City hires PR firm to boost communications with residents

La Cañada Flintridge has launched a pilot program to communicate with residents more effectively.

The city has hired a public affairs firm, Tripepi Smith & Associates, to draft a community newsletter and create documents related to the city’s revised protected tree ordinance, all while sending consultants to city meetings.

In March, the City Council voted to seek help beefing up their communications strategy. The city recently updated its website, but City Halls does not have a presence on social media sites such as Facebook and Twitter. City officials have said that they hear information from the public that is often incorrect.

The city is paying Tripepi Smith & Associates nearly $6,000 for the month of June. Officials will then decide if they want to initiate a more permanent communications strategy for next year.

-- Tiffany Kelly, tiffany.kelly@latimes.com

Follow on Google+ and on Twitter: @LATiffanyKelly.