The 2010-2011 Citywide Strategic Communications Plan was adopted by the Cedar Rapids City Council in January 2010. The City's communications liaison is responsible for the development, implementation and execution of this plan. Here is a brief overview of the plan:

Plan Purpose:

To guide the City of Cedar Rapids’ communications organization and execution
To integrate and coordinate communications among all City departments and divisions and community organizations

Objectives & Outcomes:

To fulfill the Cedar Rapids City Council’s goal for citizen involvement, specifically to “develop a comprehensive plan for connecting people to their government”
To cultivate and encourage public participation in City government
To create a coordinated communications process that ensures efficient, effective, responsive and consistent City communications with Cedar Rapids citizens and all of the City’s target audiences
To position the City of Cedar Rapids’ communication channels and tools as the most accurate source for City government information
To leverage every communication opportunity with citizens in order to build and improve our community

City Communications Process & Structure Overview:

Follow a consistent process for preparing public communications
Utilize expertise and improve coordination among City’s designated public information officers
Coach other City employees that process public information for their departments or divisions to improve communications effectiveness
Continue to support communitywide communications coordination groups
Assign communications about sensitive and controversial issues to communications liaison
Improve employee education about public records law compliance

Strategic Communications Projects Overview:

Continue using current communications channels and tools
Add additional communications channels and tools:
Printed newsletter mailed directly to Cedar Rapids residents
Annual printed progress and financial report for residents
City department open house events
Billboard public service announcements
Additional cable TV programming
Reengineer the City’s website to be more user-friendly and service-oriented
Use free online tools to foster a group of well-informed City ambassadors

Strategic Key Messages Overview:

This is an overview of the seven strategic key messages that are outlined in more detail in this plan:

Teach residents how to connect with city government
The City Council has a vision and strategic plan for Cedar Rapids
Demonstrate the value of City services
Flood Recovery Progress… better than before
Build community ownership
Communicating complex or controversial issues
The most accurate source for City information is the City of Cedar Rapids’ communications channels
Public participation is important to the City Council’s decision-making process

Recommendations:

Plan: Adopt, implement and maintain this two-year strategic communications plan that executes the City Council’s vision, goals and strategic plan
Structure & Process: Develop and organize a communications structure and process that coordinates and communicates consistently throughout the organization
Key Messages: Approve a set of strategic key messages and use them repeatedly over the next two years
Communications Channels & Tools: Devise multiple methods to disseminate City information to the wide variety of target audiences
Budget: Fund strategic projects and additional communications position listed in this plan
Measurement: Develop methods to track the following three key communications effectiveness metrics…

Increased awareness of City Council’s vision, goals, strategic plan and related actions
Improved coordination among City departments and divisions
Increased citizen involvement and public participation in City government

City News