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 Peekskill, NY - The City of Peekskill officially launched its redesigned website and is the first Westchester community to boast a new web-based online Citizen Support Center--a virtual 311 information system.
With its new look, enhanced search features and customer-friendly navigation highlighted with drop down menus, the website, www.cityofpeekskill.com, was designed with four goals in mind: improve residents’ access to a wider array of City information; make it easier for residents to file a complaint or make a request; enhance management’s ability to monitor responsiveness to addressing problems; promote community events, businesses, arts and culture, and recreational venues.
Among the website’s new features is the Citizen Support Center. Residents can file requests or complaints directly to a specific department or seek general information that will be relayed to the appropriate department. The status of complaints or requests for services can be tracked by management and residents alike.
The website now includes responses to commonly asked questions like, "When will my street be plowed?" and information about how to obtain common documents like marriage licenses, handicapped parking permits, commuter parking permits, freedom of information requests, city calendars, meeting schedules and much more.
City Hall Departments have spent several months compiling frequently asked questions and developing helpful answers. Unlike printed materials that have a shelf-life, City departments will be able to build upon a database of common responses to citizen inquiries, which in turn will be updated in the Citizen Support Center on an on-going basis.
"We have taken significant strides in responding to the needs of our residents and businesses. Our new website will make it more convenient to conduct routine business with the City and follow up on requests. Thanks to the newly launched Citizen Support Center, Peekskill City Hall is now open 24 hours-a-day, seven days a week and on all holidays. We now have the ability to assess the responsiveness of city services and look at how to improve performance. We are always looking at ways to improve access to government and public processes," said Peekskill Mayor Mary F. Foster.
Foster also noted that there are planned enhancements to the website during the next year, including expanded online payment options for all services and fees and easier tracking of meeting minutes and agenda items. There will also be links added to cross-promote Peekskill’s extensive cultural, artistic and community events. The city also intends to increase the number of meetings and shows that are video streamed on the website.
The redesigned website features the now popular drop-down menus which are common on other advanced websites to more easily locate information. There is an environmental benefit as well: since residents will now be able to conduct more business electronically, fewer printed materials and fewer trips to City Hall will be needed.
The redesign and the creation of the Citizen Support Center was completed under the direction of Greg Matera, the City’s Director of Information Technology.
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