MarylandHeights.com has been recognized by Juggle as one of the top city government websites in the state of Missouri. Below you'll find an interview with Sara Berry, Communications Manager for the City of Maryland Heights.
- MarylandHeights.com is a top-notch web portal; what has been your role in its development?
We worked with Vision Internet, a California-based company that specializes in government website development. Vision designed our site and the related content management system we use to update information, share photos and video and send out informational emails to our residents and businesses.
- Can you summarize the history of Maryland Heights’ web portal?
We have maintained a web site since the late 1990s. The current version of the site, which we worked with Vision to develop, went live in Feb. 2008.
- How has the local government in Maryland Heights had personal input into the development and maintenance of the site?
City elected officials and staff worked closely with Vision to craft a website that would be both attractive and useful to our residents, businesses and visitors. The easy-to-use content management system makes it possible for city staff from all departments to maintain and add new content to different areas of the site.
- What are the overarching objectives of Maryland Heights’ current e-government initiatives?
We strive to maintain open, two-way communication with the 27,000 residents, 1,600 businesses and more than 9 million annual visitors that we serve. Digital communication channels, such as our website, Facebook page and Twitter feed, allow us to reach a wider range of constituents and keep them up-to-date on what's happening in their city government.
- From a marketing standpoint, what are some of the strategies that you have utilized to draw attention to the information and services provided by MarylandHeights.com, both on- and off-line?
Data from our annual citizen survey has consistently shown that our residents' primary source of information about city news is our monthly City Newsletter, which is mailed to every household and business in Maryland Heights and is also made available online. Every article in the newsletter includes references to marylandheights.com, and we have also run a number of articles informing citizens about new features and services as they are added to the website. We also use our Facebook page and Twitter feed to link back to information on the website. We also feature our web address on virtually every piece of city communication, from business cards to city vehicles to apparel.
- How has citizen feedback influenced the development of Maryland Heights’ e-government services?
We are constantly adapting our communications programs based on input we receive from citizens. Citizen suggestions have helped us streamline our content to make it more user-friendly and often guide our decisions about what information we make available online. By popular demand, we have also worked to increase the interactive capabilities of our site so that residents can pay traffic tickets and register for recreation programs online.
- What is the most-used feature or service on the site?
Since we're nearing the end of the summer season, the pages related to Aquaport (our water park) have seen the most recent traffic. However, we have also made a big push in the last several years to engage citizens in the planning and zoning process, and so that section of the web site is also quite popular.
- In what way has harnessing Twitter allowed you to connect more directly and personally with the citizens of Maryland Heights?
It's instantaneous, so it's a great way to get information out quickly, and it helps keep citizens engaged with the city on a more informal basis.