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Home My WebLink AboutAgenda - 03-13-2012 - 4a 1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: March 13, 2012 Action Agenda Item No. L}- ' � SUBJECT• Presentation on the County's Online Service Offerings DEPARTMENT: Information Technologies PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Comparison of Orange County Online Todd Jones, (919) 245-2285 Services to Peer Counties' Offerings PURPOSE: To present information to the Board of County Commissioners and the public on the current state of Orange County's web-based online services, to solicit feedback on work performed to date, and to seek input into future online services. BACKGROUND: Since the inception of the County's Internet site in the mid-1990s, the County has envisioned providing a wide variety of County services through the Internet. These services, sometimes known as e-Government, allow the public to interact with Orange County government anytime and from any Internet connected computer. This strategy marks a deliberate transition in the County website from an information source to a resource fof engaging the public and County government in a wide variety of interactive services. In addition to the clear benefits of public accessibility and convenience, online services can alleviate the inefficiencies of staff managing paper and manually processing forms and payments. Orange County's Information Technologies Department has been working with other departments to add online services as the website evolves. There has been a recent push to position the County's online services among those leading the state. This initiative has included seeking input from departments, comparing Orange County's offerings to those of other counties and brainstorming new offerings unique to Orange County. The attached spreadsheet compares Orange County's online services to other counties in the state deemed to be technology leaders. This spreadsheet defines online services to be any service which uses interactive Internet technologies to deliver information or conduct transactions. This excludes services labeled as online services which are only hyperlinks to static documents, lists or forms that require printing. The spreadsheet shows that Orange County provides the most complete and comprehensive set of online services in the state, including the largest counties and those deemed to be the most technologically progressive. Orange County offers some unique online services, including: 2 • The farm product locator tool - http://www.oranqecountyfarms.orp/ProductSearch.asp This tool allows the public to search for a variety of farms and farm products online at any time from any Internet enabled computer. This service helps connect the public with the wide variety of agricultural offerings throughout the County's myriad farms, while reinforcing the commitment to promoting local agriculture. • The GIS mailing label tool - http://server2.co.orange.nc.us/OrangeNCGIS/default.aspx, "Buffer" tab This tool allows the public to create a set of printable mailing labels, with addresses of all properties within a user-specified distance of a selected parcel. This is particularly helpful when a resident seeks to alert property owners within, for example, 500 feet of that individual's property. This tool has significantly alleviated demands on Land Records' staff time, while giving the public the ability to create mailing labels themselves more quickly and cheaply. • Online pet registration - http://www.co.orange.nc.us/AnimalServices/LicensinqOnline.asp This tool allows pet owners to register their pets online using a system that securely processes credit card payments. This system has quickly become a popular and convenient way for the public to conduct business with Animal Services any time and from anywhere. It has reduced paper processing and manual financial transactions for Animal Services staff. • Facilities reservations https://server3.co.oranqe.nc.us/wbwsc/webtrac.wsc/wbsearch.html?xxmod=fr This tool allows groups to reserve County facilities online, using an interactive tool that ensures adherence to County policies, while matching group needs with appropriate facilities. It has allowed the Facilities Use Policy to be implemented quickly and publically. Other Orange County online services are noteworthy for their innovative features, including: • ARiES — http:Uaries.co.orange.nc.us This suite of tools leverages the power of Geographic Information Systems (GIS) without exposing the public to the complexity of the underlying GIS technology. Using simple street addresses rather than esoteric identifiers, the public can find a cornucopia of information relating to a property. This address-centric approach is possible now that the addressing ordinance has greatly improved the correlation of addresses to parcels. There are only a couple of similar tools in the state (Wake and Mecklenburg), but none with the level of detail, Google maps integration and accompanying single function toolset of ARiES. • Parks locator map - http://server2.co.orange.nc.us/ParkLocator/ This tool allows the public to search parks throughout the County based on specific amenities. It is the only tool of its kind allowing multiple amenity search (e.g., find all the parks in the County that have basketball courts, picnic facilities and a playground), Google Maps integration and covering all County parks including those managed by municipalities. 3 Information Technologies staff is also investigating the feasibility of developing mobile apps of some of these tools which could run on iPhones, iPads and Android devices. As shown in the spreadsheet comparing Orange County's online services with those of other North Carolina counties, Orange County's variety and completeness of online services is among the leaders, if not the leader, in the state of North Carolina. The Information Technologies Department continues to partner with other departments to identify additional areas in which government information and services can be made available over the Internet. These ongoing efforts include: continuing study of peer counties' efforts, review of vendor enhancement plans, outreach to the community on what the public would like to see available, and internal brainstorming on capabilities that may position Orange County as pioneers for certain services. Information Technologies appreciates the strong support from the Board of County Commissioners in these endeavors, as well as the excellent collaboration from other Orange County departments. Staff is confident that the County can maintain and expand its position as leaders in online services through continued efforts to excel in these areas. FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact to receiving this presentation. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive the presentation on Orange County's implementation of online services and provide any recommendations and directions for future expansion of these services. eGovernment Opportunities Function Orange County Plans Orange Wake Durham Guilford CharMeck Alamance Forsyth Catawba Online Facilities Reservations Done � Road Sign Problem Reporting Done � � � Register pets Done � Search lostladoptable pets Done � � � � Check Voter Registration Done � � � � � � Download election data files Done � � � � Polllocator pone � � � Voter Registration online All are linking to a form � � � Online classes/team signup Done � � Search Parks by Amenity Done � � Commerciai Property Done Availabilit � � Search RFPs and Bids Done � � � � � Spending to date by Oniy Wake does this, can Munis De artment su ort w full automation? � Surplus Equipment Auction Done � � � Vendor Registration Done � � Request Tracking System Easy to implement, but requires � dis atch Staff Directory Could be easily done, but concerns � � exist with rivac and staff safet Fire District Locator pone � � GIS Maps online Done � � � � � � � � Search Planning Maps Done � � � Street Listings Done � � Advisory Board Applications Done � � BOCC Agendas online Done � � � � BOCC Minutes online Done � � � � Codes/Ordinance online Done � � � Meeting video online Done � � � � Podcasts Done � � � Subscription services Done � � View Advisory Board Minutes Easy aggregation of existing links still, but wouldn't fit our definition of online service Search Restaurant Done Ins ections � � � � � � � � OnLine Job Applications Done � � � � � � � � Search for JobLink Jobs Done � Create Mailing Labels Done � Renew Books Online Done � � � � Search Library catalog Done � � � � � Env Heaith Permit Search Done � � � � Search Building Permit Status Done � v � � � Search Subdivision Done A lications � � Submit Permit onLine Central Permitting Project � � � Marriage License Application Oniy Wake and Guilford hav eit listed as on-line, but even it requires a printout, so it's not a true online � � � � interactive service � View Deeds onLine Done � � � � v � � Burning Permits Done � Emergency Done Notification/Si nu � � � Inmate Search No database search, but flat file rovides same service � � � � Sex Offender Registry Done � � � Victim Notification Done � � � Business PropertyListing Done � � � � Foreclosed Property Listing Done � � � Pay Taxes online Done � � � � � � � Reai Estate Sales Search Done � � � � � View property ownership Done v v � � � � histo View Tax Assessment data Done online � � � � � � � Search Farms and Products Done � View Tax payments online Done � � � � � � � � Check your Section 8 In process of implementation Housin Status 46 38 25 10 18 6 16 29 rn