City’s website may get revamp

The city website contains an ever-expanding sea of budget documents, meeting agendas, ordinances and legal notices for residents. Now the site needs a new map and compass to sort through it all.

More than 100 site users clamored for better website navigation through a recent online poll conducted by the city. The City Council is now poised to approve $15,000 worth of improvements.

“People that responded to the survey said they want the site to be easier to read, with less clutter,” said Steve Miller, the city’s information technology director. “But better navigability was the overall biggest response we got.”

Miller hopes to give the site a more consistent look with distinctive color banners and more of a “community feel.” This could include using photos of the island, “such as coffee shops or trees,” to help users differentiate between sections, he said.

Miller plans a more interactive meetings calendar with links to meeting agendas and notes.

“People sometimes get lost when they’re looking around,” he said. “We want to make it more searchable and not jumping around between different looks and feels.”

Besides the more basic upgrades, Miller has recommended the council consider a number of other features in the future, including streaming media, online discussion capabilities and e-commerce upgrades for web-based credit card payments.

The city’s website last underwent a major upgrade three years ago. That project, which included more extensive work, cost about $35,000 according to Miller.

Miller will present the redesign project at 8 p.m. during tonight’s council meeting.

The city’s website is at www.ci.bainbridge-isl.wa.us.

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