Recommendation
Receive presentation and report from the Communications Task Force and discuss the group's recommendations.

Discussion

In response to community concerns, the Mayor and Council established a Communications Task Force on December 7, 2009, to be chaired by Councilmember Newton. The Task Force was charged with reviewing and evaluating the ways Rockville notifies and involves the community in news and actions generated by and disseminated through City government.

Members of the Task Force were solicited throughout the community and appointed by the Mayor and Council on January 11, 2010. The Task Force met at least monthly over the past six months. The group also formed three sub-committees, which also met frequently. They were 1) Community Outreach; 2) Communications Mechanisms; and, 3) Development Review. At a meeting on June 16, 2010, the Task Force approved its final report to the Mayor and Council, which will be distributed at the meeting on June 21.

Mayor and Council History
This is the first time the report has been brought before the Mayor and Council.

Public Notification and Engagement

Members of the Task Force were recruited from throughout the City. Of the original seventeen members, thirteen people participated for the duration of the group's work. The group met with several community groups, including the Rockville Bike Advisory Committee, West End Citizens Association, Lincoln Park Citizens Association, and members of the Rockshire neighborhood. The group also interviewed members of the Mayor and Council and staff. The work of the group was highlighted in Rockville Reports, the Gazette Newspapers, and on the City's website.

Next Steps
Review the recommendations, and consider how the Task Force may be used in the future to implement any suggestions, as directed by the Mayor and Council.

Attachments

Department Head:



Claire Funkhouser, City Clerk/Treasurer
Approved on: 06/17/2010