August 5, 2024

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:
Diane G. Papadakos, Director of Communications
City of West Palm Beach – Mayor’s Office
dpapadakos@wpb.org
(561) 822-1411 (TTY: 800-955-8771)

City of West Palm Beach to Launch New, Improved Website, 
Making City Information Even More Accessible and Easier to Navigate

WEST PALM BEACH, FL — The City of West Palm Beach Mayor’s Office of Communications is launching a new, state-of-the-art City website with advanced features and streamlined access to resources. The redesigned website, wpb.org, was developed collaboratively by the Mayor’s Office of Communications, IT, and Granicus, a leading citizen experience platform that specializes in website development for government organizations, supporting the digital efforts of more than 4,500 government customers. The City’s redesigned site has faster navigation, a sleek mobile-responsive design, improved search capabilities and functionality — and a whole new look! This redesign is making it easier for visitors to navigate the City’s abundant resources, getting what they need in two clicks or less. The official website launch date is Thursday, August 15, 2024. During the short transition period on the morning of the launch, the City’s website may be unavailable for a short period of time.

"I'm pleased to officially announce the City's new and high-performing website that will make it easier for residents and visitors to find information and resources. Those navigating the City's online services should be able to find what they need with confidence and ease, and that’s exactly what our new site can offer them. The new site more accurately reflects the growth of our great City," said Mayor Keith A. James.

Mayor James envisioned a new and improved website that would transform the user experience, ensuring that information could be accessed quickly and with minimal effort. The new website will also enhance communications and engagement, uphold transparency, and improve communications and marketing efforts.

Focused on the user experience, the redesigned site uses the best techniques and technology in government website design. Among the site's features are:

• Compliance with standards set forth in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). Extra emphasis was placed on user accessibility with colors, layout, and contents all compliant to ADA standards.
  
  
• An interactive, user-friendly landing page. With an auto-play video background banner, visitors get a bird’s-eye view of our beautiful City every time they visit the site. 
  
  
• Home page featuring a set of eight main buttons that will directly connect website visitors with the City’s most popular webpages and features. These buttons include bill payment, permit requests, public safety, meetings and agendas, economic development, library, report a problem/WPB Key, and the Mayor’s Office. 
  
  
• A new "GovDelivery" system allows users to subscribe to receive the latest news updates shared on the website, including meeting agendas, breaking road/traffic news, and information from the Mayor. 
  
  
• Mobile-responsive design. The new website looks and behaves like a downloaded 'app' but without the inconvenience of app stores and software installation. 
  
  
• Enhanced search function and task-oriented navigation. The new website will allow speedy keyword searches, allowing the user fast access to a wide range of information and services. A large "How Do I..." section will also provide quick links that bring users to popular tasks and services. 
  
  
• A polling function with which to engage citizens and solicit feedback.

The official launch marks the rollout of the first phase of website redesign. More upgrades to the City's communications technologies are on the way, including systems to help users navigate complex permitting and building planning processes.

The new site, wpb.org, is managed by the Mayor’s Office of Communications. The office works to ensure that the media, citizens, and City employees have access to accurate, timely information from the City of West Palm Beach. The office is responsible for managing communications on various City platforms, including traditional and news media, the City website, WPB-TV, marketing initiatives, internal communications, and more. To learn more, visit wpb.org/government/communications.

On August 15, visitors are invited to explore the website and sign up for the Mayor’s Insider Newsletter to stay informed with the latest City news and events. For media inquiries, please contact Diane G. Papadakos at dpapadakos@wpb.org or (561) 822-1411.

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About The City of West Palm Beach

The City of West Palm Beach is a vibrant and dynamic City located on the Atlantic coast of Florida. With a rich history, a thriving arts and cultural scene, and a commitment to sustainability, the City of West Palm Beach is a great place to live, work, and play. As one of the three largest cities making up the South Florida region, and the central City of Palm Beach County, West Palm Beach is a vibrant, growing, waterfront City that seamlessly blends the business advantages available in the region with a more refined and relaxed environment for living and working, making it an exceptional destination for both residents and professionals alike. To learn more about the City of West Palm Beach, visit us on our official website, or follow us on our social media: Facebook, Instagram, X (formerly known as Twitter), and/or LinkedIn.