Agenda Item No. 7
CITY OF YUCAIPA
AGENDA REPORT
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council
FROM: Joe Pradetto, Director of Government Affairs/PIO
FOR: City Council Meeting of May 8, 2023
SUBJECT: Update Regarding the City of Yucaipa App
RECOMMENDATION:
That the City Council receive and file this update regarding the City of Yucaipa App.
DISCUSSION:
Local governments have turned to mobile apps to improve communication and engagement with residents and business owners. The City of Yucaipa launched the Yucaipa App in 2019 using the My Civic App platform provided by Tyler Technologies (Tyler). This report provides an overview of how these apps work, their benefits to the City and residents, and future opportunities.
YUCAIPA APP
KEY
STATS
Summer
35554
2019
LAUNCH
DOWNLOADS
55453
ISSUES REPORTED
Streets
TOP/SSUE
About the App
The Yucaipa App provides a simple and convenient
way for residents to interact with the City. It allows
residents to access information about city services,
report issues such as potholes or graffiti, register for classes, and receive updates on events and news in
the community. Users can download the app on their
smartphones and use it to report issues, take pictures
and videos, and receive notifications. Tyler also
offers a weblink to allow desktop submissions that go
through the same workflow as mobile submissions.
Usage
Since its launch, the Yucaipa App has been downloaded to more than 3,500 mobile devices and used to submit more than 5,200 issues or requests. More than half of the reported issues relate to street issues, primarily potholes. Park issues rank a distant second and include maintenance requests for bathrooms, playground equipment, and sprinklers.
Workflow
When an issue is reported, the app tags the location and assigns it a number. Using the reported information, the app routes the issue to the responsible department. The issue then goes directly into 101
the department's workflow. As departments address the issue, the app sends updates to the reporting party.
Benefits
The Yucaipa App has benefited residents, businesses, and city staff in many ways.
Efficiency. It's a more efficient way for residents to report issues and request city services.
Residents can use the app to submit requests and receive updates. This streamlines the process and allows the city to respond more quickly and effectively.
Convenience. It's a more convenient way for residents to access city services and information.
Rather than having to search the Internet or call the city, residents can simply use the app to find what they need.
Accountability. It helps to increase transparency and accountability by providing residents with access to information and updates. The city can show its commitment to open communication and responsive service.
Data. It aggregates data to show trends and hot spots. Using this data, the City can deploy resources in a smarter and more strategic way.
Cost. It helps to save time and money by reducing the need for staff to respond to phone calls and emails. By automating the processes, the city can free up staff time for other important tasks.
Improvements and Future Uses
Considering these advantages, staff want to encourage more people to use the app. To encourage more people to use the app, City staff is working to improve functionality and offer new features.
Automated Notifications. The app generates automatic updates to reporting parties. However, some users have reported to the Council that they weren't getting updates about their issues. The app allows anonymous submissions but can't send updates to reporters who do not provide an email address. Reporting parties may still find updates on their requests in the app and on the City website. But they can't receive updates if they opt for anonymity.
Staff is testing a new process of requiring an email address when submitting an issue. This will guarantee updates to the reporting party and give staff a way to follow up with questions. Should the Council or the public want to keep the option of anonymity, staff can reverse this change.
Pothole Report. The Council has made street maintenance a top priority and directed staff to pursue on -call contracts to expedite pothole repairs. Staff hear from the public on a regular basis that potholes are a major concern. To show the residents and business owners in the community the City's commitment to improving street repair, staff will be launching a monthly report using data from the app showing its progress in fixing potholes.
This report will be a transparent look into City operations and will help the City remain accountable to the community. Each month, the City will share a report on the number of potholes reported 102
using the app, the number of potholes repaired, and the average length of time it took to perform the repair. Launching the report now will help show how our on -call services are supplementing our Public Works crews.
Staff hopes that sharing this information with the public will highlight the Council's commitment to responding to community priorities, show the public that the City takes community concerns seriously, and encourage more people to use the app to report issues and connect with the City.
Summary
The Yucaipa App has benefitted residents, businesses, and staff in many ways. It provides a convenient way for users to report issues and get information, It helps the City respond and deploy resources in smart, strategic ways, As more people use the app, the City can leverage the data to improve resource allocation. With use and feedback, staff continues to improve function and offer more features. The Yucaipa App helps residents, business owners, and staff to work together to improve the quality of life in Yucaipa.
Approved By:
103