By SHANNON HAUGLAND
Sentinel Staff Writer
The city’s updated website went live today, with new features that staff members hope improves the look and experience for users.
“The goal was to make it more streamlined and user-friendly,” City Government and Public Relations Director Melissa Henshaw said today.
The revised website at cityofsitka.com is two years in the works, with starts and stops along the way due to personnel changes and shortages.
It replaces a city website that had the most recent public announcements, developments and press releases at the top of the homepage, with links along the sides for COVID, bids, requests for proposals, and Assembly meetings. It’s not only a new look, Henshaw said, but replaces an outdated system.
“The old system was failing, and difficult to edit,” she said.
The cityofsitka.com home page is shown. The city rolled out the new web page today. (Screenshot of cityofsitka.com)
Below the video footage of Sitka, the new homepage has “medallions” near the top for the most popular links the city has seen over the years. Those include Forms, Assembly Meetings, Bids and RFPs, PSAs and Pay Bills.
Farther down are links to some recent city press releases – the October 5, 2021, election results and the face-covering ordinance.
“The medallions along the middle section help users, it makes it more clear for users of the website,” Henshaw said.
The ticker tape scroll across the top is the link to one of the most popular sites, COVID data and updates, at cityofsitka.org. The link to the same site is also available under “COVID-19 Info” later down the page.
Some of the links are the same, such as those in the categories of business, government, departments, visitors and FAQs.
There is also a clear link to public records request, and the municipal clerk, boards and commissions, with phone numbers for members; and “Financial Transparency,” although some of the links are not complete yet.
Henshaw said the website is live, but can also be considered a work in progress as users find the site and start using it.
“We’re still working out things and updating information,” Henshaw said. “We’re excited to be able to have a more modern, up to date website that is more user-friendly to our public.”
Those with comments may call Henshaw at 907-747-1824.
