Published June 2 2017
Mobile-friendly design, improved navigation and better search
The City of Bellevue debuted its new website, BellevueWA.gov, offering users an improved mobile experience with greater functionality. Incorporating feedback from users along with web best practices, the new website better reflects the needs of today’s users. BellevueWa.gov replaces a site that was developed more than 10 years ago.
“BellevueWA.gov better serves the 81 percent of our users who access city services on a mobile device,” said Sabra Schneider, interim chief information officer. “Through an online survey in 2016, more than 1,000 stakeholders told us what they wanted in a new city website, and the new site reflects what we’ve heard including better search, a more responsive experience, and a modern look and feel.
“We’re excited about this dialogue with our users, which will drive the continued evolution of BellevueWA.gov,” Schneider added.
The redesigned website is the first step in supporting increased communications and civic engagement through a responsive, mobile-friendly design. With 39 percent of residents being foreign-born, important information is translated online into the top five languages spoken in Bellevue: Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese, Russian and Spanish.
There’s also a new city newsroom section, providing a central location for news our community cares about, including the latest news releases, recaps of City Council meetings, emergency and extreme weather information, and a Hot Topics/Initiatives page providing quick links to timely issues ranging from homelessness response to the levy projects.
“The website redesign project provided a unique opportunity to rethink the city’s online presentation to residents, businesses and visitors,” said Lenka Wright, chief communications officer. “The emphasis is on helping users find quality content for the information they seek while showcasing Bellevue’s customer-centric service, programs provided to the community and commitment to transparency.”
The new BellevueWA.gov also highlights the city’s natural beauty, economic vitality and high quality of life. The site emphasizes the search functionality, with a large “How Do I” search bar on the homepage. Below the search bar, there are quick links for activities, jobs, permits, pay, traffic and city council. Upcoming events are easily accessible on the homepage, followed by larger buttons for council meetings, maps, the MyBellevue customer service app and the city’s open data portal.
To enhance navigation, users have five menu categories to choose from: City Government, Discover Bellevue, Doing Business, Public Safety and Resident Resources. A citywide banner that can display emergency information and other important, timely information is now available through the new platform.
Site visitors are encouraged to provide feedback about their BellevueWA.gov experience through an online survey, accessible on the website. Based on user feedback and site analytics, the website project team will continue to enhance the site in order to further improve the user experience over time.