As part of an overall modernization of its information technology systems, the city of Carlsbad has gone live with a redesigned Web site, providing more online services for residents and businesses.
“The city's new Web site helps residents and businesses get the information and services they need quickly and easily, at a time and location that is convenient to them,” said Gordon Peterson, IT director. “This is a great example of how investing in technology can not only increase convenience for our community members but also make the city more efficient, saving taxpayer money.”
Some of the Web site's features include:
• E-zoning. An interactive zoning map that provides zoning and other information about parcels in the city. The Web user can search for a parcel by address or assessor parcel number, or by selecting a location on a map.
• Bids and contracting. Get listings of open city bids and download bidding documents.
• Building and development forms. Download commonly used city forms for building and development.
• Online bill paying. Carlsbad Municipal Water District customers can now pay their bills online, manage their accounts and view their historic water usage.
• Streaming video. In addition to watching City Council and Planning Commission meetings online, users can view short informational videos directly on the Web site and on the city's YouTube channel linked to the site.
• Clickable city maps. These maps show locations of city parks, offices and trails, crime statistics and updates about construction around town.
• Searchable city calendar. A new online city calendar allows users to search city events, including arts and cultural happenings; City Council, board and commission meetings; upcoming volunteer opportunities and activities for children, families and seniors.
• City news room. An enhanced city news room features updates about city projects and issues, consumer tips, updates on hot topics and news from the police and fire departments. Users can subscribe to city news via RSS feeds, sign up for an e-mail subscription service and share city news through social networking sites.
• Podcasts. Listen to City Council and other public meetings on the go by downloading MP3 files from the city Web site or download podcasts at iTunes.
• Online applications and forms. The new Web site enables online submittal of forms and applications. Online job applications are the first use of this feature, with other online forms coming soon.
• City help center. This is a resource to get assistance with common service requests, from requesting street light outages to reporting stray animals.
• Online records. Look up official city documents, including deeds, agendas and minutes from past City Council meetings, as well as ordinances, resolutions, maps and drawings.
The city's new Web site is part of a larger evolution in the way Carlsbad manages its technology through “cloud computing.” The concept, used by technology giants like Amazon and Google, allows users to access computer applications and services over the Internet, creating a more consistent user experience.
Through a contract with the Microsoft Corporation, the city is converting much of its software to Microsoft-based products, including SharePoint, the software used for the new Web site. Carlsbad is the first city of its size to contract with Microsoft Online Services for a cloud computing approach to help manage its information technology needs.
The SharePoint Web platform will enable the city to easily add more online services and interactive features in the future, such as a customizable home page and online collaboration tools.
Visit the city's new Web site, which has the same address, at www.carlsbadca.gov.
“The city's new Web site helps residents and businesses get the information and services they need quickly and easily, at a time and location that is convenient to them,” said Gordon Peterson, IT director. “This is a great example of how investing in technology can not only increase convenience for our community members but also make the city more efficient, saving taxpayer money.”
Some of the Web site's features include:
• E-zoning. An interactive zoning map that provides zoning and other information about parcels in the city. The Web user can search for a parcel by address or assessor parcel number, or by selecting a location on a map.
• Bids and contracting. Get listings of open city bids and download bidding documents.
• Building and development forms. Download commonly used city forms for building and development.
• Online bill paying. Carlsbad Municipal Water District customers can now pay their bills online, manage their accounts and view their historic water usage.
• Streaming video. In addition to watching City Council and Planning Commission meetings online, users can view short informational videos directly on the Web site and on the city's YouTube channel linked to the site.
• Clickable city maps. These maps show locations of city parks, offices and trails, crime statistics and updates about construction around town.
• Searchable city calendar. A new online city calendar allows users to search city events, including arts and cultural happenings; City Council, board and commission meetings; upcoming volunteer opportunities and activities for children, families and seniors.
• City news room. An enhanced city news room features updates about city projects and issues, consumer tips, updates on hot topics and news from the police and fire departments. Users can subscribe to city news via RSS feeds, sign up for an e-mail subscription service and share city news through social networking sites.
• Podcasts. Listen to City Council and other public meetings on the go by downloading MP3 files from the city Web site or download podcasts at iTunes.
• Online applications and forms. The new Web site enables online submittal of forms and applications. Online job applications are the first use of this feature, with other online forms coming soon.
• City help center. This is a resource to get assistance with common service requests, from requesting street light outages to reporting stray animals.
• Online records. Look up official city documents, including deeds, agendas and minutes from past City Council meetings, as well as ordinances, resolutions, maps and drawings.
The city's new Web site is part of a larger evolution in the way Carlsbad manages its technology through “cloud computing.” The concept, used by technology giants like Amazon and Google, allows users to access computer applications and services over the Internet, creating a more consistent user experience.
Through a contract with the Microsoft Corporation, the city is converting much of its software to Microsoft-based products, including SharePoint, the software used for the new Web site. Carlsbad is the first city of its size to contract with Microsoft Online Services for a cloud computing approach to help manage its information technology needs.
The SharePoint Web platform will enable the city to easily add more online services and interactive features in the future, such as a customizable home page and online collaboration tools.
Visit the city's new Web site, which has the same address, at www.carlsbadca.gov.