Communications director outlines Q1 multimedia plan and a new weekly "coming up on council" video idea

Lisa Gardner, the city's communications director, reviewed the department's first-quarter multimedia and outreach work: blogs and press items to explain council changes, 11 press releases since January, newsroom tours for media relations, and short videos that preview and recap council business.

Gardner said blogs have taken on some functions of a council newsletter and that the team aims for one to two substantive blog posts per month. She described a recently posted council-action video and other outreach products, and said she plans district town halls starting March 25. Gardner proposed a short weekly "coming up on council" video (posted Thursdays or Fridays) to preview the Monday agenda so constituents can sign up to speak and be informed ahead of meetings.

Committee members encouraged the preview videos and asked for shareable recaps and continued outreach about the change in council meeting day. Gardner said she will coordinate recaps with City Cable and social media posting and will work on a suite of outreach to educate the public about agenda changes, timelines and how to engage with council.

No formal action was taken; staff will move forward with the proposed outreach plan and return with details as appropriate.