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Communications director shows website redesign, rising engagement and expanded city events
Summary
Communications and community outreach lead Ava presented a website redesign, analytics showing increased web traffic and social engagement, and a calendar of city events and outreach plans including ADA compliance work for 2026.
Ava, the City of North St. Paul’s communications and community outreach coordinator, briefed the council on a website redesign, social‑media growth, newsletter performance and a calendar of city events. Ava said the redesign was a routine update intended to improve navigation and accessibility and that staff are working toward ADA compliance ahead of a 2026 regulation.
Ava presented analytics for January through April showing a 35% increase in website views and active users nearly doubling over the same period; the city’s newsletter list grew from 605 to 646 subscribers and the recent average open rate sat near 49 percent, which she described as above the municipal industry average. Ava also reported social‑media growth across Facebook and Instagram, and said short-form video “reels” and business‑highlight segments had produced strong engagement. She noted Facebook remains the community’s dominant platform and that Instagram and reels are being used to broaden reach.
On events, Ava listed 13 city-run large events since she began in June of the prior year and highlighted recent successes: Music in the Park, a pickleball‑court opening celebration, the return of movie night, a growing Autumn Arts Festival (vendor interest up from about 25 to 40), a first Holly Jolly night, and a garage-sale weekend that expanded from 25 to 45 locations. Looking ahead, she flagged pop‑up outdoor exercise classes, Music in the Park, a “trek night” scheduled for June 13 and continued work to expand video content and crisis communications with fire and police.
Ava said the communications team will continue website improvements, encourage newsletter signups via a mailer included with utility bills, and pursue a social‑media strategy and formal engagement policies. Councilmembers praised the work, suggested exploring an intern to support expanded content, and discussed ways to promote the newsletter among residents who do not use social media.
No formal council action was taken; the presentation was informational and aimed at improving resident outreach and event attendance.
