MONROE - The city website could be handling myriad new tasks for citizens and city staff by early 2012.
A proposal to develop the site by CivicPlus, an Internet consulting firm specializing in government services, was recommended by the city's Information Technology Committee Wednesday.
It now needs council approval, which could come as soon as July 19.
For $7,600 per year, the city would receive a three-year contract for an original website design and development, support services and maintenance, web hosting and 16 hours of staff training.
Beginning in the fourth year, support and maintenance continues for $3,500 annually.
Funds are available in the 2011 budget to begin the project this year, according to Phil Rath, city administrator.
Rob Jacobson, city IT director, said he was very impressed with the company.
"What stood out about CivicPlus was that it is concentrated on government (as its customers)," Jacobson said.
According to Michael Boyce, committee chairman, the city's computer and IT support company, Computer Know How of Brodhead, who also designs websites, gave its blessing to CivicPlus after representatives attended a webinar demonstration July 6.
"CKH said they couldn't compete," Boyce said.
The project development plan includes more than two dozen "modules," many of which would benefit citizens, like news flashes, job and bid postings, and electronic payments.
Another two dozen functions allow staff to easily create and maintain website content. New modules or functionality developed by the company in the future are automatically included. Coming this fall is an agenda management and creator application, according to Rath. A suite of modules and capabilities designed especially for parks and recreation departments is expected to be ready by early next year, he added.
While the city may not want all the modules at first, it may add any at any time.
CivicPlus has more than 800 government and public clients in the U. S. and Canada - 26 municipalities are in Wisconsin. St. Paul is their largest client, but municipal client populations are as small as 2,000.
A proposal to develop the site by CivicPlus, an Internet consulting firm specializing in government services, was recommended by the city's Information Technology Committee Wednesday.
It now needs council approval, which could come as soon as July 19.
For $7,600 per year, the city would receive a three-year contract for an original website design and development, support services and maintenance, web hosting and 16 hours of staff training.
Beginning in the fourth year, support and maintenance continues for $3,500 annually.
Funds are available in the 2011 budget to begin the project this year, according to Phil Rath, city administrator.
Rob Jacobson, city IT director, said he was very impressed with the company.
"What stood out about CivicPlus was that it is concentrated on government (as its customers)," Jacobson said.
According to Michael Boyce, committee chairman, the city's computer and IT support company, Computer Know How of Brodhead, who also designs websites, gave its blessing to CivicPlus after representatives attended a webinar demonstration July 6.
"CKH said they couldn't compete," Boyce said.
The project development plan includes more than two dozen "modules," many of which would benefit citizens, like news flashes, job and bid postings, and electronic payments.
Another two dozen functions allow staff to easily create and maintain website content. New modules or functionality developed by the company in the future are automatically included. Coming this fall is an agenda management and creator application, according to Rath. A suite of modules and capabilities designed especially for parks and recreation departments is expected to be ready by early next year, he added.
While the city may not want all the modules at first, it may add any at any time.
CivicPlus has more than 800 government and public clients in the U. S. and Canada - 26 municipalities are in Wisconsin. St. Paul is their largest client, but municipal client populations are as small as 2,000.