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Council explores broader communications strategy, website housing page and mobility priorities using planned $75,000 allocation
Summary
Councilmembers and staff reviewed current city communications tools, including RAVE emergency alerts, the website, social media, video channels and MyRec, and discussed using a $75,000 allocation to fund a part-time communications resource, mailers, a housing information page, and components of a mobility/wayfinding plan.
City staff gave council members an overview of the city’s communications platforms at the workshop and councilmembers discussed next steps for an expanded outreach plan and mobility-related priorities tied to a separate funding allocation.
Chris White, the city administrator, reviewed the city’s systems: the RAVE emergency alert system (more than 4,500 sign-ups), the primary city website (hosted by Dutchess County) with auto-translation, MyRec for recreation program registration, two video channels (YouTube and Vimeo) and social-media accounts. White said the city is compliant with a new state requirement to move municipal sites to a .gov domain and that the website includes agendas, resolutions (starting in 2022), and departmental pages.
Councilmembers raised several communications gaps: limited citywide email distribution beyond the recreation department, inconsistent linking between MyRec and the main site, and page content that needs updating. Several councilmembers suggested a periodic citywide email or a short quarterly newsletter, plus occasional targeted mailers for residents not online. Staff estimated a basic mailed household piece could be produced for roughly $1 per household (about $4,600 for 4,600 households) as a planning reference.
Councilmembers supported creating a dedicated housing information page linking to county and local housing resources, adding wayfinding and mobility planning as multi-year priorities and exploring a small, part-time communications or consultant role to help coordinate content and distribute regular email updates. Councilmember Amber asked staff to scope costs and come back with a priority list; staff said some mobility and sidewalk work can be funded through external grants and that compiling a prioritized scope would help target funds.
White also noted operational improvements that could increase online services (for example electronic billing tied to water meters) and encouraged building an email base from billing and other customer records. Council asked staff to return with cost estimates for a mailer, a proposed communications contractor scope, and a recommended priority list for mobility/wayfinding tasks so the council can consider allocating portions of the planned $75,000.
