21 - CITY WEBSITE & AUTOMATED CITY CHANNELItem No. 21
memorandum
TO: Mayor & City Council
FROM: John Godwin, City Manager
SUBJECT: CITY WEBSITE & AUTOMATED CITY CHANNEL
DATE: August 15, 2016
BACKGROUND: The mayor has requested a discussion on the city's current website, and
opportunities to make it better and more efficient for users. He has also suggested the possibility
of creating an animated public access -type channel for showing city council and other board and
committee meetings.
STATUS OF ISSUE: Website changes would not come free, but websites should be evaluated
from time to time to ensure they remain current, useful, and interesting. The council previously
discussed a traditional public- access channel for showing meetings and other relevant
programming on television and on the website, using public educational governmental (PEG) tax
proceeds to pay the cost of equipment, etc.
BUDGET: Some funding may be available from PEG monies; other funding would need to
come from general revenues.
RECOMMENDATION: Provide direction to staff.
Item No. 21
COUNCIL MEMBER AGENDA ITEM REQUEST
Please complete this form to have an item placed on the agenda for the Council's consideration.
The deadline for requesting an item on an agenda will be the Wednesday before the council
meeting takes place. This time is necessary so that staff can research the matter and
prepare /review an ordinance, resolution, or other document such as a contract. In order for your
fellow Council Members to fully understand your item, have productive discussion, ensure
efficient council meetings, and for staff to be able to assist you as completely as possible, it is
important that you describe the item with as much detail as possible and include any supporting
documentation so that it may be included in the Council's meeting packets. Please return this
completed form to the City Manager's office or the City Clerk's office.
Council member making request:
❑ Aaron Jenkins ❑ Matt Frierson
❑ Sue Lancaster ❑ Cleonne Drake
❑ Billy Trenado ® A.J. Hashmi
❑ Steve Clifford
Description of Item: Discuss and act on improvements to the city website and an automated
Public access channel
Are additional sheets or supporting materials attached? ® Yes ❑ No
I request that this item be placed on the agenda for the:
® City Council meeting on this date: August 22, 2016
❑ Sometime in the next 2 meetings
❑ No specific time in mind — just keep it on a list of pending issues
Signature: s /A.J. Hashmi
Date: 8 -15 -201
City of Paris Revised 05/18/2016
We as a council have talked about creating a public information
channel. Most of the council did not favor the idea since it involved
hiring more staff, old technology, as well as the fact that it was felt that
this would involve the city spending more money and not receiving all
of the benefits. As a result, the ideal was shelved.
My proposition at this time is that under the auspicious of the IT
department; create an animated public channel for the residents
accessible by computer for the residents. Information on this public
channel would give direction to residents to address the problems that
they face in daily lives, such as applying for permits, to learn rules and
regulations and various ordinances of the City.
This should be done without any added expenditure to the City and
without employing any further employees. A onetime videographer
can be consulted as deemed necessary by the IT department.
Attached to this should be the fact that the same finances should be
used to update the city website. At present if one wants to access the
City website, it takes a lot of running around the website to find certain
information.
The website should be easy to navigate and should be such that we can
quickly find answers to the questions without having to spend hours
going through it. If the council is in agreement, if this can be funded
through what has been discussed without having to spend money on
hiring staff or additional funding, we can re- discuss this ideal.