Agenda - 01-31-2014 - 1 - Laserfiche WebLink

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23 2003 Communications Plan City Of Hickory, North Carolina Introduction City of Hickory leaders took the initiative in 1997 to create a full-time Public Information Office. For about 10 years prior to 1997, the City Clerk spent half her time as a Public Information Officer, but as PIO duties increased, it was impossible to do both jobs, and City visionaries created a full-time Public Information Office. The main mission of the Public Information Office is to provide and develop a progressive public information program in the City of Hickory. The PIO distributes educational information to the public through a monthly newsletter, news releases to the media, a weekly radio show, neighborhood meetings, the government channel, annual report, speaking engagements, website, and various other forms of communications. The Public Information Office is part of the City Manager's Office, which is key in making this office an effective tool in City government. Successful communication must always be supported by the top of an organization in order for it to flow through the organization, as well as disseminate throughout the City via citizens, and the news media. The City of Hickory adopted a Communications Plan in 1998 and items in the Action Plan, including creating a citizen academy (Neighborhood College), are complete or on going. The 1998 plan was the first Communications Plan for the City, and the 2003 Communications Plan builds upon the strengths of the original plan. As the City embarked into the 21" Century, communications has become one of the most important tools of City government. Citizens are attending neighborhood and business association meetings and working with city task forces, boards, and commissions. The City is talking about local government to local civic clubs and college and high school students, and there is an interest in local government that has not been seen in decades. Citizens are truly interested in City programs, activities, and projects. Citizens have shown a commitment to local government by pitching in and helping the City develop programs, policies and even a new land use code. It is extremely important for the City to continue to open lines of communications to its external customers (38,000 citizens), as well to its internal customers (675 employees). The 2003 Communications Plan will be a blueprint for the Public Information Office for the next three years. Like technology, communication tools change frequently making it important for the Communications Plan to be constantly updated and improved as ideas emerge. 1