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Communications with the Public

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The City prioritizes open communication with the public for City services, events, and other information.  El Cajon 2.0 is committed to improving and diversifying modes of communication with the public. 

Current Projects Addressing Communications with the Public 

Year

Title

Description

2021

Focus Groups (Planned)

The City will be conducting focus groups with constituents to determine how best to communicate and engage with the public, considering digital divides and language barriers.

2020

Public Notifications Regarding Call and Case Status

The El Cajon Police Department used grant funding to implement technology that sends text messages to callers, giving them the status of their calls for service and/or criminal case. This technology enables the public to understand what to expect when they call the Police Department and reduces follow-up calls to the communications center.

 

El Cajon App

The City implemented the El Cajon App for Android and iOS devices in the spring of 2020. The app includes Requests and Issues for citizen reporting of issues around the City, as well as economic development and civic engagement pages. The app integrates with the City’s webpage and links to all online services El Cajon provides.

 

Reconfigured City Website

Redesigned for easier location of data through quick buttons and advanced search features.

 

Streaming Council Meetings on Facebook Live

Easier access and participation in government meetings through social media.

 

Project Assistance Center Online (PACO)

Online self-service portal for customers to submit permit applications, check permit review status, pay fees, and schedule inspections.

 

Public Map Galleries

Interactive maps of the City enables visitors to quickly view information on City parcels, zoning, Council Districts, and much more.

 

Focus Groups and Workshops

In-person and online meetings focused on key issues around the City, including climate, housing, and zoning.

2019

Social Media Posting Strategy

Content is planned and scheduled to ensure that followers remain engaged with the City.

 

Public Records Portal

Self-service access to official public documents.

Additional Needs for Addressing Communications with the Public 

  • Increase reach to a greater number of residents and businesses to provide information about City services, events, and other information.  Especially working to close the digital divide to reach those who are not “tech savvy” (and obtain information through traditional means). 

  • How best to communicate with residents to ensure they are aware of important issues regarding the City such as homelessness, grant programs, new construction, etc. 

  • The Fire Department is interested in providing the public with information about medical emergencies, crashes, and other incident types with precise locations to allow for the public to avoid the area and minimize duplicative calls to the Dispatch Center. 

  • Residents of the City speak many languages, and the City needs a communication plan that includes reaching citizens in multiple languages. Solutions should be easy to use, able to automatically translate into multiple languages, and be defensible to tampering and graffiti. 

  • Provide a higher level of customer service for website users, including finding answers to questions or submitting issues. 

Intended Outcomes 

  • Increase the number of citizens reached in general communications such as social media and press releases. 

  • Develop a communications strategy which is inclusive, utilizing both traditional and virtual platforms to reach the public.