City looking at developing new custom mobile app

The city of Avon Lake is in the process of developing a custom-designed mobile application.

On May 21, the Avon Lake Council Finance Committee discussed updates to the proposal.

Council President Martin O’Donnell, who chairs the Finance Committee, said the city has worked on the proposal for the past 18 months. It would provide new avenues for Avon Lake residents to communicate and report city issues.

“If they see a pothole, or if they see a safety issue in a park, they can take a picture of it. It will go into City Hall and will be accountable,” O’Donnell said. “At that point in time, there will be a clock on getting that fixed.”

The application also would make the city’s cal- endar, announcements and press releases available to mobile users.

In researching the proposal and other cities that have undertaken similar initiatives, city officials discovered it is the quality of a dedicated amount of engaged citizens reporting issues rather than overall volume that is the biggest determining factor, even if the number of people using it is small.

“It’s the quality of the people using it and the quickness of the reporting mechanisms that also puts accountability onto the city,” O’Donnell said. “So, it’s a little different way for people to communicate. But I think that’s a way that’s going to be more popular than other items as we move on both in advertising and that.”

Digital Media Director Barb Cagley noted the project would help streamline the city’s workflow process in addressing issues.

The city will set up a spreadsheet associated with the reported issues, Cagley said.

“What we’re helping through this process is funneling down this information so it goes to the right person at the right time,” she said.

The Finance Committee unanimously approved to move the proposal for consideration by the Public Service Commission on May 29.

The project would cost $14,630 in developing the application, with annual costs of $780 with local company Emerge Inc.

Before rolling out the application to the public, O’Donnell said the city would engage in a pilot project with a smaller group of residents.

“I do think apps will be a future way of cities communicating,” he said. “And I do think this is a good first step.”