Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) about
using Google Moderator for the Edina MN Q&A
What other units of government are using Google Moderator ?
- The White House used it for the President’s Jobs Bill
- The City of Los Angeles used it for a Bike Summit
- The City of Orlando used it for the Mayor’s State of the City address
- and many more
Do I have to register?
Yes. It’s the only way that the Google software keeps tracks of responses and votes.
What if I don’t have a Google Account?
Just use one of your email addresses to create one. It takes seconds.
How much does a Google Account cost?
Nothing.
Can I be anonymous?
Yes. You can use a nickname or your real name. It will be displayed with your question if you submit one.
Do I have to be civil?
Yes, if you want your question to be approved. Our participation guidelines apply.
Can I submit off-topic questions?
No. We’re keeping this focused initially on the four engagement projects.
Can I direct questions to specific people, for example, a City Council Member?
Yes. Just use their name in your question. We can’t guarantee that they’ll respond, however.
Do I have to vote for the questions of others?
No.
Why don’t you yet know the time and method for city leaders to provide answers online?
For live a event (chat, webinar, teleconference), the schedule of city leaders who need to respond will have to be taken into consideration. And we don’t yet know what their preferences for responding (audio, video, text) might be.
Will you do this again next month?
Probably. We’re learning and expect to make mistakes and improve. We’re also assuming that it’ll take a while for Edina citizens to find out about this and get comfortable using it.
I have some other questions that you’ve not covered with this FAQ. Who can I contact?
Feel free to contact Griff Wigley, project coordinator.
Return to the Oct. 2011 Q&A page to submit questions and/or vote