Improving the City Website

In today’s environment, a City website can and should be a powerful tool for communicating with residents, providing vital information about City programs and services as well as allowing for residents to take advantage of online capabilities like emailing and bill paying. The input group thought that the following changes should be made to the Newton City website:

• Make the site more visually appealing
• Improve the Search our site tool
• Improve site navigation options
• Connect it to other relevant sites
• Better use Social networking sites
• Give it the capability to better take in and track Questions, Complaints, and Requests
• Use it to respond to Questions, Complaints, and Requests
• Allow Citizen Input on City issues
• Add a tool for communication with City Officials
• Use this as a way for Setti to get messages out
• Provide an outline of City structure/organization
• Improve the phone directory
• Create a how to/”I want to” menu – so that people know which questions get directed to which department
• Ensure access for the visually impaired
• Update content more frequently
• Add more pictures, including one of the mayor(the face of the city)on the homepage and other city employees in the directory or department descriptions
• Improve how we post city job openings
• Create email notification lists for street cleanings, street closings, etc (outgoing email lists)that residents could sign up for. This could include one for elected officials to send out emails to the their constituents
• Publish public meetings better, perhaps offer some webcasts
• Prepare to make the site faster, especially as we think about adding to it
• Improve/Update our page for visitors; guide to the city