AgdaPkt 2002-12-09 - Laserfiche WebLink

Browse Search

�o -� � LEAGUE WEB SITE MAKEOVER PLANNED FOR 2003 A major overhaul of the League Web site was approved by the board of directors in the recently adopted League 2003 budget. • "The last major overhaul occurred in 2000," said League Executive Director Chris McKenzie. "It was an improvement over what we had, but our current technology is no longer adequate to support the level of information senrices we now need to provide." Among these improvements are: easier access to online legislative monitoring; a grassroots advocacy center; easily posted and updated front-page news features; and easier and more logical site navigation. League Web site users can expect improvement to roll out in three phases. Phase I is an interim step, intended to provide an early response to focus group recommendations that the site provide easier access to priority issues and grassroots advocacy opportunities. It involves creation of a new Web site Home Page, and new policy-specific pages that consolidate links to all League advocacy activities: legislative, legal, ballot measures and grassroots activities. The page will be designed and implemented by League staff, using the existing League Web site tools. This phase will also launch the League's new legislative monitoring and grassroots advocacy center — perhaps in time for the December 9 start of the special legislative session on the state budget. Phase II involves preparation of an "Information Architecture Guide", which will tell the League how its Web site should be organized and what it will look like. The guide will be based upon research into user needs and experiences (members and League staffj, and extensive analysis of the Lzague's organizational goals and priorities. This analysis responds to criticisms from many site users that, while the current Web site is rich in useful information, it is often difficult to navigate. All city officials will be invited to provide input through an on-line survey, which the League will distribute to all members for whom the League has email addresses. The target completion date for the new guide is early April 2003. Phase I II consists of Web Site construction, based upon the Information Architecture Guide. This will involve the purchase of one or more robust new content managemer- *_ools to expand the League's ability update and deliver informa- tion to members and other audiences and mak� it easier a: = faster to post information. "Like every organization, we're finding that our Web site plays an increasingly large role in meeting our need to communicate with members about� strategic advocacy goals,'" said McKenzie. "We're excited about the opportunity to make these much-needed improvements." I n Memoriam loan McNeil, long time member of the League staff, died November 25, 2002, after a long fight with cancer. She joined the staff in 1963 in the League's Berkeley office, and later served many years as the registrar for our educational programs. Over the years many city officials came to know her as a most competent, loyal, friendly and helpful member of the staff. We will all miss her greatly. Visit the League's Official Web Site--www.cacities.org PRIORITY FOCUS/PAGE 9