Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Communications topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Renton staff outline website overhaul and propose quarterly print magazine to reach non-digital residents
Summary
City communications staff reviewed a multi-year strategy to improve website searchability, launch project pages with public comment features, expand accessible formats and pilot a limited-distribution quarterly print magazine; council members pressed staff on mailing costs and whether the magazine should be combined with existing recreation guides.
A communications staff member told the Renton City Council that the city's communications division has moved away from PDF newsletters to searchable web pages, added annotated YouTube playlists and built a library of project pages that allow residents to comment and contact project managers.
The presenter — speaking on behalf of Communications Director Laura Pettit — said the strategic plan developed in 2023 aims to make city messaging timely and trustworthy. "When we say something we want people to know that it is the golden truth and they can trust everything we're saying," the presenter said, describing investments in staff training and certifications to keep services “at the forefront of technology and practices.”
City staff announced plans for a pilot quarterly print magazine aimed at residents who do not use digital platforms. The presenter described the publication as a compiled, portable summary of city news, council recaps and department highlights that could be distributed at public locations such as hotels, doctors' offices and community centers. Staff said mailings would be limited at first because broad mailing would be expensive, and distribution methods being considered include targeted utility‑billing inserts or postcards directing residents to the magazine's online location.
Councilmember Parada asked whether the magazine would be mailed to all residences; staff replied distribution would be limited initially and that a test run will inform future budget requests. "We can, there's expense there, too," the presenter said, adding that the city could expand mailing if demand warrants.
Council members also asked whether the new magazine should be combined with the city's Rec Guide. Staff said the two publications serve different audiences and cautioned that combining them could make parts of the content stale, though collaboration or shared pages remains an option.
The communications team noted other recent changes: a newsroom format that improves Google search results, annotated meeting videos on YouTube that let users skip to relevant content, and accessibility upgrades (including a large-print edition and Title VI website updates aimed at an April deadline). The presenter said staff are monitoring metrics — reach, sentiment and follower growth — to assess effectiveness.
The session closed with council praise for the communications team, which the presenter said was a national finalist for a social‑media emergency communications award.
