City Launches New Web Site
Additional Features Make Web Site More Interactive
The City of Edmond launched a new website that is designed to be easier to read and navigate. It includes several added features, such as a Service Center with a calendar of events and an Action Center where visitors can make a request, report a concern or make an anonymous comment or suggestion.
"The new design meets several goals, including making the web site more functional and interactive. We wanted to enable our citizen customers to access information twenty four hours a day and to forward a request or question to us at their convenience," said Claudia Deakins, Director of Marketing and Public Relations. "Developing the new site is part of elected officials and city management's goal to maximize communication and interaction with our residents."
Three years ago City Manager Larry Stevens combined the web site with the city's other communication functions, such as media relations, government access television programming, and printed publications. The purpose of consolidating these areas into one department was to facilitate consistency in the city's communication efforts.
"Our city staff has identified 'enhancing communication' as one of our four critical internal mission areas for our organization. Keeping our residents informed and providing opportunities for them to be involved in their local government is an ongoing priority for us," said Stevens. "We are averaging a thousand unique visits each day to our web site so we recognize it is a critical tool for simplifying access to municipal services."
One of the new services now available online is the ability to search the cemetery records for Gracelawn, the city's cemetery. Records display the name, date of birth, date of death, burial date and plot location for persons buried at the cemetery. Nancy Nichols, who directs the activities of the city clerk's office, said "This online search feature is a valuable resource for the families of those buried at the cemetery who are interested in genealogical research."
The Edmond Living section of the new web site includes a feature that lets residents enter their address and find out whether they are located in the Edmond corporate city limits and, if they are, it will display the ward in which the resident resides.
An improved live stream of the Edmond Life TV programming is available with a larger viewing window and better audio. Previous City Council and Planning Commission meetings are now available "on demand" through the video archive. Viewers have the option to go directly to a specific agenda item and watch the discussion on that particular item.
"Edmond citizens expect the best and latest technology on our city's website," said Mayor Dan O'Neil. "Adding the 'on-demand' feature should improve citizens' accessibility to videos of city council and planning commission meetings and improve access to agenda information for these public meetings."
O'Neil said the "on-demand" features will insure Edmond citizens can access background information on agenda items. "Citizens can see how we conduct the public's business and balance the public debate."
The News Center includes press releases as well as photos and profiles of the city's elected officials and management staff. Through the News Center, civic clubs and organizations can also request a speaker on a variety of topics from fire prevention to recycling.
The Parks and Recreation section of the web site has been significantly enhanced and now includes information for features of each of the city's parks as well as colorful, printable maps of trails at the parks and at Arcadia Lake.
The development of the new website was managed by Michael Scroggins, Marketing and Public Relations Manager, and Jeremy Sanchez, the city's web designer. "Since we began the development process, Michael and Jeremy have been committed to a web site that is tailored to the needs of those who live or work in our city," Deakins noted. "Their foremost goal was to feature helpful information in a well-organized and easy to use format.
"We look forward to feedback as our residents start to use the new website."
The address for the site is edmondok.com.
Issued: January 05, 2008
