City of Imperial Beach Launches New Website

The city of Imperial Beach launched a new website Friday, and with the new look it seems there is renewed interest in engaging citizens, businesses and the public-at-large online.

"The navigation is much easier and user-friendly," said Michelle Posada, assistant to City Manager Gary Brown.

"We're going to be in a constant state of updating the site so every day residents and visitors log on to the site they will see new information," she said.

A visitors section has been added, which didn't exist on the old site, to point to the city's attractions and history.

Staff are still working to correct broken links and add more links that can be helpful to city residents.

At the top of the site is a feedback form which requests residents' opinions on how the site and city services can improve.

A calendar sits prominently on the front page to promote upcoming events.

Interim Assistant City Manager Doug Clark is "in the discovery phase" of how the city and its employees will become engaged in social media like Twitter and Facebook. At a date yet to be determined, Clark's findings will be presented to City Council for approval of an official social media policy.

Clark is also exploring how to begin publishing video of City Council meetings and other public meetings on the new website.

Residents can sign up for a city news update, "so if people are interested in getting the latest information, they can subscribe online and we will be providing email blasts weekly or bi-weekly," Posada said.

This may include things such as planned road closures, upcoming events or ways to better navigate City Hall administration.

As part of Sunshine Week, a national effort to encourage transparency in government, Imperial Beach Patch

A month prior, a question was posed in the Q&A section asking readers, ""

In a Feb. 9 workshop to draw out the city's goals in the next few years, Councilwoman Lorie Bragg said, "I would like to see us really get with it and be on Facebook and be on Twitter, and I think that in these days and times, by not doing it, there's an entire group of people out there that we are missing out on."

Bragg went on to say Facebook and Twitter are the way an entire generation of people are communicating.

"They don't read our newsletters, they don't read our fliers," she said. "It's time for us to participate in that because we're just totally behind the times."

"Shame on us for not taking advantage of every opportunity, every vehicle that's out there to get the message out."

In the same workshop, Fire Chief and Public Safety Director Tom Clark supported the idea of a new website.

"I'd like to see the city have a great website, an interactive website that you can click on and get a dog license and fill out a special request application for a permit. And you can pay for it online. That would be a great move," he said.

Cityofib.com was built and managed by govoffice.com, creator of the city's previous website.

The new look cost the city $600.