REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Informational Memo on the Beta Website Launch Update
Report
BACKGROUND
The City of Santa Clara's website redesign project began with usability testing in June 2017 to better inform the comprehensive overhaul of the website. The City's website vendor conducted a community survey from June 29 - Sept. 12, 2017 in which feedback was received from nearly 350 stakeholders about the current website's navigation, search functionality and areas for improvement.
The redesigned SantaClaraCA.gov website will replace a site that is approximately five years old while also creating three new subsites that will provide a streamlined user experience and address specific user needs for these City services and related information online.
The original timeline for project implementation was extended due to several factors including the vendor being purchased by another company and changes in staffing assigned to this City project, as detailed in the July 9, 2019 Report to Council.
DISCUSSION
Beta testing of the redesigned SantaClaraCA.gov website began on Oct. 23, 2019 and will run through Nov. 13, 2019. The purpose of beta testing is to receive user feedback about the online experience and ease-of-use, troubleshoot any functionality issues prior to launching the new website, and collect data to assess whether project objectives have been met.
The objectives of the 2019 Website Redesign Project are to:
* Enhance user experience to better serve SantaClaraCA.gov visitors;
* Create a fresh, engaging and responsive website design and interface, enhancing usability with mobile devices;
* Implement a new web design for the main site as well as for Silicon Valley Power's (SVP) subsite, SVP's Fiber subsite, and Santa Clara City Library's subsite;
* Revamp and improve search functionality to provide a seamless interface across content groups; and
* Improve accessibility to people with disabilities in compliance with SCAG 2.0 and Section 508 of the ...
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