HomeMy WebLinkAbout9A, Website Redesign Project Update�
�41�UE`N HILLS
Request for Council Action
Prepared By: Jill Hutmacher, Community Council Meeting Date: May 29, 2012
Development Director
Website Redesign Project Update
Budgeted Amount: Actual Amount: Funding Source:
N/A N/A N/A
Recommendation:
Informational only. No action required.
Supporting Documents:
1. Memorandum dated May 29, 2012, from Jill Hutmacher, Community Development llirector.
�
�R�EN�HILLS
MEMORANDUM
DATE: May 29, 2012
TO: Honorable Mayor and Councilmembers
FROM: Jill Hutmacher, Community Development Directo��
SUBJECT: Website Redesign Project Update
Back�round
On October 10, 2011, the City Council appointed a website ad hoc committee to work on a new
City website. On February 27, 2012, the City Council approved a contract with CivicPlus for the
design, hosting, and support for a new City website.
Website Desi�n Process
Since contract approval, the website ad hoc committee has been very busy and has met every
deadline set by CivicPlus. Following is a list of accomplishments to date:
� Global navi at� ion (top of pa�) links defined. These are the links which will appear in
the top bar of every page on the City's website. The global navigation links will be
About Arden Hills, Government, Business, Departments, and I Want To. ..(a quick link
directory with easy access to popular questions and requests).
Left-hand links defined. These are links on the left-hand side of the home page.
Although the information could be accessed through the global navigation at the top of
the page, the left-hand links allow users to access popular topics with one click. Left-
hand links are Municipal Code, Recycling & Disposal, Webstream Meetings, Community
Contacts (phone and e-mail contacts for elected officials, agencies, etc, external to the
City), Road Work, and a seasonal left-hand link which will rotate topics such as
Celebrating Arden Hills, Road Weight Restrictions, City Survey, etc.
• Bottom-of=pa�e links defined. These are the links at the bottom of every page on the
website and will include Employment, Accessibility (ADA compliance requirements),
Internet Policies, Site Map, Calendar, Contact Us, and Home. The address, phone
number, and business hours of City Hall will also be included.
City of Arden Hills
City Council Meeting May 29, 2012
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• Graphic buttons defined. These are links to the most-requested pages. They will be
designed to look like buttons with some sort of graphic image that visually depicts the
topic. For example, the Parks & Recreation button may have a picture of a tree. The
graphic buttons include Parks & Recreation, Agendas & Minutes, Notify Me, Bill Pay,
and, possibly, Community Video Tour.
• Wire-frame mock-up of home pa�e drafted. The ad hoc committee has used the mock-up
home page to visualize the layout of the front page and communicate City goals to
CivicPlus.
• Wire-frame mock-u� of department pages drafted. The ad hoc committee has used the
mock-up department page to communicate with City staff regarding the layout of
department information.
• Basic navigation structure established. The ad hoc committee and City departments have
identified the second-level, third-level, etc., links under the global navigation. All pages
may be accessed through global navigation and most pages will have at least two paths
with which to access the pages so that users can easily find information. If information is
provided in two different parts of the website (for example, one may be able to find
Election information under both Government and the Administration Department), the
information will be linked so that information must only be updated on one page.
• Staff and Communications Committee assigned content and deadlines. All pages have
been assigned to either appropriate City departments or to the Communications
Committee. Deadlines have been assigned to ensure that the City meets the website
development schedule.
Photographer hired. In recent years, City staff and the Communications Committee have
struggled to find appropriate photographs for the newsletter and other communication
tools. Parallel to the website project, a photographer has been hired to create a photo
library that can be used for website development and for future City communication
needs. The photographer contract is an eligible cable fund expenditure as a
communications tooL
Website Proiect Schedule
Following is the website project schedule identified by the ad hoc committee and CivicPlus. If
the City misses any deadline, the "go live" date (the date on which the website becomes active
and is available to the public) is delayed by at least three months due to the schedules of other
projects in CivicPlus' pipeline. Therefore, the ad hoc committee has been careful to schedule
adequate time for each phase of the project so that the ga live date is secure.
May — Aug City staff and the Communications Committee draft content for individual pages.
June Ad hoc committee begins design discussions.
City of Arden Hills
City Council Meeting May 29, 2012
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July 30
August 20
Sept 7
Sept 28
Late Oct
Nov
Fri, Dec 7
First draft of design due from CivicPlus.
Council review of website design.
Website design finalized.
Website content finalized.
Staff training.
Staff makes final changes to website and adds any remaining pages.
Website goes live at 5 pm.
As noted in the above schedule, the City Council will be asked to review the website design at
the August 20 work session meeting. Any changes suggested by the City Council will be
incorporated prior to the September 7 deadline to finalize the design.
In late October, staff from each department will be trained. Training will include how to edit and
create web pages, build links, download graphics, track website usage, and manage features such
as Notify Me and the various modules offered by CivicPlus. In the futttre, each department will
be responsible for updating and maintaining its own pages.
Staff and ad hoc committee members will be working on a draft website policy which will
establish rules for the types of information, links, and graphics that can be posted on the new
website. The City Council will be asked to review and approve the policy sometime before the
go live date.
City of Arden Hills
City Council Meeting May 29, 2012
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