Need Assistance? City Has App for That

By Amber Lester Kennedy Monday, November 14, 2011

City residents who want to report a missed trash pickup, request a recycling bin or seek assistance can now do so with the help of Williamsburg’s new app.

The city has officially launched a smartphone app called CITY411. Residents using the app can submit non-emergency service requests from iPhones or Android-based phones. When sending a request, users can share text and audio messages, as well as a photo.

CITY411 can be downloaded for free from both the Apple App Store and the Android Market. It was developed free of charge by App-Order, a company specializing in smartphone apps for government agencies, through the city’s partnership with the Alliance for Innovation. The Alliance for Innovation network collaborates to help local governments build stronger communities through innovation. Williamsburg Director of Information Technology Mark Barham said the app is “very user-friendly, and has the flexibility to add features and uses in the future.”

The app is the latest city effort to use technology to improve customer service. In the past year, the city also launched Public Dashboards, which allows residents to see real-time data on the city’s performance across all operations. The city has also upgraded its video streaming online, granting easier access and navigation to citizens watching live and archived meeting footage. In 2010, the city launched a CITY411 text messaging service to send emergency updates to subscribers.

“We’re always seeking methods to engage our residents that are efficient, convenient and easy to use,” said City Manager Jack Tuttle. “More and more residents are using smartphone apps for everything from travel and education to banking and shopping. CITY411 allows citizens to communicate with the City the same way they’re communicating and interacting in all areas of their lives.”