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Aberdeen launches redesigned city website to improve navigation and services
Summary
City officials on April 7 heard a presentation on a redesigned City of Aberdeen website intended to simplify navigation, improve mobile access and centralize calendars and department content; staff said content was reduced from roughly 900 pages to about 400 and work will continue on fillable forms and a parks app.
The City of Aberdeen on Monday unveiled a redesigned municipal website intended to make city services and information easier to find for residents.
Amber Schwab, the city’s economic development manager, told the City Council the site was “designed with the citizens in mind” and highlighted a streamlined navigation, mobile-friendly layout and improved search. “User friendly navigation was 1 of our main functions as well as a mobile friendly design, faster access to all of our city services, and improved search features,” Schwab said.
Schwab said staff reduced the site’s content from about 900 pages to roughly 400 in a multi-month cleanup and created department-specific headers for public safety, library, parks and recreation and forestry to give those pages a distinct look. She also said the team matched the look and feel of integrated third-party services so users experience a consistent interface when, for example, registering for parks and recreation programs. Schwab said a team of about 15 “champions” from city departments will continue meeting to maintain content and expand features such as PDF fillable forms.
Council members praised the redesign. Councilman Johnson called the changes “dramatic” and singled out aerial video used on the site. Councilwoman Tiffany Langer and Councilwoman Fulbert both said the site fills a longstanding need and praised Schwab for leading the effort. Mayor Schoneman also thanked Schwab and department staff for the work.
Schwab said further work is planned: converting more forms to fillable PDFs, rolling out consistent branding across department materials and creating a parks and recreation phone app tied to the RecTec system. She estimated the app could be ready “by end of summer, early fall.”
The presentation drew no council objections and the council encouraged members to review the new site and submit feedback to Schwab’s team.
The council did not take formal action; the item was presented for information and comment.
