Online tool provides a new way to engage with the city of Encinitas

New online tool to engage with the city of EncinitasOnline tool provides a new way to engage with the city of EncinitasCommunity members now have a convenient way to provide input to the city of Encinitas, and shape the decision-making of city leaders. That method is through PlaceSpeak, an online tool that makes it easy for residents to participate in policy and program development, from the earliest planning stages through finalizing results.Signing up for an online PlaceSpeak account is free and easy, and participating community members can control what type of, and how many, notifications they receive on city consultation topics — as well as discuss topics with other verified community members and provide feedback to the city in a variety of forms.According to a press release, PlaceSpeak “serves as a new way to discuss city happenings with fellow neighbors, won’t displace other ways to provide input to the city and verifies that each user either lives or works in Encinitas.”By signing up with PlaceSpeak, Encinitas residents will be able to have their input heard by the city even when they’re unable to show up to city council meetings.”We want to make sure that every person that wants to be heard, can be heard and are pleased to have another method for listening to our residents and businesses,” Encinitas City Manager Karen Brust said in the release. “PlaceSpeak is a simple platform that allows verified members of our community to reach us and provide much needed and valued input on the decisions that we make every day. Whether it’s a project that is close to completion or one that is just getting started, we’re looking forward to hearing what residents have to say, whenever they want to say it.”Community members can visit www.placespeak.com to register and a tutorial video is available at www.placespeak.com/encinitas.PlaceSpeak CEO and Founder Colleen Hardwick assured Encinitas residents that the tool “protects individual privacy and does not share information such as street or email address.” According to Encinitas staff, PlaceSpeak will gradually be phased into the city’s ongoing outreach and community engagement efforts. In the meantime, to encourage residents and businesses to complete the registration process and familiarize them with the new tool, two feedback and discussion opportunities are available on the site. The first is a poll of favorite city beaches and the second is a survey on how residents and businesses prefer to receive city information.To make using PlaceSpeak as easy and convenient as possible, the city of Encinitas has not activated its various authentication features, but Encinitas residents and business users may wish to verify the location of their home or workplace as these steps will likely be required to participate in future consultations.For more information on the different methods for residents to communicate with the city of Encinitas, visit www.encinitasca.gov, find “public meeting information” under the “public meetings” tab. Shortcuts to agendas and minutes, e-newsletter sign up, public records search and more options are listed under the “quick links” section on the right.The city also is available by phone or in person anytime from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday except alternating Fridays and holidays at 760-633-2600 and 505 S. Vulcan Ave.— Submitted press releaseEncinitas-PlaceSpeakEncinitas, PlaceSpeak