City OKs website redesign bid
http://www.austindailyherald.com/2014/07/city-oks-website-redesign-bid/
Published 10:13 am Thursday, July 24, 2014 – Austin Daily Herald
The city of Austin is on the path to a new website.
The Austin City Council unanimously approved a bid to redesign the city website during the council’s work session Monday.
Though the city received 32 bids from places as far off as London, U.K., city staff narrowed proposals to three local vendors and council members chose independent consultant Theresa Tucker to redesign the site.
The city will spend $8,500 from its contingency fund for the site redesign as well as $25 per hour to train city staff on how to upload things to the website. Tucker’s proposal was chosen over bids by Tecstra Systems and ViDeyo Arts because it was the cheapest option and because the city would retain control over the website by hosting and uploading to it at staff convenience.
The city hopes to have a new website up and running by Dec. 1.
Council to lock down website design contract
http://www.austindailyherald.com/2014/08/council-to-lock-down-website-design-contract/
Published 11:41 am Sunday, August 3, 2014 – Austin Daily Herald
The Austin City Council is set to approve a website redesign at its upcoming meeting at 5:30 p.m. Monday.
Though the city received 32 bids from places as far off as London, U.K., city staff narrowed proposals to three local vendors and council members chose independent consultant Theresa Tucker to redesign the site.
The city will spend $8,500 from its contingency fund for the site redesign as well as $25 per hour to train city staff on how to upload things to the website. Tucker’s proposal was chosen over bids by Tecstra Systems and ViDeyo Arts because it was the lowest bid that allowed the city to host the website on its own servers, while staff can upload content.
The council will also discuss downtown parking and new stop signs.
Austin rolls out redesigned website
http://www.austindailyherald.com/2015/01/austin-rolls-out-redesigned-website/
Published 6:59 am Monday, January 5, 2015 – Austin Daily Herald
Looking for a way to submit a complaint to the city of Austin? What about a building permit?
The city of Austin has redesigned and quietly rolled out a new website to help residents find more information and better represent the city.
“We’ve made some good strides forward,” City Administrator Craig Clark said.
The Austin City Council made a website redesign one of its 2014 goals as council members and city staff want to use the website to better communicate with residents.
To that end, the redesigned site includes more information and more prominent links to resources. The city even included a new “I Want To…” feature where residents can navigate the site based on commonly asked questions.
Residents can still get the same information — such as city council agendas — as before, but Clark said users can do more with the city’s website such as watch previous city council meetings.
“What we’ve tried to do is translate the business of the city, tried to make it more web-based,” Clark said.
The council sought website redesign bids over the summer and awarded a contract to local independent contractor Theresa Tucker in August. Tucker built the redesigned website for $8,500.
Clark encouraged residents to give the city feedback on the website and let city staff know about other functions the website should have.
To visit the city’s website, go to www.ci.austin.mn.us
‘Artistic nerd’ puts new face on city of Austin website
http://www.postbulletin.com/news/local/artistic-nerd-puts-new-face-on-city-of-austin-website/article_371cb151-ba74-5cc7-9954-3b735740f839.html
Posted: Saturday, November 29, 2014 5:00 am – Post Bulletin
AUSTIN — Theresa Tucker combines her love of technology and art as she designs new websites, and that is what she has done for the city of Austin.
“I call myself a nerd,” but an artistic nerd, she said.
Last summer, the city contracted to pay her $8,500 to replace its present website. She won the contract competing against large companies throughout the state and even internationally.
The assistant administrator working with information technology at the Hormel Institute said the city’s existing site needs work. “It’s very unorganized and outdated,” she said. It’s “hard to find what you’re looking for.”
The plan was to have the site go live on Monday, but that’s been pushed back to early to mid-December, said Tom Dankert, the city’s interim administrator. The city decided to delay the site’s launch in order to tweak it, he said.
“We’re trying to get as much information out there for the public,” but it also has to be easy to read and have a “warm, fuzzy” form that will make people want to read it, Dankert said.
That’s what Tucker has been trying to do for the past few months, using her combined skills in technology and art.
“I just always liked computers,” she said. But when growing up in Henning, she also loved drawing and art.
One of the goals of the new city website is to allow people to quickly find about 250 pages of information regarding everything from city permits to finding places and checking library hours.
Tucker wants the site to be fluid, allowing for a department to change its page and update things. If there’s a blizzard, flood or some other emergency, the city can use the website to give people real-time information about closed roads, where to go for help and other details. Those with smart phones will be able to access it, so she has made it possible for those people to get a different, easier-to-use version.
But the first thing she wants the website to do is look good. People thinking about coming to a new city often check the Web pages of the city or its convention and visitors bureau. It gives them a first impression, and Tucker wants that to be a warm, fuzzy feeling.
After showing off this week’s version, which will change by next week, Tucker said she’s satisfied so far with her work.
“I think it’s going to be good,” she said.
Artist puts new face on city of Austin website
– Associated Press – Monday, December 8, 2014
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2014/dec/8/artist-puts-new-face-on-city-of-austin-website/