By Mark Squibb
The City of Mount Pearl is redesigning it’s website to make it more user friendly — particularly as it relates to development permits.
During the September 2 meeting, council awarded two digital service contracts related to the new website with “Permitting” and “Work Order” modules awarded to Catalis Technologies, and the Recreation Management section of the website to Amelia Technologies, a partner of Catalis Technologies, for a total of $320,322.
The City received 15 bids.
“This is something people don’t see behind the scenes, but it’s going to have a great impact on the look and feel of our website,” said Mayor Dave Aker, explaining the work relates more to the backend of the website than the pages you see when you log in.
Chief Administrative Officer Cassie Rideout said she was excited to see the project come to fruition, and pointed out the project was funded in part by the federal government’s Housing Accelerator Fund (HAF).
“This is a continuation of two things, it’s a continuation of the ‘Digital Mount Pearl’ project we started in 2019 to revitalize and modernize our systems on the back end, and second, a continuation of that funding under HAF in relation to permitting and planning software,” said Rideout. “We made a commitment under HAF in line with increased (housing) development and intensification earlier this year to support making it easier to build homes and develop in Mount Pearl, and the permitting and planning software is going to do just that.”
The City also received 40 applications in response to a request for proposals for website redevelopment, a response Aker called “outstanding.” Staff recommended awarding the project to Upanup Studios Inc., in the bid amount of $129,064.
“Like a lot of the assets we have with the City of Mount Pearl, eventually they become obsolete or get used and wear down,” said Aker.
Director of Corporate Services Janie Mullins said the goal is to make the new website more user friendly and easier to navigate.
Both motions were approved unanimously.