Ann Arborites report more than 235 problems to city using new A2 Fix It app

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The most commonly reported issues using the new A2 Fix It app are potholes, streetlight repairs, street tree maintenance or removal, parking maintenance and sidewalk issues.

(Ryan Stanton | The Ann Arbor News)

Since launching a new app called

, which allows citizens to report potholes and other issues from computers and mobile devices, Ann Arbor officials say more than 235 requests for service have been submitted to the city. "So far we've been very happy with the way it has worked," said Robert Kellar, a spokesman for the city. "The community has not only embraced it, but has used it very well. People have reported issues and submitted photos, which is very helpful."

The custom app, unveiled on July 30, allows citizens to report a wide range of issues to the city straight from their smartphones, tablets or computers. The app allows users to pinpoint the location of a problem on a map, select from a category menu, describe what action is requested, upload a photo, and leave additional notes if necessary. Citizens can then report the issue using their own chosen user name or submit a report anonymously. Citizens can then track the progress of their request and receive notifications when it has been acknowledged and resolved. Other users of the app can use a map feature to see what other issues other citizens have reported, and cast votes for them. Users accumulate "civic points" by reporting issues, which is merely a way to measure user participation. The points aren't redeemable for anything. Kellar said about 29 percent of the requests so far have come from mobile devices, including iPhone and Android phones. The city provided the following breakdown of the top types of issues being reported using the app:

• 19.1% — pothole repair
• 18.7% — streetlight repair
• 11.8% — street tree maintenance or removal
• 7.2% — park maintenance
• 6% — sidewalk issue

Other issues that can be reported include abandoned bicycles, flooding in streets and yards, graffiti on public or private property, grass or vegetation too long on private property, hydrant issues, trash/compost/recycling pickup issues, sign repair, signal repair, snow/ice removal, storm inlets plugged or broken, and trash on lawns. There also is a catch-all "other" category for reporting other issues.

The city partnered with

to develop the custom app. SeeClickFix says Ann Arbor is its sixth partner in the state. Ann Arbor resident Dave Hawkins said he's gotten comfortable using the app. He initially used the website but he's now reporting problems directly from his phone. "My thoughts and experience with the app are very positive. The city responded and acted within a couple days on two issues I posted," he wrote in an email, noting he reported a pothole in a bike lane and requested removal of a large downed tree branch. He said he usually travels by bicycle and he finds it convenient that he can simply pull over, snap a photo, and report a problem using the app on his phone. He said every issue he has reported so far has at least been acknowledged by the city and assigned a "request ID." "It will be interesting to see how the city adapts as the user base grows and the number of issues becomes more substantial," he said. "Hopefully the voting feature will help prioritize the issues that affect the most people." As of Tuesday, Kellar said the city had closed 129 requests submitted using the app, and 106 remained open. He said it was possible some of those that were still open may have been resolved but not closed in the system yet.

"Of the 106 open requests, 16 are complaint-type issues that don't have a reactive maintenance component," he said. "For example, someone reporting that the street is dark and we should add a street light." Kellar said the city expected higher use of the app initially, but it seems to be catching on slowly but surely. "Going into it, we did a lot of research with the vendor, and we talked to other cities that implemented it, so we were prepared for a deluge, and that hasn't materialized yet," he said. "People are slowly adopting it." As of Tuesday, counting both the app and phone calls to the city, a total of 746 requests for service had been submitted to the city this August. Kellar said that compares to 994 requests last August, before the A2 Fix It app existed. He said 171 of the requests this August — or about 23 percent — have come via A2 Fix It, while 575 have been submitted via phone call. "We certainly have big hopes for it," Kellar said of the A2 Fix It app. "We hope more people will use it — both the app and the website widget. We hope as more people grow comfortable with it, more people will use it."

• Browse issues reported by citizens in Ann Arbor

Ryan Stanton covers Ann Arbor city hall for The Ann Arbor News. Reach him at ryanstanton@mlive.com or 734-623-2529 or follow him on Twitter.