By Gina Cuclis

In the previous post, I discussed why City Councilmembers should blog. City managers and city administrators should also consider blogging. While blogs provide a platform for city councilmembers to explain their actions and seek constituents' feedback, blogs provide city managers with the ability to share current information to help residents put into context the questions facing their city councils. City councilmembers often approach issues from a political or philosophical viewpoint. A city manager's job is to be above the political fray. He or she is the expert on how his or her city works.

Kudos to Sonoma's City Manager

Sonoma's Linda Kelly has a blog called the Manager's Journal. Recent posts include commentary on how the state budget crisis could impact Sonoma, an announcement about an emergency preparedness class, and the agenda packet for tonight's City Council meeting. There are Sonoma city councilmembers who don't think they personally need to blog, since Kelly provides a lot of information on hers.

Another Town's Excellent Blog

Another small city city manager using a blog effectively is Michael Rock of Fairfax in Marin County. Fairfax refers to itself as a town, therefore, Rock is the Town Manger with a Town Council. After Fairfax council meetings, Rocks blogs a list of actions taken. He has also used his blog to publicize town events and communicate how state budget cuts will impact Fairfax.

Other Examples of How Cities Share News Directly with Residents

Since 2005, Santa Rosa's City Manager has published a weekly e-mail newsletter that residents can sign up to receive. Each issue is also posted on the City's web site. However, what I prefer about blogs is, they tend to be more current and more personable. Blogs provide a manager with voice, and give the reader a sense of the style of the city for which he or she works.

The City of Healdsburg provides a city news page on its website. One can sign up for a RSS feed to receive the information when a new item is posted. Like the newsletter above, this tactic lacks the voice of a blog. I would like to see both.

My Preference

While any of these digital tactics are better than simply relying on your local newspaper for communicating with residents, I'm an advocate of blogs. That's because as the poor economy continues to stress city budgets, blogs provide a personable, low cost vehicle to quickly provide information to residents.