By Tere Dunlap
tdunlap@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - The Monroe Information Technology Committee is seeking the future of the city's website.
Members will meet this Wednesday to consider CivicPlus, a website consultant firm that provides designing, staff training and support for government websites and electronic communications, dubbed eGovernment.
The cost for all the "bells and whistles" is about $25,000 spread over the first three years during which the website would be developed and rolled out. After that, the cost drops to a yearly maintenance fee.
City Administrator Phil Rath believes the website would save staff time and effort, enough to cover the expense, as well as serve citizens, particularly those geared toward future technology.
"Given the extent of the next generation of computer users, it's what we're (all) doing in the future," he said.
Rath said the next generation of citizens is going to expect access to do business with the city at any hour of the day, not just 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"They may come home at ten o'clock (at night) and want to pay a bill," he said.
Michael Boyce, chairman of the IT Committee, said other vendors have been considered, but CivicPlus is the first one asked to make a presentation.
CivicPlus demonstrated its website and technology at the city hall last week via a webinar originating from Manhattan, Kan. One presenter was on the road and joined in by phone, while at least one city aldermen signed into the webinar from an alternate location.
According to the company, the uniqueness of CivicPlus begins with blank pages, rather than templates, from which the company can tailor the city's own personalized website. From there, the city can added content from a variety of available "modules." Modules provide the city with the ability to include citizen request forms; on-line applications; job and bid postings; newsflash and e-mail alerts; a media center, photo gallery and slideshows; a real estate locator; agenda, minutes and newsletters; and online payments.
Also, citizens can sign up for specific types of information to be sent to their computers or mobile devices. Staff will be able to put in one update, such as an emergency alert, that could be broadcast to the website, Twitter, Facebook, e-mails, even a text message.
"You can be sitting somewhere in town and receive information from the city," Rath said.
One example Rath used was the pool closing for bad weather. One message put out through the website could save many phone calls to the pool or recreation department for the same information, he said.
"For the city, we would be able to start tracking some things -- like how long it takes us to fulfill a request, or find the solution to a complaint," Rath said.
Interactive meetings could also be a possibility, according to Rath.
"You could be watching from home and have a question. Just type it in and it could be answered during the meeting," he said. "We are creating a website for the end user, not just something to read, but to do something, (like) pay a bill or reserve a park shelter."
Because CivicPlus is government oriented, the committee was assured that the site would be compliant with federal and state regulations.
Now 10 years old, CivicPlus has more than 800 government and public clients in the U. S. and Canada - 26 municipalities are in Wisconsin. St. Paul is its largest client, but municipal client populations are as small as 2,000.
Rath said the city of Waunakee, which now uses GovOffice, a large provider of local government websites, is changing to CivicPlus.
The IT Committees meets again at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the city hall to discuss the website and possible take action.
tdunlap@ themonroetimes.com
MONROE - The Monroe Information Technology Committee is seeking the future of the city's website.
Members will meet this Wednesday to consider CivicPlus, a website consultant firm that provides designing, staff training and support for government websites and electronic communications, dubbed eGovernment.
The cost for all the "bells and whistles" is about $25,000 spread over the first three years during which the website would be developed and rolled out. After that, the cost drops to a yearly maintenance fee.
City Administrator Phil Rath believes the website would save staff time and effort, enough to cover the expense, as well as serve citizens, particularly those geared toward future technology.
"Given the extent of the next generation of computer users, it's what we're (all) doing in the future," he said.
Rath said the next generation of citizens is going to expect access to do business with the city at any hour of the day, not just 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.
"They may come home at ten o'clock (at night) and want to pay a bill," he said.
Michael Boyce, chairman of the IT Committee, said other vendors have been considered, but CivicPlus is the first one asked to make a presentation.
CivicPlus demonstrated its website and technology at the city hall last week via a webinar originating from Manhattan, Kan. One presenter was on the road and joined in by phone, while at least one city aldermen signed into the webinar from an alternate location.
According to the company, the uniqueness of CivicPlus begins with blank pages, rather than templates, from which the company can tailor the city's own personalized website. From there, the city can added content from a variety of available "modules." Modules provide the city with the ability to include citizen request forms; on-line applications; job and bid postings; newsflash and e-mail alerts; a media center, photo gallery and slideshows; a real estate locator; agenda, minutes and newsletters; and online payments.
Also, citizens can sign up for specific types of information to be sent to their computers or mobile devices. Staff will be able to put in one update, such as an emergency alert, that could be broadcast to the website, Twitter, Facebook, e-mails, even a text message.
"You can be sitting somewhere in town and receive information from the city," Rath said.
One example Rath used was the pool closing for bad weather. One message put out through the website could save many phone calls to the pool or recreation department for the same information, he said.
"For the city, we would be able to start tracking some things -- like how long it takes us to fulfill a request, or find the solution to a complaint," Rath said.
Interactive meetings could also be a possibility, according to Rath.
"You could be watching from home and have a question. Just type it in and it could be answered during the meeting," he said. "We are creating a website for the end user, not just something to read, but to do something, (like) pay a bill or reserve a park shelter."
Because CivicPlus is government oriented, the committee was assured that the site would be compliant with federal and state regulations.
Now 10 years old, CivicPlus has more than 800 government and public clients in the U. S. and Canada - 26 municipalities are in Wisconsin. St. Paul is its largest client, but municipal client populations are as small as 2,000.
Rath said the city of Waunakee, which now uses GovOffice, a large provider of local government websites, is changing to CivicPlus.
The IT Committees meets again at 4 p.m. Wednesday at the city hall to discuss the website and possible take action.