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A-3. Develop a Transparency Section for the City’s Website Enhance Public Access to City Financial RecordsCITY OF CAANHASSEN 7700 Market Boulevard PO Box 147 Chanhassen, MN 55317 Administration Phone: 952.227.1100 Fax 952.227.1110 Building Inspections Phone: 952.227.1180 Fax: 952.227.1190 Engineering Phone: 952.227.1160 Fax: 952.227.1170 Finance Phone: 952.227.1140 Fax: 952.227.1110 Park & Recreation Phone: 952.227.1120 Fax: 952.227.1110 Recreation Center 2310 Coulter Boulevard Phone: 952.227.1400 Fax: 952.227.1404 Planning & Natural Resources Phone: 952.227.1130 Fax: 952.227.1110 Public Works 7901 Park Place Phone: 952.227.1300 Fax: 952.227.1310 Senior Center Phone: 952.227.1125 Fax: 952.227.1110 Website www.d.chanhassen.nnn.us MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor & City Council FROM: Todd Gerhardt, City Manager DATE: November 9, 2015 SUBJ: Key Financial Strategy: Develop a Transparency Page for the City's Website; Enhance Public Access to City Financial Records It was our goal to establish one page on our website where residents could find financial information, bids and contracts that have been awarded, elected official contact information, agendas and minutes, etc. A one -stop -shop so to speak. Following completion of the webpage, staff asked Ballotpedia/Sunshine Review to rate our page. This group is a national non-profit organization dedicated to government transparency. They have a 10 -point checklist and I am happy to report that the city received an A+ rating. Staff will review the site with the city council on Monday evening. ATTACHMENTS 1. Website Evaluation from Ballotpedia/Sunshine Review dated October 2015 2. Press Release dated October 5, 2015 g:\admimtg\tmnsparency\cc memo 11-9-15.doex Chanhassen is a Community for Life - Providing forTodayand Planning forTomorrow BALLOT i i J:-lopedla of American Politics Elections Federal State Local Public Policy News About Elections are being held Tuesday in four states: Alaska, Massachusetts, New Mexico and North Carolina. Find out what's on the ballot! Chanhassen, Minnesota Chanhassen Is a city in Minnesota. Website evaluation This city website was last evaluated In October 2015. The good • The current fiscal year budget is available, as are budgets dating to FY 2008!'1 • Meeting agendas and minutes are available. IT Recorded meetings are also uploaded to YouTube.133 • Contact Information, including personalized email addresses, is available for elected city officials.i+1 The city also provides contact information for other elected officials representing the city at other levels of government [s1 • A full staff directory with contact information Is avallable.lsl • Information pertaining to zoning Is available. Building permit applications are also available. (71 • Audit reports are available dating to FY 200031 • Information about currently open bids is available.[" A database of awarded bids and contracts is also available. IIal • The city provides Information on which organizations It pays membership dues to in order to lobby on the city's behalf.l"I • Information pertaining to public records requests is available and a contract person is identified. A PDP request form is available online. [121 • Information about taxes In the two counties the city resides in is avallable.1111 The bad • None External links • Official city website IF References 1. t City of Chanhassen, "Budget," accessed October 1,20151F 2. T City of Chanhassen, "Agendas & Minutes," accessed October 1, 20156 3. t YouTube, "CityofChanhassenMN," accessed October 1, 2015 8 4. t City of Chanhassen, "City Council," accessed October 1, 20156 5, T City of Chanhassen, "Elected Officials," accessed October 1, 20156 6. t City of Chanhassen, "Staff Directory," accessed October 1, 20156 7. t City of Chanhassen, "Building - Permits / Inspections," accessed October 1, 20158 B. T City of Chanhassen, "Audit (CAFR)," accessed October 1, 20158 9. 1 City of Chanhassen, "Projects Currently Out for Bids," accessed October 1, 20156 10. t City of Chanhassen, "Awarded Bids and Contracts," accessed October 1, 20156 11. 11.011.1 Ci o Chanhassen, "Transparency," T City f p cy," accessed October 1, 20156 12. T City of Chanhassen, "Release of Information Request," accessed October 1, 20156 Contents [hide] 1 Website evaluation 1.1 The good 1.2 The bad 2 External links 3 References GRADE: A+ Budget r Meetings w Elected Officials v Administrative Officials w Permits, zoning Audits V Contracts r Lobbying V i Public Records v Local Taxes •r v PRESENT X MISSING 4 INCOMPLETE ', Transparency grading process State of Minnesota St. Paul (cap* ) .p This municipalgovernment-related article was previously apart of the Sunshine Re!dev,,. itis not currently within the a scope of projectwork for Ballotpedio staff. As of October 2015, our staff cover the largest 100 cities in the country. 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HELP PAGES Baltotpedia policies General disclaimer Copyright information (GFDL) Index of Contents Index of Help Contents ABOUT/CONTACT Bailotpedia staff Contact us Report an error Press and media Submit a blo The Lucy Burns Institute COMMUNITY How to contribute to Bailotpedia job opportunities Partnering with us Ways you can help PRESS RELEASE: October 5, 2015 City of Chanhassen Receives High Marks for Website Transparency The City of Chanhassen is among an elite group of governmental agencies to receive an A+ rating on its website from the Sunshine ReviewBallotpedia, a national non-profit organization dedicated to government transparency. "In today's society, I believe it is very important that we promote transparency in everything we do," said Mayor Denny Laufenburger. "We need to empower citizens by providing the necessary information to keep them informed on the actions their government is taking on their behalf." The Sunshine Review/Ballotpedia has analyzed more than 6,000 government websites and grades each on a 10 -point transparency checklist. Editors look at the content available in the areas of budgets, meetings, lobbying efforts, financial audits, contracts, public records, and taxes. "We want to be a champion for transparency and serve as a leader to all local governments," said City Manager Todd Gerhardt. "I also want to recognize the effort of the city's Office Manager Karen Engelhardt for developing the city's transparency web page." To visit the city's transparency page, go to www.ci.chanhassen.mn.us/transparency.