Our “Imagine Miami Lakes – 2025” Strategic Plan calls for: “…a friendly, open, innovative, effective and efficient government for its residents and businesses.” Additionally, the #3 Guiding Principle in the plan states: We will be open and transparent, and solicit as much input as possible from our stakeholders. Lastly, one of our Strategic Goals and Objectives is to: Achieve National Recognition as a “Model Town” for creativity, education, innovation and use of technology. It would be an honor and great accomplishment for the Town to receive a national award for “Model Town.” To that end, the Town will strive to implement processes to enhance our resident's quality of life by becoming more effective and efficient through use of technology. Although the town has previously received national recognition, we continue to strive to be the very best community and to grow beautifully.

In line with the aforementioned strategic goals, I would like to direct staff to implement Live Remote Public Comments beginning in our February Council meeting. We will be the first City in the United States and possibly the world to embrace this type of citizen engagement. Town staff previously tested the system and it works. Residents currently send in pre-recorded videos which are played on our flat screens. This type of accessibility is the future for local governments and I believe that the future is now.

Fiscal Impact: Small (approximately $600 per year)