Title
CRA Website (B)
Explanation
The CRA works closely with many types of constituents such as citizens, businesses, developers, government officials and board members. One of the greatest tools in communicating to this group will be the use of a well designed website. Currently the CRA has very little web presence or a way to update the community regarding projects, meetings or a central place to find all of the reports, plans, budgets and maps of the work that is done by the agency.
In the fall of 2007, Buster O'Connor of eye4 designs, a Gainesville company, was hired to begin the process of designing the website. Mr. O'Connor began the process by providing the CRA staff with three different web styles as well as a way to identify the CRA in a creative manner. At that point CRA hired Conceptual Arts, a Gainesville web development company to build and deploy the website. With Jeff Nelson of Conceptual Arts a systematic and time consuming process was undertaken to look into who the CRA communicated with and thus how to deliver the information to this group efficiently and effectively.
As part of the requirement of the contract with Conceptual Arts the website will be ADA compliant according to ADA/Section 508.
Fiscal Note
Funds totaling $84,973.51 are currently budgeted in the following district Marketing/Web accounts: 610-790-W220-5520-4120 ($20,162.14); 613-790-W220-5520-4120 ($5,464.04); 618-790-W723-5520-4120 ($54,516.65) and 621-790-W906-5520-4120 ($4,830.68).
Recommendation
Executive Director to the CRA: 1) Hear a presentation from staff and eye4 Design and Conceptual Arts; 2) approve web styling and request that staff deploys the CRA website as presented; and 3) authorize the Executive Director implement the web style to other mediums such as the annual report and stationary.