City Goes Social, Gets iPhone App

The city of Diamond Bar is moving many of its operations online, using social media sites and Web tools like Facebook and YouTube to promote events, distribute information, and get real-time information from residents.

Councilwoman Ling-Ling Chang, who is the first member of Diamond Bar's city council on Facebook and Twitter, said she has been pushing for broader use of social media from the city since she started using social networks to share .

On Monday, the city upped the ante with a new iPhone application that puts the city calendar, videos, and reporting tools in the hands of iPhone users.

The reporting tools allow residents to send in geo-tagged images and comments identifying graffiti, potholes, or other problems that need city maintenance.

“The integration of this new smartphone app further broadens the city’s communication tools and creates another convenient avenue for residents to make requests for service, around the clock from anywhere,” Public Information Manager Marsha Roa said.

The new application also provides maps to city and county facilities as well as direct phone and email contact to city council members and city departments.

Roa said the the new application will continue to add more features and functions based on feedback from users.

Here are all of the city's social media channels:

• Youtube: Find video guides to city walking trails, public safety information from the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, and more city videos.
• Twitter: Updates under 140 characters about city events and announcements
• Facebook: Another channel for updates on city announcements and events where residents can comment and share information.
• iPhone app: Browse the city website, videos, social media, and report problems you see around town in real time with geo-tagged photos and comments.