One of our new employees within the city controller's office would be an open-source programmer / coordinator.
Nonetheless, this is nice and welcomed.
Pittsburgh City Council and City Clerk's Office Launch Legislative Information Center - Government TechnologyPittsburgh City Council and the Office of the City Clerk, along with Mayor Ravenstahl, today officially launch InSite, a new Legislative Information Center that provides Internet users with complete access to all city legislation. InSite is available at the city's official Web site.
'The Freedom of Information Act, updated in 1996 to address electronic data, has generated an ever-increasing demand for open access to public records,' said Council President Douglas Shields. 'InSite is a wonderful tool for keeping the public informed and will also benefit private businesses, non profits, the media and other government entities.'
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Pittsburgh City Council and City Clerk's Office Launch Legislative Information Center
Nov 1, 2007, News Report
Pittsburgh City Council and the Office of the City Clerk, along with Mayor Ravenstahl, today officially launch InSite, a new Legislative Information Center that provides Internet users with complete access to all city legislation. InSite is available at the city's official Web site.
"The Freedom of Information Act, updated in 1996 to address electronic data, has generated an ever-increasing demand for open access to public records," said Council President Douglas Shields. "InSite is a wonderful tool for keeping the public informed and will also benefit private businesses, non profits, the media and other government entities."
Ravenstahl agrees and stated that "one of my goals is to make Pittsburgh's government more open and transparent. The use of this new technology will help people connect with legislation going before Council that will directly affect them. It will provide them a better opportunity to voice their concerns."
The City Clerk's Office is the official record keeper for the city. The new Web site allows users to read the entire text and history of each bill instead of just short titles. Users can conduct comprehensive searches of all types of legislation, including resolutions, ordinances, proclamations, and appointments. Searches can be conducted by bill number, date, sponsor, subject matter, key words or a combination of criteria.
InSite links to Legistar, Daystar's legislative tracking software and information management system used by the Clerk's Office. By linking the software through the city's Web site, users can track legislation from initial presentation throughout the legislative process.
City Clerk Linda Johnson-Wasler noted, "I especially want to commend the qualified technicians from the city's Computer Information Systems Department for doing an excellent job implementing the software as well as for designing an artistic, useful and inclusive Web site."
This initiative is a joint project of the Mayor's Office, City Council, the Office of the City Clerk, and the City's Computer Information Systems (CIS) Department.
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