Chair Ung Q&A: Mangin on BSA website transparency commitments

Moving on to a separate topic.

Are you familiar with the DCP's public accessible website known as the Zoning Application Portal, known as ZAP?

I am, yes.

Thank you.

And will you agree that ZAP is a website that's user-friendly and well-organized and make it easy to find information, including all the application materials?

Yes, Council Member.

I would agree, Chair, I would agree that it's much better than the public interface that existed before.

Excellent.

Yes.

So are you familiar with the BSA's website?

Yes, I am.

So, I think you know where I'm going with this.

We often hear from our constituents and staff that the BSA website lacks basic transparency and is very limited in the information it provides, which makes it difficult for the public and for us to know and understand what the board is considering when decisions are being made.

When you commit to this council that you become chair, you will prioritize improving the transparency and information that's available on the BSA website, such that it functions more like the ZAP portal.

Thank you, Chair.

But you've sort of scooped me here.

I wanted the opportunity to announce that something like that is high up on the list of things that I would like to do.

If confirmed, I think that reaches back to some of the earliest...

My earliest work experience right after law school where we were trying to create publicly accessible, legible, more accessible

tools so that people could understand what's going on in order to participate if and when they wanted to, you know, all the way up through

my experience at DCP where I've observed and participated in these efforts that I think could be beneficial at the BSA as well.

Excellent.

So would you then commit?

to posting all applications, materials, environmental review documents, and public submissions online.

Yes, Chair, I would commit to that.

Thank you.