City of Bowie Launches Redesigned Website

Residents surfing the City of Bowie’s website have undoubtedly noticed a few changes in the past week.

After several months of redesign, and with a price tag of around $35,000, the city’s new website and content management system debuted on June 2.

The site went live in the middle of a city-wide power outage and likely went unnoticed by many. However, those who were able to get online were able to see daily updates about the status of power restoration and other storm related information prominently displayed.

What’s most noticeable about the new site is its sleeker, more modern design and the Bowie slideshow at the top of the screen. The new site is also designed to be more user friendly.

“The pages are designed with the user in mind so that the information is easy to find and easy on the eyes,” said Una Cooper, communications coordinator for the city.

The new site is not only more aesthetically pleasing; it’s also more powerful and has more functionality. The website can now detect when a user is viewing the site from a smartphone or tablet and adjust for better viewing; police information is easier to access; eventually there will be a new way of viewing agendas for Council meetings; and users will be able to subscribe to certain pages, and receive updates when new information is added.

Cooper says the new site is also very task oriented. A new tab, labeled “I Want To,” gives users who know exactly why they are on the site to access what they need. Residents can easily pay a bill or speed camera ticket, make a code compliance report, volunteer or learn more about a city committee.

Additional features will be phased in over the next few weeks, and all features should be up and running by the end of the summer.

The city’s website has come a long way since it was launched in 1996, when Cooper says it was just an online version of what was on paper. The new website has taken the city to the next level.

“It’s a really powerful product and we’re just scratching the surface on all of the things it can do,” said Cooper.