by Public Information
comments open from March 16 until April 4

Jefferson County, in partnership with the city of Arvada, is launching a new series of short online videos called “Jefferson County Insights” to help inform citizens about everything from how their tax bills are calculated to the importance of dog licensing. The videos are available at www.jeffco.us and will appear on Arvada’s KATV Channel 8.

Through the partnership, Jeffco staff generate ideas for videos and then work with KATV staff to produce, write, film and edit the videos, which will average about five minutes in length. Wendy Brockman, former KWGN-TV news anchor, hosts the program.

“Citizen participation is essential to effective government, and Jefferson County wants to encourage involvement,” said Commissioner Kathy Hartman, chairman of the Board of County Commissioners. “Through KATV’s excellent and professional production, Jefferson County Insights offers citizens a new way to stay informed.”

The first three videos are already available on the county’s Media-on-Demand Web site and are about the county in general, the Board of County Commissioners and an explanation of tax bills from Jeffco Treasurer Tim Kauffman. New videos will be available throughout the year.

Jefferson County Insights is part of a broader effort by Jefferson County to bring more information to citizens online. Since early 2009, the Board of County Commissioners has rebroadcast its hearings on the Jeffco Web site. Each meeting is posted with its agenda, minutes and other supporting documents. Recently, the Planning Commission also began to rebroadcast its meetings and make them available at the same location. In addition to commission meetings and episodes of Jefferson County Insights, visitors to the Jeffco Media-on-Demand page can find videos of groundbreakings, news conferences and other community events.

If you have ideas for topics to appear on Jefferson County Insights, please contact the Public Information Office at 303-271-8512 or transparentjeffco@jeffco.us. For more information, contact Citizen Involvement Coordinator Jennifer Kostka at jkostka@jeffco.us or 303-271-8521.