The examples in this article demonstrate the impact and importance of utilizing technology to successfully stretch beyond traditional means to tackle challenging problems, build community and foster a civic culture.

This article details a series of problems with public hearings, and then culminates with an explanation of how online public comment forums complement public hearings in ways that (1) address their deficiencies, (2) enhance the perspectives and deliberations of government decision makers – and ultimately, (3) increase public trust in government.

In Williamsburg, every other year the council redefines their strategic priorities for the following two years, known as their Biennial Goals, Initiatives and Outcomes (GIO’s). Currently, the GIOs contain 10 general goal statements, about 80 concrete initiatives, and 60 outcome measures and ratings. Initiatives are specific and measurable projects and activities over that advance the goal. Initiatives are not a comprehensive list of services and activities, but rather new actions or changes in direction.

Local government leaders have truly been agonizing over how to balance their budgets, many times dramatically cutting services as times have gotten tough, and wishing they had more – or perhaps better – data about the efficiency, quality, and effectiveness of the services they provide. Many finance officers, city council members, county board members, and citizens wonder how the service performance of their communities actually compares to that of other local governments.

Strategic planning is an important investment for any organization. Great plans that never get implemented are remembered as BAD experiences. The implementation process requires the same careful thought and organizational focus as the development of the strategic plan itself. Organizations that pay attention to the details, make the time and resource commitment, provide the right level of oversight and manage the change are the ones that see their plans become reality.

A community that has experienced 4080% growth in the last decade has no shortage of projects, priorities and work to be completed to serve the needs of over 45,000 new residents.