Residents want city to click

A survey shows people in Largo want more services available through the city's Web site.

By ERIC STIRGUS

© St. Petersburg Times, published March 21, 2001

LARGO -- Imagine being able to pay your city garbage bill online. Or your sewer service bill.

Wouldn't it be nice to access Largo Library catalogs online?

Or click on the city's Web site and buy tickets to Largo Cultural Center events?

These are some of the things Largo residents would like to do on the city's Web site, according to initial results of a survey of Largo residents, who were asked for their opinions about the city's Web site, http://www.largo.com, and Largo's television station.

City officials are trying to help. Tuesday, they discussed redesigning the Web site to make it more service-oriented. And the survey results were discussed Tuesday night at a City Commission meeting.

"It's been interesting to see the difference between what people wanted on the Web site and TV as opposed to what we thought they wanted," said Doug Matthews, the city's marketing and communications coordinator.

Largo's Web site was created in 1997. Browsers currently can read City Commission agendas and memos. They can read short biographies of the commissioners. The Web site also allows users to apply for building permits or a job with the city.

But browsers cannot use the Web site to fill out applications for reclaimed water, volunteer for the Police Department or pay for city services online.

Some services that got heavy interest among respondents could be done within months, Matthews said. Other items, he admitted, could not be done.

Matthews also hopes the redesign will make it easier for browsers to find information on the site. Each week, the city puts together a list of what is going on in city government. But to get to the information, one must click on the "city government" icon, then "agendas," then select the most recent date on the screen and finally, click on the manager's report.

Matthews envisions a search engine on the Web site where browsers can enter the item they want to see and the Web site will find it for them.

"They ought to be able to enter tree (permits) and here it comes," he said.

City officials hope to start a marketing campaign this fall to spread the word about the Web site. Just 32 percent of the respondents said they knew the city of Largo had its own Web site.

Matthews thought newsletters and access to crime statistics would be top priorities among residents. Instead, the ability to download home property values was of keen interest.

As for the city's fledgling TV station, a program featuring tips on gardening, recycling and other household chores ranked highest among residents.

Matthews was amazed by the high interest in a show featuring local history. The city has talked to officials from the Largo Historical Society and the Downtown Largo Main Street Association about such a program.

"I was surprised, given the transient nature of our community," he said.

The survey is the first step in the city's effort to make its Web site and government-access station more useful. It was mailed in January inside copies of the city's magazine, Largo Living, to all 43,000 Largo households. About 1,800 responded to the survey.

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