where...

Ankeny, IA Earns Best Practices Award for Safety Program

ejurado@transformgov.org — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:29:38 -0500

Ankeny Mayor Steven Van Oort accepted a Best Practices Award and a $2,000 check from the Iowa Municipalities Workers’ Compensation Association (IMWCA) during a special ceremony last night. The award recognizes the City of Ankeny’s successful implementation of rigorous safety standards that not only help contain workers’ compensation costs but ultimately benefit its overall operations. “The city of Ankeny is doing an extraordinary job in developing an organizational culture focused on employee safety,” said Ed Morrison, IMWCA loss control representative. “This type of success would not be possible without city management’s commitment to its employees. Ankeny should be commended.” ...

City of Airdrie, AB Introduces Revolutionary MRV Ambulance

ejurado@transformgov.org — Fri, 09 Dec 2011 15:22:46 -0500

"The MRV, a reconditioned ambulance, provides the technology and a mobile environment to conduct more accurate and efficient on-scene interviews with first responders and witnesses,” says Russ McKeage, Community Safety Officer, Airdrie Fire Department. The new vehicle provides a more comfortable environment, which in difficult and emotional situations with witnesses is imperative to get accurate information. It is equipped with technology such as video and audio recording devices, allowing investigators to replay witness interviews if required and providing visual cues and observations where they used to rely on written statements only. Onboard technology also includes WiFi, allowing the...

Blue Springs, MO Innovation Park Moves Forward with Missouri Innovation Park

ejurado@transformgov.org — Tue, 29 Nov 2011 15:52:08 -0500

On November 21, 2011 representatives from the City of Blue Springs, the Blue Springs Economic Development Corporation (BSEDC) and University of Missouri signed a Letter of Agreement to develop the first phase of the Missouri Innovation Park (MIP), which represents 63 acres and an 80,000 to 90,000 square foot building with MU as the anchor tenant. Once fully developed, the MIP is projected to be home to more than 40 companies employing 3,700 employees with an annual payroll of $190 million. “The Missouri Innovation Park is a multi-party collaboration and partnership that represents a shared strategy to complement the...