HomeMy WebLinkAboutEdina Citizen Engagement
Contact: Jennifer Bennerotte, Communications & Marketing Director
Phone 952-833-9520 • Fax 952-826-0389 • Web www.CityofEdina.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
City launches new online tool for engaging the public
Edina, Minn., June 16, 2011 – The City of Edina has launched a secondary website,
www.EdinaCitizenEngagement.org, to engage residents, business people and others interested in
local issues.
With the project, the City seeks to engage people with a variety of online tools that may help
decision makers address specific, near-term issues. The tools will vary, depending on what kind of
decision needs to be made, and will complement face-to-face meetings. Current topics up for
discussion on the site are the 2012 budget and public financing for improvements at Southdale
Center.
Griff Wrigley of Wrigley & Associates is moderating the site. City Manager Scott Neal has worked
with Wrigley on various online citizen engagement projects since the late 1990s when he was City
Administrator in Northfield. Wrigley introduced Neal to leadership blogging early in his tenure as
City Manager in Eden Prairie.
“We’re inviting citizens to comment on the blog posts and Griff will moderate those interactions,
keeping the discussions on topic and insisting on civility,” Neal said of
www.EdinaCitizenEngagement.org. “I may occasionally participate in those informal conversations,
but more likely, I’ll engage with them via some other online tools we’ll be using such as webinars and
real-time chats. While the convenience and variety of online tools for citizen engagement is exciting,
I’m still a big believer in face-to-face meetings and conversations because of their emotional impact.
Depending on what we’re trying to accomplish with each issue, we could have one or more face-to-
face venues for citizen participation.”
For more information or to participate in the online discussion, visit
www.EdinaCitizenEngagement.org.
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