Modernization of city website is urged

City Manager Ken Frank will research the costs and options to modernize the city’s website and make it useful for the public.

The City Council voted unanimously at the Nov. 18 meeting to direct Frank to come up with cost estimates and requirements for displaying videos of the City Council, Planning Commission and Design Review Board meetings.

Outgoing Mayor Pro Tem Cheryl Kinsman and Councilman Kelly Boyd proposed archiving videos of the meetings, but Kinsman said the agenda item was altered by Frank, who is not known for his electronic expertise.

“You are not exactly a Luddite, Ken, but …” Kinsman said.

Boyd and Kinsman reviewed other city’s websites and decided Laguna’s site is overdue for an overhaul.

“You can go back a year on the Costa Mesa website and bring up the council meeting and watch it,” Boyd said. “We believe the community — lots of our residents — don’t have to be here [in Council Chambers] to be really involved.

“Eventually, I would like to see all committee meetings videoed.”

Former City Clerk Verna Rollinger, who is to be seated on the council starting Tuesday, urged the modernization.

“The website is one of my favorite topics,” Rollinger said.

Attorney Gene Gratz described the website as the Village Entrance on the city’s information highway.

“Expensive? Initially, yes,” Gratz said. “But amortized over the long run it will not only be economical, but a necessity.”

City information technologist Chris Kreymann advised Kinsman that live videos of the meetings and archiving them would cost between $40,000 and $50,000.

The city has reel-to-reel tapes of council meetings from 1995, VHS tapes starting in 1996 and both VHS and DVDs for the past two years, available through the City Clerk’s office. Frank said the council could put it in the budget for the next fiscal year. Anders Lasater said the website is a vital link for the community.

“I’ll be home and I’ll want to watch you,” said Kinsman, whose term on the council ends Tuesday.

BARBARA DIAMOND can be reached at (949) 494-4321 or [email protected].