Willow board approves move to third‑party website platform, staff says launch in 6–8 weeks

The Willow Board of Aldermen voted to proceed with a third‑party website platform (referred to in the meeting as "Apogee") and a companion mobile app, after staff said the option offered a more cohesive public‑facing experience at a lower ongoing cost than alternatives.

Staff told the board the platform would allow the city to post news, projects and calendar items in a single place and push notifications to smartphone users. Staff said the vendor would not replace the city’s payment processor; users who choose to pay bills via the new site or app would be routed to the existing payment system.

"Apogee seemed to be the one that did all of it without costing us a small fortune," said a staff member who presented the item. Staff estimated the vendor could deliver a working site in about six to eight weeks and described the platform as more nimble than larger competitors.

Aldermen asked about calendar and projects features, and staff said the platform includes a meeting calendar, a projects tab with photos and updates, and a workflow for public-works staff to submit items for review before posting. The board discussed budget impacts; staff said initial setup costs would likely be absorbed in the current budget and that ongoing platform fees were cheaper than some other options. A motion to move forward with the vendor passed on a roll‑call vote.

The board directed staff to proceed with implementation and to notify the board as work moves forward. The item passed with a recorded vote in favor by multiple aldermen.