The City of Sammamish has launched its new system of e-mail alerts, to help residents stay abreast of issues that interest them, and be contacted prior to meetings and events.

When the city’s Web site is updated in a topic area a resident has signed up for, the resident will receive an e-mail that contains a link back to the new Web site information.

Here’s how it works.

Visit the city Web site, www.ci.sammamish.wa.us, and click on the “Email Alert Sign Up” icon in the top right hand corner.

Enter your e-mail address and follow the prompts to select the kind of information you are interested in.

The service is provided by GovDelivery, a company which provides government-to-citizen communication solutions.

GovDelivery currently serves a number of cities on the Eastside, including Bellevue and Kirkland, as well as Federal Agencies including the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Department of State.

The city sought the services of GovDelivery in July of this year, following complaints from a number of residents that they were not informed of important meeting dates and potential changes to city regulations, specifically regarding the Shoreline Master Program, the barricade removal program, and roadworks on East Lake Sammamish Parkway.

“I was hearing now and then from citizens, ‘I didn’t know this was happening,’” City Manager Ben Yazici said at the time. “With this system, if they are interested in land use issues, for example, they can sign up for the service, and anytime there is a meeting or a notice, they will get an e-mail.”

The service will cost the city a one-time setup fee of $5,000, and $450 a month for ongoing service.

Residents will not be charged to use the service, and can subscribe to as many or as few topics as they wish.