HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 9419AT A&E Pt a
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
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August 9, 2011
EMU=
SUBJECT: NEW DOMAIN NAME FOR CITY OF FORT WORTH WEBSITE:
FORTWORTHTEXAS.GOV
In June, City Council received an Informal Report outlining the recommendation to move forward
with changing the City's website domain name (fortworthgov.org) to be more user friendly and
better meet current standards for government websites (using a gov address). Based on federal
government (GSA) regulations on gov domain names, a city and state name must be used in
addresses to limit confusion with other governmental entities. With this regulation in mind, and
with the consideration of a new domain name that would be easy to explain and remember, it was
recommended that the new domain name be: fortworthtexas.gov.
Staff heard no objection to this recommendation and has reserved this domain name. Since June,
staff has been working on a cost analysis and timeline for the change. Based on these
discussions, staff is prepared to make the official change to the new domain name effective on
October 1. This change would also be accompanied with a change to all city email
accounts to @fortworthtexas.gov.
Associated Costs
A comprehensive review of the costs associated with a change in the city's domain name was
completed in July. Expected costs are primarily staff time that will need to be dedicated to
ensuring a smooth, seamless transition for site visitors. But there are some hard costs that will be
incurred of approximately $5,000. Although this effort will require a brief re-direction of current
staff to implement the change, the City Manager's Office believes this to be a better approach
than adding additional staff. The hard cost estimate includes updates of the City's security
certificates, licensed services and updates to billing systems.
The City can continue to use fortworthgov.org and all fortworthgov.org emails indefinitely.
This means that all emails will continue to work even if the old address is used, eliminating
transition-related costs for printed materials such as business cards, flyers, signs, handouts, etc.
Departments will be instructed not to throw out current stationary and/or other related items, but
instead use their existing budget allocations to replace these items as supplies are depleted.
Communication Plan
With a go-live date of October 1, the City's Office of Media and Public Affairs and the City's
Neighborhood Office are working in tandem on a Communication Plan to ensure the City's
various audiences and stakeholders are aware of the domain name change. The plan includes
several public education and technical milestones leading up to October 1. However, it should be
noted that anyone not reached by the outreach campaign will still be able to access the city's
website using the old domain name.
The residents, businesses and visitors will be reached with the news of the change through
several scheduled announcements on:
• The City's website
• The City's internal website (Intranet)
'ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS
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To the Mayor and Members of the City Council
Now"I S &111
August 9, 2011
Page 2 of 2
SUBJECT: NEW DOMAIN NAME FOR CITY OF FORT WORTH WEBSITE:
FORTWORTHTEXAS.GOV
• City emails
• Letters to all employees/department heads
• Fort Worth Television (FWTV) both TV broadcast and online streaming video
• City News (weekly electronic newsletter to residents)
• City Times (water bill insert)
• Social media accounts
• Media releases
• Neighborhood meetings
We would encourage City Councilmembers and their aides to join City staff by using the new
domain name beginning October 1. However, again, because FortWorthGov.org will continue to
work indefinitely, there is no need to throw out any current letterhead, stationary, business cards
or any other item that includes the city's web address. To reduce the cost of this transition, these
items should be replenished only when supplies are depleted.
If you have any questions regarding this information, please contact Steve Streiffert, Acting
Director of IT Solutions, at 817-392-2221 or Jason Lamers, Media and Public Affairs Manager, at
817-392-6248.
Tom Higgins
Interim City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS