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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda 7-b - Update on Orange County’s Website Redesign1 ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT Meeting Date: September 20, 2018 Action Agenda Item No. 7 -b SUBJECT: Update on Orange County's Website Redesign DEPARTMENT: Community Relations ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: Todd McGee, (919) 245 -2302 PURPOSE: To preview the newly revised Orange County Government internet website. BACKGROUND: For the past year, a team of staff has been working to review and improve the County's official website page. The process began in fall 2017 with the solicitation of proposals from website vendors. Several firms responded, including the company that had been hosting and providing design services for the website. A team of 15 staff members from various departments reviewed four proposals and ultimately chose a new vendor, CivicPlus. CivicPlus is based in Manhattan, Kansas, and provides design and hosting services to more than one thousand local government clients in the United States, including the Town of Carrboro and many counties in North Carolina. The new website will offer more functionality and improved design and navigation for residents as well as a more robust tool kit for staff to maintain the site. Residents will be able to register with the site and create personalized notifications so they will be made aware whenever new or revised information is posted to the website. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The FY 2017 -18 budget included an appropriation of $45,000 in the Community Relations budget. In addition, three departments (Animal Services, the Library and Human Rights and Relations) paid an additional fee to have a more customized design and navigation for those departments. The project was completed within the parameters of the established budget and on time. SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to this item: • GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and volunteering and by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive a preview of the newly revised Orange County website.