HomeMy WebLinkAboutCAO-007-11 qjgn he WaJ y REPORT
CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICE
Meeting: GENERAL PURPOSE AND ADMINISTRATION
Date: July 11, 2011 Resolution#: 601 5x10''// By-law#: N/A
Report#: CAO-007-11 File#:
Subject: "CONNECTING CLARINGTON" -A PILOT PROJECT TO IMPROVE
COMMUNICATION WITH OUR RESIDENTS
RECOMMENDATIONS:
1. That Report CAO-007-11 be received for information.
Submitted by:�
Franklin Wu, M.A.O.M.
Chief Administrative Officer
CORPORATION OF THE MUNICIPALITY OF CLARINGTON
40 TEMPERANCE STREET, BOWMANVILLE, ONTARIO L1C 3A6 T (905)623-3379 F (905)623-0720
REPORT NO.: CAO-007-11 PAGE 2
REPORT:
1. Improving communication with our residents has always been a priority with the
Municipality for many years. This emphasis was reinforced in the recently
approved Strategic Plan where "Connecting Clarington" was identified as one of the
key six Strategic Priorities of the Municipality.
2. "Connecting Clarington" contains two major goals, one of which is to improve
communication through a comprehensive communication strategy that would
explore and utilize all available communication tools. This would include
evaluating, prioritizing, and selecting the communication tools based on their
effectiveness and cost efficiency.
3. The use of printed material is one of the communication tools used extensively by
the Municipality in the past through "Page 2" advertisement in the local newspaper
and through publishing quarterly our own municipal newsletter, the "Clarington.net".
Both of these printed communication tools carry significant cost. As a result,
previous Council has limited the use of"Page 2" primarily for statutory municipal
notices only. In addition, "Clarington.net" has been discontinued through the
budget deliberation earlier this year.
4. In order to implement the objective in the Strategic Plan without impacting the
budget, senior staff began to explore other ways to provide printed information to
the residents. The result was the initiation of a pilot communication project which
would consist of an "eight page insert" in the Community Services Department
Community/Recreation Guide. This eight page insert is intended to replace the
information otherwise that would have been included in the previous publication
"Clarington.net". Our first eight page insert will appear in the fall issue of the
Community Guide scheduled for household distribution in late August/early
September. Being our first issue, we will focus the information on the status of
various municipal projects and undertakings as well as reporting on the
accomplishments the Municipality has achieved this year.
REPORT NO.: CAO-007-11 PAGE 3
5. Apart from the staff time involved, the printing cost of preparing this eight page
insert is minimal and can be recovered through a few additional advertisements in
the Guide. Staff is of the opinion that this is probably the most cost effective and
efficient way to communicate with the residents and it is worthwhile to move forward
with this project on a trial basis.