MUNI 2.0 WEB PLATFORM
The evolution of online public service delivery.
ClientMultipleServicesProject planning, UI/UX design, web development, content management, hosting & security, coaching, versioningYear2024Linklsac.ca
The Client
We’ve been working with rural municipalities since 2009. While their communities vary, they all share a common goal: to build trust and empower residents through clear, timely, and relevant communication. They require solutions that streamline their processes and empower them to connect with people through modern, accessible channels.
The Challenge
Regardless of platform, municipal websites frequently become unwieldy and outdated following their initial launch. This degradation can be attributed to a confluence of factors, from overgrown information architecture to cumbersome administrative dashboards.
Usability remains a universal weak link for these sites, affecting both the public user experience and the efficiency of in-house content administrators.
Our challenge was to balance the demand for an accessible, user-friendly, and scalable online platform with the fiscal and resource limitations of municipal organizations.
Our Solution
This project had two primary goals: to enhance the ability of residents to access the services they need, and to empower staff to quickly and easily manage their own website. We sought to simplify how residents interact with municipal services by creating a user-centric platform. Simultaneously, we aimed to equip staff with the tools to manage their online presence efficiently and consistently.
We built our new platform (named Muni2.0) to be inherently beautiful and powerful, but above all, we put great care and attention into ensuring it was simple to use. We had to make service delivery fast and intuitive, while also empowering those managing the website to make it easy to use.
Craft CMS was the ideal ecosystem for Muni 2.0 due to its:
- Flexibility and Customization: Craft’s field-first approach allowed us to create a bespoke content model tailored to Cityville’s specific needs.
- Intuitive Content Management: The user-friendly control panel empowered city staff to easily create, edit, and manage content.
- Robust Plugin Ecosystem: Craft’s plugin store provided access to essential functionalities, such as SEO tools, form builders, and e-commerce integrations.
- Performance and Security: Craft’s lightweight architecture and strong security features ensured a fast and reliable website.
- Accessibility Focus: Craft’s clean HTML output and adherence to web standards facilitated WCAG compliance.
Implementation
The creation of our new municipal platform (Muni 2,0) involved two several key phases:
- Discovery and Planning: We conducted thorough stakeholder interviews and user research to understand the needs of our core clients and identify user journeys. We then developed a detailed project plan, including information architecture, content strategy, and design mockups.
- Design and Development: We designed a modern and visually appealing website that prioritized user experience. We developed a custom Craft CMS theme, ensuring a stable, well-documented code base, a scalable ecosystem, and a user-friendly administrative dashboard.
- Content Migration: We migrated existing content from the legacy platforms of two core clients to Craft, optimizing them for search engines and accessibility.
- Plugin Integration: We integrated essential plugins, including:
- A calendar plugin for event management
- A form builder for online service requests
- An accessibility plugin for WCAG compliance
- An SEO plugin for search engine optimization
- Integration with various GIS, permitting and payment portals
- Testing and Quality Assurance: We conducted rigorous testing to ensure the website’s functionality, performance, and accessibility.
- Training and Launch: We provided comprehensive training to city staff on how to use the new tools. We then launched the new websites, monitoring their performance and addressing any issues as they arose.
Quantitative Benefit
The development and launch of Muni 2.0 resulted in a significant improvement in the digital presence of municipalities such as Lac Ste. Anne County and the MD of Lesser Slave River. Their new websites are user-friendly, accessible, and efficient, providing citizens with easy access to essential information and services. Shared outcomes include:
- Improved Content Management: In-house staff are now able to easily update and manage website content, leading to more frequent updates and more relevant information for citizens.
- Enhanced Accessibility: The website is now fully accessible to users with disabilities, ensuring inclusivity and compliance with accessibility standards.
- Streamlined Service Delivery: Citizens can easily access online services, forms, and information, streamlining service delivery and improving citizen satisfaction.
- Scalable Platform: Craft CMS provides a scalable platform that can grow with the city’s needs, ensuring long-term value and flexibility.
Simpler Admin Tools
We’ve streamlined content governance for our clients, making it fast and easy for them to keep their municipal websites fresh and relevant.
Our solution includes a user-friendly dashboard for managing all content and post-launch coaching to ensure they’re confident in the process.
A Better User Experience
User experience is an area where our niche municipal expertise shines. Our well-designed, human-driven platform ensures a smooth and enjoyable user experience.
This means fast load times, intuitive navigation, and numerous features purpose-built for service delivery.
A Smarter Path Forward
Unlike traditional, monolithic website offerings for municipalities, our platform is designed to evolve in tandem with the needs of each client—while ensuring the backend remains as lean and efficient as possible.
Muni 2.0 allows us to meet the unique needs of different municipalities without being constrained by a rigid, out-of-the-box structure.
“Tangent Civic brings the perfect blend of creativity and professionalism to their work. Everything that Tangent has designed for us, from marketing strategy to print design to the new website, has been executed to the highest standards.”
Nick Gelych
Deputy Reeve, Lac Ste. Anne County
Is it time to turn your outdated municipal website into a professional, user-friendly service delivery tool?
At Tangent Civic, we don’t just consult; we leverage decades of niche expertise to help community leaders turn their ambitious visions into reality. We hit the ground running with any engagement, delivering tangible results quickly, effectively and on budget.
If you’re ready to move beyond planning and see real progress, let’s talk.
