By MEGAN SCHNABEL
THE ROANOKE TIMES

   Roanoke's technology-driven public-safety system and its online citizen services helped propel the city to the top of a new ranking of digital cities.

    In its first study of digital technology in municipal government, the Center for Digital Government named Roanoke the top e-government city in the 75,000 to 125,000 population category. Boulder, Colo., came in second, followed by Cedar Rapids, Iowa; Costa Mesa, Calif.; and Bellevue, Wash.

    The study focused on how well municipalities use information technology to deliver services to their citizens and to support government operations.

    "It demonstrates to the area, as well as the state and the nation, what the impacts of technology really are," said Joe Slone, the city's director of technology. "Citizens are demanding more access to information. ... This says to the world, 'Hey, it can be done.'"

    The study looked at whether forms are available electronically and whether the public can send online feedback to city officials. The amount of information and services offered to the public online also was considered. Additionally, cities were judged on their information technology management structure, their use of geographic information systems and how municipal law enforcement uses technology.

    Janet Grenslitt, who managed the study for the Center for Digital Government, said Roanoke received high marks for its Web site -- www.roanokegov.com -- as well as for its online job search and application process and its "robust" public-safety program, which includes a computer-aided dispatch system and computerized police and jail records.

    Roanoke scored 91.7 out of a possible 100 points in the study, she said. The study was based on surveys filled out by local government officials and audited by the Center for Digital Government. Grenslitt said about 25 percent of the cities contacted for the study actually participated.

    Slone said the study provides more than just a pat on the back to the city.

    "It allows you to benchmark yourself," he said. "If you don't know where you are, you sure don't know how to get where you want to go."

    The city is getting ready to launch several new online initiatives in coming weeks:

    myRoanoke , a program that will allow residents to sign up for city news and reminders by e-mail, will launch later this month. Users will be able to choose what kinds of information they want to receive -- notices of upcoming city council meetings, for instance, or updates on changes to city services.

    "We realized that in large part we were overlooking e-mail as a way of communicating with citizens," said Craig Fifer, the city's webmaster.

    The program was prompted by communication problems surrounding last year's changes in the city's solid waste pickup program. Residents were told in advance about the new policies, but last-minute changes were harder to communicate. Chris Slone, the city's public-information officer, put together a brochure answering basic trash-collection questions, but with printing and mailing delays, some people didn't receive the information for three weeks.

    Participation in myRoanoke will be voluntary; only people who sign up for the service will receive messages.

    Fifer said the city wants to coordinate its efforts with the state's MyVirginia initiative, which is developing a system of PIN numbers that would provide online access to state services.

    The city will update its online GIS with new data and a new look. Administration of the service, previously handled by a consultant, will be moved in-house.

    The Web site for the city Parks and Recreation department will be changing. Users will be able to check scores, schedules and standings of recreation league teams online. The site also will allow users to search for parks based on certain criteria and even reserve park space online.

    Starting later this month, city council meetings will be Webcast, and the city's Web site will offer online video archives of previous meetings.

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