Exh 8AAGENDA ITEM #8A
JANUARY 24, 2005
STAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AGENDA ITEM: Web Site Hosting and Development
DATE: January 10, 2005
SUBMITTED BY: David E. Thompson, Chief ofPolice/DPS '
BACKGROUND:
..
Several years ago, a Jacksonville company, ACT, assisted with the development of the City of
Atlantic Beach web site. The design of the site was established, information was loaded into it,
and city staff members were trained in the processes for making updates as needed. In addition to
the development of the site, ACT hosted the site on their servers.
In the Fall of 2004, after the city fiscal budget had been established, the company advised that it
was discontinuing its web site development services. However, the company agreed to honor its
prior commitments to continue hosting the web site. This change essentially leaves the Atlantic
Beach web site in its current state, without providing any possibility for evolution or growth.
Over the past six (6) months, there.have been a number of problems with the web site hosted by
ACT. The web site has been unavailable on several occasions, and ACT has had to be notified
that people were unable to access .ttie site on the worldwide web. On several occasions, staff
members were unable to update the web site, which created problems for the timely
dissemination of information. ACT has not been very accommodating and responsive when
problems have arisen, which is probably due to the fact that they are not continuing their web site
development operations.
Over the past several years, the City Commission has expressed a desire for staff to continue the
development and evolution of the city web site. Staff has researched and identified a number of
enhancements for future web site development, but funding is not available to proceed with any
changes at this time. For enhancements to be made to the web site in the current fiscal year,
funding will need to be identified for this purpose.
Based on estimates received from vendors that provide these services, the cost for duplicating and
then enhancing the city web site will cost approximately $12,500.
BUDGET: To continue developing and hosting the city web site, the costs will be
approximately $12,500. With City Commission approval, this will be included in the City of
Atlantic Beach mid-year budget adjustments.
RECOMMENDATIONS: To approve $12,500 of funding in the mid-year budget adjustments
for web site development and hosting.
ATTACHMENTS:
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER:
A NDA ITEM NUMBER: