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Home My WebLink About03 CDD WebpageITEM #3 Inter-Com DATE: JUNE 22, 2010 TO: PLANNING COMMISSION FROM: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT SUBJECT: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT WEB PAGE SUMMARY This report is to apprise the Tustin Planning Commission of a number of recent and planned improvements to the Community Development Department's web page (http://www.tustinca.orq/departments/commdev/index.html), That the Planning Commission receive and file this report. BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION Web sites are one of the most professional, effective, easiest and least expensive methods of providing information to the public, elected and appointed officials, public agencies and others. Technological and societal changes have opened Internet access to our workplace, schools, libraries, airports, coffee shops, etc. With a satellite access card and laptop or handheld device, web access is available virtually anywhere on the planet. At the same time technology has continued to expand, larger and larger quantities of excellent information can now be found and shared over the World Wide Web in a matter of seconds. The City of Tustin has created a web site at http:/1www.tustinca.org/ intended to provide information to the community about the City's services and programs. Over the past several months, the Community Development Department and the City's excellent IT staff have worked to improve its web page to share enhanced and expanded planning and building related information and resources to the benefit of the community: Various reports, forms, documents, maps, etc. are now accessible at no cost 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. This information was previously available only by visiting City Hall and paying for paper copies at reproduction costs. Community engagement is now much easier as information about upcoming events, public hearings, public notices, Planning Commission and City Council agendas, etc. are instantly accessible and reviewable. No longer must the City rely solely upon newspaper notices, wooden signs posted on a property, or land based mail delivery. Planning Commission Report Community Development Web Site June 22, 1010 Page 2 • Citizens can engage in open and direct communication and public participation through a-mail or phone links to elected and appointed decision makers, responsible staff, the appropriate city department, and county, state and federal agency resources. • Community governance is provided enhanced transparency through the availability of video links to every Planning Commission and City Council meeting and workshop. • Customer service is enhanced as citizen needs are more rapidly addressed. The recently improved Community Development Department web page contains the following features: • Planning and Building office hours are clearly identified. • Direct linkages are provided to customers seeking Planning and Zoning information including full color electronic copies of the Tustin General Plan, the Historic Resources Survey, the Zoning Code, various specific plans including those developed for East Tustin and MCAS Tustin, the Tustin Zoning Map, Tustin Sign Code, Housing Element update, and other important documents. • Information pertaining to the City's Community Development Block Grant program. • Recently adopted Codes and Ordinances, such as the Parking Ordinance, Shopping Cart Ordinance, Water Efficient Landscape Ordinance, Old Town Restaurant and Outdoor Seating Ordinance, etc. • Electronic copies of various planning and building division flyers, handouts, and forms (applications, etc.). • Direct linkages to the Building Division, permit forms, information about the plan check procedure, a building inspection request link (usually accomplished in 24 hours), electronic copies of codes, alerts, handouts, and general information regarding issues such as earthquake preparedness. • Direct linkages to the Code Enforcement Division, allowing online filing of complaints and reporting of graffiti, providing useful answers and phone numbers, and allowing online payment of administrative citations. Planning Commission Report Community Development Web Site June 22, 1010 Page 3 A link has been provided to the Planning Commission web page where general information about the Commission can be found, and specific information about the next Planning Commission agenda can be obtained or downloaded. Projects in Progress The Community Development Department has recently enhanced its web page with a "Projects in Progress" page. Previously, information about projects under review was not readily available to citizens and elected and appointed decision makers. Similarly, project status information was not readily available after project approval. In addition, information was sometimes lacking regarding larger, complex projects which may have either been delayed because of the economy or other reasons. The new page link provides interested parties the opportunity to find and view information about any current planning project by selecting either its map location or by locating it on a table located below the map (newest to oldest submitted). I~~ynwu~pillrl~..,-1,lu~r~nl l''h.rl~~i_m L4 ~, L,. 1: nJ ~~,.., .ud:.,,. Ln~~n„1 Fgda~~~ .. , !~~' .: ntcp:lfvM,v.cunnc~orale<on~m<.c_y«+nmecvNmuu:o-:.,x<nlvlewr oMtr.umnnecr.,ee _ _ _ _ ~f ~ _ Eb gd; yww F@rw~es ?pds Clop . d 'd[mm.InNV OmnkpmN pmwtneH :: FVeb2s l+Pr.., 1 - ~ '111' _.~~!_~I P• T*C Po~Ipwmq title nUtl~n .~. dxrehpnpry Cu nYy „• p~ /,.;1~ tFe Cemmynity U enl ]Opprtmpnt ~~SC21:OnprY G.Ojecla Orc tl+Cea N•az reC~~rc dtl.C' H•C Garnin9 CCminiSy<n'p Or !4p City [C.1rcl's n nvnl~ w nine [e.nm :si<n inee:mgp arp~ IeeltlaN~p sawnd and Ip.ll. TppCdav of y~<h month pt ;I!C City Hell T~,p6 V•m. GIle1e clt<Is beye to view up<Cmn+p meetrgs nn3 yiev.~ gn<ersl inR;-.naucn ahc4t eFe ~amnnq [cmmlesan's ^esECns6~l~pca end mNn~pre. The web page view above is a screen shot showing the Community Development Department's "Projects in Progress" web page with a Google Map depicting a street view of the area. Four clickable boxes at the top right corner of the Google map provide the web page visitor with options to view the map and project site as 1) a street map (Default Map), as an oblique aerial (Earth) or perpendicular aerial view (Sat -satellite), Planning Commission Report Community Development Web Site June 22, 1010 Page 4 or a terrain (Ter) view showing area topography. A hand appears when you move the cursor over the map which you can use to move the map by left-clicking and dragging or you can use the arrow keys at the top left corner of the map. The + and -sign buttons also located at the top left corner of the map allow the visitor to zoom in or out from the project site. A web page visitor may either click a green "push pin" on the Google Map or scroll down to the blue project title/summary description row (below). !®1 • ~ ia~n:If~r«w.~IHCnRa,na~~.Himnrosk,~u,nn~lFrofwaror~n+~rvv„~n~rlxic.ra. Ek Cdt Ycw FavarRrs toah tldv ~F Qfanmis~tYQC~'~+rt OmatrraR:l Prvjxtsn R... vre cr»~~uw x _ .: un t7 3 ran.., rnn ~~~ ~ `~ w ~n.~ h ~.~ wl Santa Ana = ,~+~ ,,.,., a,.,~ wnow ~ we W ~~~,~~•• ~ ~" ..... .,r r war YJEa.ywW L .r y Eu u~ xr ~ A+znf ~ . r M era .• a ueh ~' ww. i.. M. ~ , W..x.. a.. r 1 wcw, =. „. m rA V.+. ! ~ TU:.in _an.mu,~ic; Qa..lnemani i'rol.rcn ~^ a laMar rao Curtant Prof aCN M Progafs _,~~3~i - - ~> n P F, 4 imx Clicking anywhere within a blue project title/summary description row (above) opens an accordion view (see screen shot on next page) revealing specific information about the project, including identifying direct staff contact information (e-mail address and phone number), the type of application submitted, the status of application review (i.e. incomplete, complete, approved, denied, under construction, etc.). This view also links the visitor to available project related documents related to the application (i.e. public notices, staff reports, environmental documents, color elevations, photographs of the site, photo simulations of the project on the site, etc.). CONCLUSION The development process can sometimes be a lengthy process, especially with the economic downturn. Previously, the interested public had no alternative but to call staff repeatedly for an update. Staff believes that the "Projects in Process" page is an exciting step forward in community engagement and transparency by providing the Planning Commission Report Community Development Web Site June 22, 1010 Page 5 public a place they can go to make themselves aware of the status of development projects in the community. Staff believes that the web site design invites repeat viewings as interested parties track a particular project's progress through the process of review, approval and construction, as well as facilitating first time visitors with an interest in new projects that are proposed in their neighborhoods. The new page provides a status update and copies of important documents without asking and eliminates repetitive phone inquiries to staff. 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Planned enhancements currently include new interactive, on-line development application forms, continued development of the City's Geographical Information System (GIS), possible use of public surveys utilizing "keypad polling." Staff invites the Planning Commission and interested parties to view the web page prior to the June 22, 2010 meeting. ~ .«~~,~: Dana L. Ogdon Elizabeth A. Binsack Assistant Director Community Development Director S:1Cdd1PCREPORl120101web page.doc