Memorandum

Memorandum

To:                   Debbie Van Saun, Ass’t City Manager

From:              Ron Hall, Information Systems Director     

Re:                  ICMA Best Practices case study   

Date:               December 2, 2004

I have received notice that the City of Lawrence’s e-government program has been selected to be one of the case studies presented at ICMA University’s Best Practices 2005 in Austin, Texas, April 27-28, 2005.

The ICMA Best Practices Symposium highlights local government excellence and allows participants to understand what was achieved in the case study jurisdictions along with how those ideas and approaches can be put to work in their own communities.  Besides e-government, other issues presented at the symposium will include citizen involvement, financial analysis/budgeting, homeland security, performance measurement, and smart growth.

Our e-government efforts evolved from participation in a regional e-government forum sponsored by Innovation Groups and Mid-America Regional Council beginning in September 2001.  Kansas City area communities including the City of Lawrence completed a six-month study and planning process that resulted in our own E-Government Strategic Implementation Plan.   This plan detailed a three-phase approach to implementing seven e-government applications including web accessible GIS information, utility bills, Parks and Recreation class enrollment, city commission agenda packets, building permits, employee intranet, and online job applications.

The selection of Lawrence’s e-government program for the ICMA symposium is an honor and recognizes our best practices efforts in this area.