HomeMy WebLinkAbout2026-07-27 City Council Workshop Packet
AGENDA
MAPLEWOOD CITY COUNCIL
MANAGER WORKSHOP
6:30 P.M. Monday, July 27, 2026
City Hall, Council Chambers
Pursuant to Minn. Stat. 13D.02, one or more council members may be participating remotely
A. CALL TO ORDER
B. ROLL CALL
C. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
D. UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None
E. NEW BUSINESS
1. Website Preview
F. ADJOURNMENT
RULES OF CIVILITY FOR THE CITY COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS AND OUR COMMUNITY
Following are rules of civility the City of Maplewood expects of everyone appearing at council meetings - elected
officials, staff and citizens. It is hoped that by following these simple rules, everyone’s opinions can be heard
and understood in a reasonable manner. We appreciate the fact that when appearing at council meetings, it is
understood that everyone will follow these principles:
Speak only for yourself, not for other council members or citizens - unless specifically tasked by your colleagues
to speak for the group or for citizens in the form of a petition.
Show respect during comments and/or discussions, listen actively and do not interrupt or talk amongst each
other.
Be respectful of the process, keeping order and decorum. Do not be critical of council members, staff or others
in public.
Be respectful of each other’s time keeping remarks brief, to the point and non-repetitive.
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CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP STAFF REPORT
Meeting Date July 27, 2026
REPORT TO: Michael Sable, City Manager
REPORT FROM: Joe Sheeran, Communications Manager
PRESENTER:Joe Sheeran, Communications Manager
AGENDA ITEM: Website Preview
Action Requested: MotionDiscussion Public Hearing
Form of Action: Resolution OrdinanceContract/Agreement Proclamation
Summary:
Maplewood is releasing an updated website late summer of 2026. This presentation highlights the
website’s new look and layout, advanced accessibility, and new mapping features. The new site will
increase transparency and be easier for the community and people doing business with the city to
use.
Recommended Action:
Discussion
Fiscal Impact:
Is There a Fiscal Impact? No Yes, the true or estimated cost is $0
Financing source(s): Adopted Budget Budget Modification New Revenue Source
Use of Reserves Other: n/a
Strategic Plan Relevance:
SafetyFoster community engagement and support resident well-being
Sustainability Cultivate a connected, engaged community
Development Strengthen human connection and community growth
The new site supports all three priorities of the strategic plan, especially in the areas promoting
development and housing, highlighting public safety initiatives, and fiscal transparency.
Background:
The City of Maplewood is completing a comprehensive web redesign. The new site will launch with
a redesigned front page that presents residents with a cleaner, more welcoming entry point to city
services and information. This includes:
o Easier to read events calendar
o More robust news section
o Quicker access to council members
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One of the redesign’s central goals was accessibility. The new site better meets Web Content
Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.1 Level AA standards (a federal requirement as of April 2028). It
improves the experience for people using assistive technologies and ensures the city's broadest
possible audience can access the site.
Supporting this effort, staff are rewriting content to use plain language, making city information
easier to understand for all users.
The distracting rotating banners that previously dominated many pages have been removed in favor
of a calmer, more purposeful layout. Images and photography are specifically connected to content.
The redesign also expands the city's use of interactive mapping. New mapping tools allow residents
to view active development projects across Maplewood, improving transparency around growth and
construction in their neighborhoods. The redesign further introduces more comprehensive mapping
for the city's parks, enabling users to quickly see which amenities each park offers so they can find
the facilities that best suit their needs.
Finally, the project included a significant content cleanup. Redundant pages are being eliminated.
The result is a leaner, more accurate website that is easier for staff to maintain and less likely to
present outdated or duplicative information to the public.
Attachments:
Website presentation
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Redesigned for:
Workshop
accessibility
clarity
Packet and how residents use it.
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Main Redesign Elements
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A cleaner front door and a better experience on every page.
Emphasis on
Community and
A fresh front page
Economic Development
No more
Built for accessibility
distracting banners
Custom images
Plain-language
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Robust Interactive Mapping
Content will be replaced with actual map
Parks & Amenities
More comprehensive parks mapping lets users quickly
see which amenities each park offers, so they can find
the facilities that best fit their needs.
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Clearer Content
Content sent to the right Accurate and easier to
sourcemaintain
Redundant pages eliminated
Pages better maintained by the county, The result is a leaner site that is less likely
state, or partner agencies were removed to show outdated or duplicative
and linked to those authoritative sources.information to the public.
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By the Numbers
How visitors arrive
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website visits per year
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via search
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average time on a page
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63% Search engines 33% Direct
4% Other
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of visits are from a mobile phone
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Most Visited Pages
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Wakefield Community Building
8,000
Police
6,000
Building Inspections
5,600
Recycling & Cleanup
4,400
Fire & EMS
3,700
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Live Demo of Main Page Site
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Live Demo: Community and Economic Development
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Community Development---2026 | Maplewood, MN
¤Easier to use
¤Increasedtransparency
¤Moreefficient to maintain
More accessibleClearer languageBetter mapsCleaner content
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Interactive Mapping
Maplewood Development Map
(Developmentand Parks)
Agenda
Item:
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For
Meeting
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the
permanent
Date:
1
– 7/27/2026
Revised
record: