SANDPOINT — Moose on the loose in Sandpoint?

This is just one of many issues community members can report on the city's new Engage Sandpoint app, which is now available to the public.

"This is the latest example of how the city of Sandpoint is innovating to improve local government service and responsiveness," said Mayor Shelby Rognstad during a press conference on Wednesday.

Powered by SeeClickFix, the free app is available for iPhone and Android users, and is also accessible through the city's website. The new platform allows the community to easily notify city officials of non-emergency issues such as potholes, graffiti, snow removal, dogs at large, as well as provide feedback on how the city is doing.

Launching the app is part of ongoing strategic planning efforts by city officials. Among other initiatives over the past year, the city has implemented OpenGov, a financial transparency website, as well as Open Town Hall for online public involvement in different issues and decisions within the city. The city's strategic plan was formalized in July with a vote by City Council members, establishing a "top priority" of improving citizen engagement and ensuring responsive government, Rognstad said.

"Responsive government requires accessibility and openness; it requires transparency, accountability and efficiency," Rognstad said. "Engage Sandpoint, Sandpoint's own mobile app, is our most recent adoption that brings us closer to this goal. It puts the power in the hands of constituents to address issues important to them, allows them to participate in the conversation, and ensures that the city is held accountable to citizen expectations. So we are really excited to unleash this app today, and we hope that you will find it as powerful and rewarding as we certainly expect it to be."

City Administrator Jennifer Stapleton said SeeClickFix was launched primarily for reporting issues. However, the way Sandpoint is implementing the app goes "far beyond" what it was designed for, she said.

Currently, people can report issues, pay utility bills, sign up for recreation programs, access GIS maps, register bicycles and more. It includes direct links to the city's website, as well as the city's OpenGov finances website and sandpointstreets.com for construction information and updates. Notifications and newsletters will be available later this month, Stapleton said. As an example of how the city could push out notifications, Stapleton said the city was testing fire alarms at War Memorial Field on Wednesday. For those who register as users on the app, city officials would be able to send out a push notification specifically to residents living in proximity to Memorial Field to let them know what is going on. 

"This will help us with our everyday notifications — notifications about street closures, impacts of construction (and) general information for our citizens, but you can also see how this could be a benefit for our community at a time where perhaps we had a disaster."

Notifications in the event of a disaster could include emergency routes, access to sandbags or a "number of different things," she said. The city has the ability to evolve the app, making changes and adding or removing things as needed. For example, Stapleton said, toward the end of the year, a link will be added for businesses to renew their licenses.

As for the reporting function, anyone can report an issue that needs addressed within the city. Stapleton used an animal control issue, a moose on the loose, as an example during Wednesday's press conference to show how quick and easy issues can be reported. Photos can be added to the report as well. City officials tested the app for about two weeks prior to the public launch, so several issues have been reported since the end of August. 

The platform simplifies reporting issues for residents as they don't need to figure out which department to report the issue to. Once it is uploaded into the app, the issue is addressed by a city official who assigns it to the correct department head for review. In the case of a moose on the loose, for example, it is directed to the Sandpoint Police Department.

When an issue is first reported and in "open" status, it will show up as a red pin on the map. When it has been acknowledged by a city official, though not yet resolved, the pin is light green. Finally, when the issue has been resolved and is closed, the pin turns blue. If a photo is attached, it is easily seen on the city's website. On the app, users can swipe the map to the left to view the photo.

It also builds community as citizens can view, comment on, and vote to prioritize issues submitted by their neighbors, Stapleton said. Users can report anonymously, though Stapleton said it will help city officials resolve issues if they have specific information.

"As the mayor mentioned, Engage Sandpoint aligns with our strategic plans here at the city of Sandpoint and our priorities under our strategic plan for responsive government, a resilient economy, sustainable environment, a vibrant culture, a livable community," Stapleton said. "And most importantly, Sandpoint is known as an engaged community that's innovative, and this is another example of how we are working as a city be engaged with our citizens and show that innovation that we have long traditionally had in this community."

Android users can download the app through Google Play by searching for Engage Sandpoint. For iPhone users, go to the app store and download SeeClickFix, then open the app and search for Sandpoint.

Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.