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Hutto communications team previews new calendar, CIP outreach and ADA updates
Summary
City communications manager outlined a staffed communications team, an upcoming community calendar, CIP outreach, surveys and steps toward ADA‑compliant digital content.
Shay, Hutto’s communications manager, told the Inclusion and Belonging Commission on Feb. 18 that the communications team is now fully staffed and is rolling out several tools to centralize city information and improve accessibility.
"We're launching our community calendar where you'll actually be able to see the parks events, any city event, any library event, all in one place," Shay said. She said the team aims to launch the calendar around the 28th of the month (described in the meeting as "about the 20 eighth") and initially it will list city events only; community partners will be able to submit events later under an approval process.
Shay reviewed staffing: Anna (new hire), Katie McGaha (associate producer), Zachary (recent graduate on staff) and Shay as communications manager. She said the department is producing more photo and video content and is emphasizing accessible media: captioning, time stamps, alt text and compliance with ADA web standards under a consultant relationship. "We are working on all of that training, and that actually falls into the ADA plan that we are under engineering," she said.
The communications team also highlighted a capital improvement projects (CIP) dashboard and related outreach. Shay described a CIP series called CHAT CIP and a headoftexas.gov/cip dashboard where residents can filter projects, view progress and submit questions to engineering. She told commissioners the communications team uses analytics (social platforms, newsletter open rates, and TinyURL/QR tracking) to evaluate outreach effectiveness and to measure return on advertising dollars.
Shay said the city will run a next statistically valid community survey in 2026 (following the 2024 survey) and is currently running a budget engagement survey with prerecorded departmental videos for residents to rate priorities; results will inform the March 22 DOT prioritization workshop that feeds the budget process. She said the communications team also plans translation and partnerships with the school district for non‑English materials.
Commissioners asked about the relationship between commissions and staff direction. Shay clarified that commissions do not directly direct staff; formal direction to staff must come through council and the city manager. She offered communications support to the commission—creating QR codes, short links and supporting outreach as the commission develops a communications plan.
No formal vote was taken; staff will coordinate a communications plan and provide the commission with follow‑up materials and a QR/tiny URL for commission use.
