Sandusky's web pages need improvement

01/21/2002 - Somebody at the City Building must have noticed this page. The Sandusky City web pages have improved. I will up the grade from a "C" to a "B" The web site has really improved from the "D" that I first gave it. The pictures on the first page are a big improvement. But it still needs improvement.

Why do people go to a city's website? Answer that question, then you will know more about what should go on the site.

1. To download a copy of the city tax form - I still have to hunt for it and go through 2 or 4 WebPages to find it. The print quality of the tax form is readable but not very good. It took 6 minutes for me to go through the city WebPages and print it out. - I went to the site map so I didn't have to go through 4 WebPages to get to it. There should be a link on the first page of the site for this!!!!

4. To find out about renting park facilities - The information is there. The first page of the website needs a better directory. The best sites have mouse-overs. If I move the mouse over, for example, the finance department, I would get an expanded directory of links.

8. To find out information about the city government - what kind, etc. - possibly for a school report - needs improvement...

9. To find out if there are any job openings in the City - the "search the site" - didn't work at all for me..... - found it eventually....

11. To find out who is on the City Commission and how to contact them. - very good - I would prefer not to have so many separate web pages with big pictures. I don't have a fast modem connection. One page with thumbnail pictures of each commissioner with the information is better than so many pages.

LIMA, OHIO HIGHLIGHTED IN THE WALL STREET JOURNAL

...But at that moment, Mayor Berger was plotting to take back control of Lima's economic destiny. Not long ago he succeeded. Most amazing of all, he did it in a way that benefited not just the city but BP itself. Says investment banker Bob Payne of Wasserstein Perella, who was involved in the drama: "I've never met anyone in a big city or a small city more tenacious than Dave Berger, even to the point of risking his own reputation."....

Besides receiving cash, BP rescued itself from demolition costs previously charged against earnings. And downtown Lima has become one giant construction site, with 16 projects worth $45 million under way.

"I've never been involved in a transaction that was so well positioned as a win-win-win, says Iain Conn, the senior BP official who presided over the negotiations. Relationships with the city had been tense, he admits, "But some of the people who were bloodied by that were able to say, 'This is a correct final chapter.'"

"B" is good but why not go for one of the best? (I've looked at over 150 city web pages...). What I still don't like about Sandusky's web-pages: Small quick-loading pictures of our town should go on the first page. The seal is not our most attractive feature. If you are going to use the seal, it must load quickly. It needs to be smaller and saved in a quick-loading format. Why do people seek out a city's web page? One big reason is to download a copy of the tax form. There should be a direct link to the tax forms on the index page. Contact information - phone #, fax #, and address of the city bldg should be on the page and on EVERY PAGE! Think about why people go to the site and do your best to make it so they can find the information they want as quickly as possible. Also, the city building has a new computer system and probably a fast link. Many people have to put up with a slow connection and get aggravated having to go from page to page looking for information especially when the pages load slowly.

The statement "Located on the Shores...." needs rewriting. You are trying to sell our town! Make it sound like you like it here!) The pictures are a huge improvement! Nice pictures!

I clicked on "City Manager" - the page loads very slowly - His statement about "Welcome..." doesn't sell me on the city. Make his picture load faster - make it smaller. He is supposed to sell people on our town. His web page says "I'm a dull person!"

This information that was on the bottom of the City Manager's page should appear on all the pages (It is on more of the pages which is a big improvement.):

The City of Sandusky
222 Meigs Street
Sandusky, OH 44870
(419) 627-5844 (Phone) (419) 627-5825 (Fax)
The City Building is open from 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday.

The City of Sandusky welcomes your feedback. Please send your comments,
questions or suggestions to the City's Public Information Officer, Kelly Kresser.
www.ci.sandusky.oh.us
For information about the website

"Commission" is misspelled on the blue links. The City Commission page is fine, but we are on the Internet. Doesn't anyone on the page have a web address? If people can send emails to Joyce Brown for the commissioners - say so?

I went to Administrative Services. I want more on the page - Description of "Administrative Services" - what is it, email address, SMALL picture of Robert Shultz, more information about Civil Service and Purchasing. It looks like those should be links but only one is... (probably work-in-progress). The organizational chart is nice. Needs a link back to the main page.

I went to Engineering. I want a picture of Earl - whoever replaces him. It is a pretty good page. Could use a description about the engineering department.

I went to Community Development. Again, I want a small picture of Charlene or whoever ends up heading this department. Where's the sales pitch about Sandusky? Isn't that a BIG part of community development?

I went to Finance Department. I want a small picture of Edward. Can't you make our City Government sound a little bit friendly?

Police Department - I want a small picture.... Their web pages aren't there - no old ones, no new ones.

The pages are not "friendly" without pictures of the heads of the department and a short "blurb" about the department. The pages are "cold" and don't sell Sandusky.

The Sandusky City website says much about our city. Right now it says the City is very difficult to navigate and UNFRIENDLY!!!!!

Check out Aurora, Beachwood, Berea -especially check out the site map, Brook Park - look how simple, yet attractive the page is, easy to navigate, lots of information, Canton has a nice site. It is important for the first page to load quickly and make it easy to navigate the site, Cleveland Heights did a terrific job on their site. The pictures change when the mouse goes over the title of the department. A direct link to the tax forms is on the home page. It has a nice "blurb" about how beautiful the community is, a row of small pictures at the top (pictures have to load fairly quickly), the site SELLS the community! Franklin is an attractive site, easy to navigate, lots of information. Harrison has a very well designed site. Kettering is nice, well laid out. First page doesn't sell the town as well as some of the other towns. Lorain has a nice organizational chart. Miamisburg has a well laid out site. Tax form link very visible on the home page. Munroe Falls has a button for projects available for bid and a tax form button on the home page. Olmstead Falls has an attractive site. Pictures are small so they load fairly quickly. Orville is definitely a site to check out. It has important information on the first page - address, phone, fax of City Hall - links to city charter and citizens' handbook, resolutions and ordinances are all on the site for 1999, 2000, and 2001. This site would get the award for providing its citizens with the most information. Solon is another excellent site. Sylvania has a link to a text only version. This is important especially for blind computer users. The home page does not provide enough information.