Highland Park — The Highland Park City Council voted to authorize a request for proposals (RFP) for a new resident communications system and amended the RFP to include posting council meeting packets online (excluding closed-session materials).

The resolution approving the RFP cites desired features including emergency response notifications (water-main breaks, boil-water advisories, road closures), two-way communications so residents can submit service requests (potholes, overgrown yards, overflowing trash), email and text messaging, and social-media integration. Council Pro Tem Robinson moved to approve the resolution with the amendment; Councilman Manuka offered support and the motion carried on a roll call.

Lakisha Brown, the citys communications director, told the council the current system (identified in the meeting as Granicus) provides text and email updates but has low resident sign-ups and is difficult for residents to use. Brown said the RFP is intended to find a vendor with easier resident enrollment, two-way messaging and department-routing for resident requests. She said only about 1,100 residents are currently signed up for text and email alerts and the city needs better reach.

City IT/administration staff explained that uploading full council packets is more complicated than "just putting files online" because large and legacy packets need indexing and review to redact personal information and protect sensitive data. Staff said the clerk's office currently controls uploads and that a dedicated digital-packet system previously considered was cost-prohibitive.

Council members and staff said issuing an RFP does not commit the city to a vendor or budget; the RFP will solicit proposals and cost estimates that may return to council for review. The council approved the RFP with the amendment to add a sixth bullet in the third Whereas clause asking that packets (minus closed-session content) be included in the communications platform procurement request.