City Web Site Vote Sparks Online Dissent
News that the city council was set to vote Thursday on awarding a contract to redesign the city's web site set off a pair of online protests.
The dissension focused on two issues: the $700,000 cost of the project and the fact that the firm set to receive the bid was based in California.
The Austin Business Journal reported that city staffers recommended Santa Clara-based Cignex Technologies Inc. be awarded the contract, valued at up to $704,088.
As word emerged about the upcoming vote, two online causes developed. By noon today, a Facebook group titled "Keep the City of Austin in AUSTIN!!!!!" had 265 members, while a Twitter petition "Austin City Council to Keep Austin Interactive- Don't outsource the city of Austin website!" had 47 signatures.
Council member and mayoral candidate Brewster McCracken said Wednesday he would not support the current proposal.
"Investing taxpayer funds for web operations only makes sense if the investment dramatically improves government efficiency and stimulates the local economy," McCracken said. "I am not satisfied that the website redesign proposal before Council meets either objective."
Among his specific objections, McCracken said any new website solicitation "must include aggressive outreach to local companies."
Of the 228 notices sent out to prospective web development companies, the ABJ story said, three proposals were received back.
On his blog, Chip Rosenthal, the Chair at City of Austin Community Technology and Telecommunications Commission, shared the letter he wrote to the council, urging the contract to move forward.
"The timing is right for this. The current down economy creates opportunities for significant projects such as this. Contractors are hungry. The city could realize better talent and lower costs by moving forward at this time," Rosenthal wrote. "The web site redesign is part of a longstanding commitment from the City Council to the Austin voters to move forward on improved open government. I urge you to follow through on that commitment."
