Since entering office one year ago, Mayor David Kaptain has tried a variety of methods to meet with as many residents as possible. In addition to countless emails and phone calls, the mayor has hosted monthly “Live On-line Chats” at various locations throughout the city to discuss large issues facing city government. The mayor has also hosted many casual “Community Conversations” with neighborhood groups and other small groups to discuss issues of special interest to them.
The Mayor began hosting the on-line chats at noontime in May, in the hopes of engaging more residents and business people who can log on during their lunch break. The mayor hopes this change will open the conversation up to new people who have never participated before. “I am hopeful that by changing the time of the on-line chats we will be able to reach a new audience and expand the conversation to new relevant issues facing our residents, students and business owners.”
The mayor’s will continue hosting an on-line webinar at noon, called “Lunch On-Line with the Mayor”. The chat will take place two Wednesdays a month. Summer dates would include June 27, and July 18 and August 1. Listeners are invited to log on during lunch time and follow the conversation. Questions and comments can be sent directly to the website from the convenience of your office or home.
These sessions will consist of a 15 minute update from the mayor on current events and issues facing the city and the city council, at times including guests who will join the mayor on specific subjects. Following the mayor’s update will be 15 minutes of on line dialogue with listeners to the show who can post questions about any city-related issue.
People interested in participating that day can log on by going to the city’s main website www.cityofelgin.org where there will be a link to the session. Residents are also encouraged to send in ideas about topics of interest for upcoming session. Ideas can be emailed to mayor@cityofelgin.org