PRESS RELEASE
City of Long Beach
Public Information Office
411 W. Ocean Blvd,
Long Beach, CA 90802
www.longbeach.gov
6/1/2015
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEPress Release # CM: 060115
Subject:
City Unveils Redesigned Website; More Powerful, Efficient and User-Friendly
Contact:
Today, the City of Long Beach unveiled its brand new website. The site, www.longbeach.gov, is built on a new powerful, efficient, and user-friendly content management system that will help users surf Long Beach with greater ease.
“Launching a new City website that is dynamic and user-friendly has been a top priority of mine," said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The new site has many new features, including neighborhood mapping and an open data portal. Our goal is to create a 24-hour online City Hall.”
The homepage provides quick access to the most popular services, such as paying utility bills and applying for permits, as well as featuring new stories, the award-winning LBTV, and employment opportunities. Two calendars display both events and city-sponsored meetings, to keep people up to date on what’s happening in Long Beach. A responsive content management system (CMS) allows content to be displayed properly on both mobile devices and desktop computers.
“With the Internet at nearly everyone’s finger tips on phones and tablets, the website is the City’s front door,” said City Manager Pat West. “Features like LinkLB, our new e-mail notification system that everyone should sign up for, allows us to offer a wider welcome.”
LinkLB is one of several new interactive features. Users can sign up for e-mail updates from Council Districts, the Mayor, City Departments and specific services. Other features include MapIT, an interactive map that allows users to locate parks, points of interest, and resources across the City. Visitors to the website also can download City apps, including Go LBPD, Go LGB, LBPL Mobile, Go Long Beach Animal Care Services and the original Go Long Beach app.
“The City’s new website is extremely customer friendly. The outstanding design and features of the new website help visitors quickly get the information they want,” said Robb Korinke, Technology and Innovation Commission Chair.
The website also features OpenLB, the City’s open government portal that is the community’s first and last stop for data, statistics and other information.
“The rollout of the site is a major accomplishment,” said Chris Wilding, Interim Director of the Technology and Innovation Department. “This is only the first phase involving 12 departments and most elected officials. Phase Two will bring others onto the new CMS.”
The responsive CMS also will boost the site’s rankings in Google’s new search algorithm, making it easier for www.longbeach.gov to rise higher in the search results. In addition, the Google Translate feature allows users to select one of four languages: English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog (which Google recognizes as “Filipino”).
The new website is based on the Ektron CMS. Technology and Innovation staff, assisted by Thinklogic, an area firm, designed and coded the site.
“Launching a new City website that is dynamic and user-friendly has been a top priority of mine," said Mayor Robert Garcia. “The new site has many new features, including neighborhood mapping and an open data portal. Our goal is to create a 24-hour online City Hall.”
The homepage provides quick access to the most popular services, such as paying utility bills and applying for permits, as well as featuring new stories, the award-winning LBTV, and employment opportunities. Two calendars display both events and city-sponsored meetings, to keep people up to date on what’s happening in Long Beach. A responsive content management system (CMS) allows content to be displayed properly on both mobile devices and desktop computers.
“With the Internet at nearly everyone’s finger tips on phones and tablets, the website is the City’s front door,” said City Manager Pat West. “Features like LinkLB, our new e-mail notification system that everyone should sign up for, allows us to offer a wider welcome.”
LinkLB is one of several new interactive features. Users can sign up for e-mail updates from Council Districts, the Mayor, City Departments and specific services. Other features include MapIT, an interactive map that allows users to locate parks, points of interest, and resources across the City. Visitors to the website also can download City apps, including Go LBPD, Go LGB, LBPL Mobile, Go Long Beach Animal Care Services and the original Go Long Beach app.
“The City’s new website is extremely customer friendly. The outstanding design and features of the new website help visitors quickly get the information they want,” said Robb Korinke, Technology and Innovation Commission Chair.
The website also features OpenLB, the City’s open government portal that is the community’s first and last stop for data, statistics and other information.
“The rollout of the site is a major accomplishment,” said Chris Wilding, Interim Director of the Technology and Innovation Department. “This is only the first phase involving 12 departments and most elected officials. Phase Two will bring others onto the new CMS.”
The responsive CMS also will boost the site’s rankings in Google’s new search algorithm, making it easier for www.longbeach.gov to rise higher in the search results. In addition, the Google Translate feature allows users to select one of four languages: English, Spanish, Khmer, and Tagalog (which Google recognizes as “Filipino”).
The new website is based on the Ektron CMS. Technology and Innovation staff, assisted by Thinklogic, an area firm, designed and coded the site.