Sonoma County earns award for digital innovation

The county was named the first-place winner among other mid-sized counties.|
ANGELA HART
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT

Sonoma County has been recognized as a national leader for its digital innovation efforts, including moves over the past year that have made county government more accessible and transparent.

The county was named first-place winner among mid-sized counties, by the Center for Digital Government, a research institute based in Folsom that seeks to identify the best technological advances among counties across the U.S.

Top winners in other categories were Wake County, North Carolina, Arlington County, Virginia and Nevada County.

Sonoma County was honored for multiple initiatives, including its 2015 launch of SoCo Data, an open data portal that allows the public to access a range of data sets ranging from food inspection reports, to Sonoma County Sheriff’s Office incidents to most popular baby names. An online breakdown of the county’s budget is also available. In addition, a smartphone app called SoCo Report allows the public to report problems such as potholes and downed trees and power lines.

The county this year also rolled out its new online permitting system, called Permit Sonoma, which allows people to check the status of a permit, apply for residential building permits, schedule inspections or register complaints for rowdy winery events or unpermitted vacation rentals.

The digital innovation awards are given through a collaboration between the Center for Digital Government and the National Association of Counties, which recognize counties for various digital innovations including efforts that save taxpayer dollars, boost transparency and increase community engagement.

“Sonoma County stood out because of what they are doing from a technology perspective,” said Todd Sander, executive director of the center, which evaluated efforts by roughly 200 counties across the country. “It’s a way to help improve government and help the people it serves connect and do business.”

You can reach Staff Writer Angela Hart at 707-526-8503 or angela.hart@pressdemocrat.com. ?On Twitter @ahartreports.

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