El Mirage approves CivicPlus mass-notification system to expand direct alerts to residents

The El Mirage Common Council on April 15 voted to approve a statement of work with Civic Plus to provide a mass-notification system for residents and businesses.

Amber Wakeman of the Intergovernmental and Public Relations Division told council the system will allow residents to opt in to receive messages by text, email and phone and that the platform integrates with the federal Integrated Public Alert and Warning System (IPAWS). Wakeman said the platform supports geotargeting, more than 60 languages and Americans with Disabilities Act–compatible features, and that it will let staff “craft one message and send it to our subscriber and the IPAWS system at the same time.”

Staff recommended CivicPlus after demonstrations of vendors and an internal committee that included IT, police, fire and public works. The presentation said the city anticipates a technical rollout and staff training in time for a July 1 launch and that the communications team will run a marketing campaign to encourage voluntary opt‑in by topic.

During council discussion, members asked how residents would be subscribed and whether alerts would include day‑to‑day City announcements, emergency roadwork and surveys. Wakeman and other staff said the city would use a multifaceted outreach strategy, could leverage existing utility-account data for initial contact lists, and would limit messages to avoid “burnout.” Council member Norton McDaniel noted the system could be used for routine city events and targeted emergency alerts; Council member Winston said the tool is “a perfect way to communicate” with residents in a mobile-first era.

The staff presentation listed the software costs as $5,509.79 for fiscal year 2025 and $12,750 for fiscal year 2026. (During the motion, the dollar amounts were misstated on the record; see clarifying details.) The council approved the statement of work on a voice vote after a motion by Vice Mayor Parsons and a second by Council member Winston.

Staff said the system will be integrated with the city website and emergency operations procedures, will be used by the emergency operations center if needed, and that multilingual and accessibility features were among the selection criteria. Council members asked staff to pursue a strategic outreach plan to maximize voluntary opt‑in rates and to avoid subscriber fatigue.