The City of Chattanooga has unveiled a new website -- at www.chattanooga.gov -- designed to improve the community's online image and to expand residents' access to city services and information. There's little doubt that an up-to-date and attractive website is a necessity nowadays. An increasingly sophisticated populace grounded in technology expects it. Initial response from that crowd, in fact, has been quite positive. The real measure of the new website's utility and value, however, will come over time as a broader audience here and elsewhere accesses and evaluates it.
There is, to be sure, much to recommend the new website. Designed by Maycreate, a local company awarded a $128,000 contract by the city last year, the new site is more visually appealing and is easier to navigate than the old one. The amount of information it contains (more than 50,000 pages, links and documents) and the relative ease of accessing data from various city departments are impressive. Almost no detail, it seems, was overlooked by designers of the site.
It incorporates the latest in website management technology, allows smooth integration of social media to provide transparency, and employs a custom Google search engine to speed access. It also is compatible with a broad array of mobile devices and is readily accessible by those with disabilities. Mayor Ron Littlefield is certainly proud of the new site.
"Here we are again, setting the standard for cities across the country," he said a a press release announcing the start-up of the new website. It's hard to evaluate the veracity of that statement without personal knowledge of every city website in the nation, but it is probably safe to assume that there is more than a bit of truth to the claim.
While the new website is vital to maintaining the city's image as a major player among technologically-savvy communities, it is important to acknowledge the fact that the website does not replace more traditional ways to interact with city leaders, managers and departments. The website simply enhances them, providing another way for individuals to connect with the city.
Services like the 311 phone call center will continue to operate at previous levels. "Everything," Richard Beeland, a city spokesman, said Monday, "that was available before" to people who wanted to contact a city official or department is still operational. That's important in a community where a significant number of individuals and households do not have access to a computer.
The construction of the new website cost each Chattanooga citizen about 75 cents, officials estimate. For that, the site provides ready access to information and services for residents and a pleasing introduction to the city for others who will utilize it. By any measure, the investment is a wise one for a city that has tied its future so tightly to the technological revolution.