Agenda Item Wording:
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New City Website Update - Review planning process and community outreach for resident feedback.
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Prepared by: Allison M. Mackey, Communications & Brand Manager, 559-713-4535 allisonmackey@visalia.city, Shonna Oneal, Administrative Services Director, 559-713-4053 shonna.oneal@visalia.city
Department Recommendation: It is recommended that the Visalia City Council receive a presentation on the update of the City's agreement with CivicPlus for web services, current project components, and upcoming community outreach for resident feedback.
Summary:
With the City's agreement in place with Civic Plus for web services, including a new website, 311 resident service request system, public records request management system, social media monitoring and archiving, and accessibility monitoring, staff have moved forward in preparing and scheduling the implementation of a community outreach plan to receive feedback from the public on the design, function and features of the new City website.
Background Discussion:
The City's current website was launched in 2015 and at the direction of Council, City staff are now working with the vendor CivicPlus to modernize the City's digital presence, enhance access to services, and foster greater civic engagement with a completely new website.
The City website as it stands now is outdated and increasingly inadequate for meeting current standards. Notably, it lacks optimization for mobile devices, presents difficulties in submitting service requests, and does not comply with upcoming accessibility regulations. Additionally, the U.S. Department of Justice Civil Rights Division is requiring that websites and mobile applications comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act Title II web accessibility rules. The City must achieve full compliance by April 24, 2026. The new City website will meet these requirements and includes continued monitoring to ensure continued compliance.
Community Outreach Plan
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