The City of Brentwood announced that it has partnered with Nextdoor, the free and private social network for neighborhoods. This move will enable City officials to better communicate with residents regarding special events, public safety, construction projects, planning and zoning, and other important issues. The City can choose specific neighborhoods to receive the information, or all neighborhoods in the City limits. To date, over 6,400 residents and 67 neighborhoods (31% of households) in Brentwood have joined up.
The partnership with Nextdoor is part of the Brentwood’s response to community surveys that were recently conducted for the City’s 2020 Comprehensive Plan Update. Residents indicated a desire for more effective communication on City issues, and Nextdoor is one of the tools that will assist in this endeavor. Other measures include an in-progress redesign of the City’s website and improved utilization of the City’s Facebook page. The Facebook following alone has increased 48% in the last year.
“Strong lines of communication are imperative to the public trust,” said City Manager Kirk Bednar. “This partnership will assist Brentwood’s efforts to more proactively communicate with residents about matters of importance to them and their neighbors.
Nextdoor is free for residents and the City of Brentwood. Most Brentwood neighborhoods have their own private Nextdoor neighborhood website, accessible only to residents of that neighborhood. Neighborhoods establish and self-manage their site, and all members must verify that they live within the neighborhood before joining. Information shared on Nextdoor is password protected and cannot be accessed by Google or other search engines. The City of Brentwood will only be able to view replies to its own posts, and cannot view other information posted on neighborhood sites.
Residents are advised that although they may use Nextdoor to make fellow neighbors aware of crime or suspicious activity in their area, they should never use it to report such events to the City. The City’s 911 and non-emergency phone line (615-371-0160) are still the only way they should communicate issues of such importance.
For those not familiar with Nextdoor, a demonstration site is available that does not require membership. Watch the video below for more information.
Interested parties may direct questions to Jay Evans, Assistant City Manager, at 615-371-0060. More Brentwood News
