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1 <br />ORANGE COUNTY <br />BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS <br />ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT <br />Meeting Date: September 20, 2018 <br />Action Agenda <br />Item No. 7 -b <br />SUBJECT: Update on Orange County's Website Redesign <br />DEPARTMENT: Community Relations <br />ATTACHMENT(S): INFORMATION CONTACT: <br />Todd McGee, (919) 245 -2302 <br />PURPOSE: To preview the newly revised Orange County Government internet website. <br />BACKGROUND: For the past year, a team of staff has been working to review and improve the <br />County's official website page. The process began in fall 2017 with the solicitation of proposals <br />from website vendors. Several firms responded, including the company that had been hosting <br />and providing design services for the website. A team of 15 staff members from various <br />departments reviewed four proposals and ultimately chose a new vendor, CivicPlus. <br />CivicPlus is based in Manhattan, Kansas, and provides design and hosting services to more <br />than one thousand local government clients in the United States, including the Town of Carrboro <br />and many counties in North Carolina. <br />The new website will offer more functionality and improved design and navigation for residents <br />as well as a more robust tool kit for staff to maintain the site. Residents will be able to register <br />with the site and create personalized notifications so they will be made aware whenever new or <br />revised information is posted to the website. <br />FINANCIAL IMPACT: The FY 2017 -18 budget included an appropriation of $45,000 in the <br />Community Relations budget. In addition, three departments (Animal Services, the Library and <br />Human Rights and Relations) paid an additional fee to have a more customized design and <br />navigation for those departments. The project was completed within the parameters of the <br />established budget and on time. <br />SOCIAL JUSTICE IMPACT: The following Orange County Social Justice Goal is applicable to <br />this item: <br />• GOAL: ENABLE FULL CIVIC PARTICIPATION <br />Ensure that Orange County residents are able to engage government through voting and <br />volunteering and by eliminating disparities in participation and barriers to participation. <br />RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board receive a preview of the <br />newly revised Orange County website. <br />