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REQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION <br />Date: 11 / 13/2006 <br />Item No: 12. <br />Department Approval: T�•ifm{���f ��pr�k�cd: <br />� �: ��t <br />�� <br />��_� <br />Agenda Section: <br />Staff Reports <br />Item Description: Consider Authorizing Request for Proposals for Redesigning the City <br />Website <br />Background <br />At the 8/21/06 Council meeting, the Council heard Staff proposals on options for revamping the <br />City's website. The proposals included: <br />1) <br />2) <br />3) <br />4) <br />Make no i`�rther investment at this time <br />Commit additional monies to hire a professional web design firm <br />Commit additional monies to hire new City Staff to redesign and maintain the site <br />Consider using an off-site website host <br />Since this meeting, Staff has held additional meetings to consider these options. Based on these <br />discussions and in consideration of the comments received by the Council, Staff believes that <br />Option #2 presents the most beneficial option. <br />Discussion Items <br />While the City is facing continual financial challenges, the City's �ebsi�e has been noticeably <br />overlooked. While some web pages have been improved in recent years, as a whole the web�ite <br />is in stark contrast to the high quality aspects of other programs and services the City provides. <br />In addition, it is projected that the website will take on an even greater presence as e-government <br />solutions continue to evolve. This will require a dynamic, robust website that is capable of <br />greater functionality than what we have today. <br />Because of these requirements, I don't believe an off-site web-hosting service is prudent. We are <br />better off leveraging existing technology investments and IT Support Staff to host the site in- <br />house as we are currently doing. However, this does not change the need to revamp the website. <br />As a result, I recommend issuing a Request for Proposal (RFP) for web design services. <br />If approved, City Staff would prepare and issue an RFP later this month. Review of the <br />submittals would probably take place in mid-January, followed by a report to the Council in late <br />January or early February. It is hoped that the redesign of the websi�e could begin by the end of <br />February. <br />City Staff would retain responsibility for hosting and managing all content on the '�veb�ite. <br />