Recently, the city of Tempe released a new smart phone app called Tempe 311. The application will allow residents to comment or complain to the right city department to have their opinions heard. (Photo by Ana Ramirez)
The city of Tempe released a new smart phone application Tuesday allowing residents to quickly contact city departments.
The Tempe 311 app provides a faster way to ensure that comments, questions and requests are received by the right city department.
City spokesman Shaun Yunt said Tempe 311 is useful for a variety of questions, ranging from asking how late the library is open to requesting assistance repairing potholes.
Yunt said Tempe 311 makes request response time more efficient.
"Somebody can report graffiti, maybe on their smart phone, that (they) see on (their) way to class, and in some cases, we can get to them in a matter of hours," he said.
Tempe residents can contact 311 through the app, an online form, email and by phone.
The city of Tempe, in conjunction with Maricopa County, is discussing the development of a centralized call center where people can call 311 in the same way they would call 911.
The 311 hotline may be released within the next year.
Yunt said the app is a great way for Tempe to embrace the digital age.
"The real idea behind this is that Tempe has always been progressive," he said. "This is just another way it is easy for people to interface with Tempe."
Reach the reporter at laura.m.davis@asu.edu or follow her on Twitter @LauraChelle
