PORT TOWNSEND — Jefferson County is about to join the city of Port Townsend in encouraging residents to speak up.
The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners is expected to approve the purchase of a license for Speak Up software designed to encourage public comment.
Speak Up would be embedded into the county’s website and allow people to comment about issues and interact with others about the topic from any computer screen or device.
The contract will be addressed at 9 a.m. today in commissioners’ chambers at the Jefferson County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson St., Port Townsend.
The item is part of the consent agenda, meaning it will not be discussed unless that is requested by a commissioner, staff member or member of the public.
The three-year contract would cost the county $300 a month. Money would be disbursed from funds earmarked for the comprehensive plan update, according to the agreement.
“We will use the software for the public participation part of the update until we determine other applications for it,” said David Wayne Johnson, an associate planner for the Department of Community Development.
The city of Port Townsend incorporated Speak Up in June, first using it to solicit input on the comprehensive plan and to determine which issues were most important to citizens.
Since that time, the city has used the software to shape its new animal control ordinance, poll the public about budget priorities and select a book for the community read.
It plans to use it to examine other topics.
“Community engagement is the goal,” City Clerk Joanna Sanders said.
“This is for people who don’t like participating in a public meeting. They can comment at their leisure.”
Sanders said the software’s interactive component allows participants to trade ideas with others and record the conversation for use in developing policy.
Sanders said that anyone can log on to the site to observe the conversation but they must log in if they want to leave comments.
This can be a disadvantage, she said, because it requires people to keep track of yet another username and password.
“The ability to have thoughtful interaction is the trade-off,” she said.
“People can join the conversation and present their point of view.”
So far, the city’s Speak Up page has been cordial and respectful.
“People are self-moderating,” she said.
“That their name is included on the comment keeps the conversation civil.”
Nonetheless, city staff keeps a close eye on the comments and will remove those that are overly political and antagonistic or off-color.
One component of the site allows visitors to suggest topics for future Speak Out polls, such as alternative transportation opportunities.
To access the city Speak Up page, go to tinyurl.com/PDN-PT-survey.
Once it is online, the county’s Speak Up component will be visible at tinyurl.com/PDN-county-DCD.
________
Jefferson County Editor Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or cbermant@peninsuladailynews.com.
