“311 is the next logical step in our commitment to use technology to improve our residents’ lives,” County Manager George Burgess said.  “With miamidade.gov, County government is only a click away.  Now with 311, Miami-Dade County and City of Miami government are only a call away.”

City and County leaders introduced their public education campaign to the media and public Friday morning.

Whether they want to report a pothole or a stray animal, or have questions about their tax notices, residents often have to sort through hundreds of published phone numbers to find the specific number to dial.  But 311 is changing all that.    Fully operational, 311 is already giving thousands of residents each day a one-stop telephone shop for getting what they need from local government.  311’s staff of information specialists can often answer questions or resolve issues without ever putting a resident on hold or transferring the call.  In other cases, they connect the resident directly with a person who can help.

311 call centers have become popular in other metropolitan areas, including New York, Chicago and Houston.  311 serves an important public safety role as well, steering non-emergency calls away from 911, preserving the availability of the emergency system for callers truly in need of immediate response. Miami-Dade’s 311 call center is unique in that it is a partnership between the County and its largest city, Miami.  This takes the guesswork out of which government provides services for residents of specific jurisdictions.