2014_0414_CCpacket - Laserfiche WebLink

Home

f�� � REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION Date: April 14, 2014 Item No.: 13.a Department Approval City Manager Approval ��---9>-�--�-- Item Description: Discussion of Website Redesign and Request to Finalize Contract with CivicPlus for redesigning City's website BACKGROUND For some time it has been clear to both staff and City Council members that the City's website has been overdue for a redesign. In November of 2012, the City Council authorized staff to issue an RFP to redesign the Ciry's website in order to enhance electronic communications and civic engagement with residents. Following an extensive needs assessment, a wide-ranging RFP was issued that covered not only redesign elements, but also user experience evaluation, third-party software integration such as community engagement and service request modules, and mobile apps. Staff recommendations were presented to the Council at the April 15, 2013 meeting. Council initially approved the website redesign recommendation, but went on to discuss reconsidering the initial approval at the following meeting on April 22, 2013. The decision to reconsider was tabled and further discussion on the matter did not take place. WEBSITE REDESIGN OPTIONS In an effort to advance improvements for the website, staff has been exploring updates with the City's current website vendor CivicPlus to improve the look and functionality of the website. In the opinion of staff, CivicPlus possesses both the ability to produce a unique, dynamic and eye- catching design. In addition, as the City's current vendor, CivicPlus would seamlessly migrate all existing content and retouch published pages to ensure proper formatting, menu structure and application of new site styles. CivicPlus has also recently introduced enhanced analytics capabilities and its new responsive design makes websites display much more robustly on mobile devices, eliminating the need for unengaging mobile sites like the one currently being used to display the City's website. The CivicPlus Content Management System (CMS) would also be enhanced by the new design as many options and aspects of its CMS are not available for integration on the current site due to its age. Lastly, contracting with CivicPlus would eliminate the need and cost of staff retraining and programming. CivicPlus' proposal to completely redesign the site is $13,760. FUTURE ENHANCEMENTS As the City's current vendor, CivicPlus presently incorporates third-party service providers into the Ciry's website such as NeoGov. CivicPlus is committed to continuing to provide that service. Moving forward, additional items such as community engagement modules, service request Page 1 of 2