Assistant City Manager Tamara Wadley Packer told the City Council on Sept. 24 that the city will begin offering two new channels for residents to report and track nonemergency service issues.

Wadley Packer said staff will place resident assistance tables outside council chambers at future meetings to provide in-person help on city services and escalate issues when necessary. Separately, the city will launch CityCares on Oct. 1 — a 24/7 online and mobile app that lets residents submit nonemergency requests, receive a ticket number, and track resolution status. The city plans communications beginning Oct. 1 to educate residents about the app and how to download it.

"Once you submit an issue, you will get a ticket that you can track. And once that issue has been resolved, a notification will be sent back to the resident advising of what took place and what the city did," Wadley Packer said.

Why it matters: A trackable reporting tool and on-site assistance at meetings are designed to increase transparency and resident access to city services.

What’s next: City communications will promote CityCares starting Oct. 1; departments staffing outside the meeting chamber will provide on-the-spot assistance and escalation as needed.