Aliso Viejo Debuts ‘User-Friendly’ City Website

The City of Aliso Viejo’s new community website is now live and supposedly easier to navigate.

Community Services Director Karen Crocker presented the redesigned site during Wednesday’s city council meeting. The goal of the redesign was to update the appearance, make it user-friendly with easy navigation and to provide more frequently updated information.

Mayor Donald Garcia said from what he has seen since the soft launch of the site on Monday looks “fantastic,” but he looks forward to exploring it more.

Mayor Pro Tem William Phillips encouraged his fellow council members to test the interactive map feature—found on the homepage. Phillips thinks the map is the key to helping visitors and new residents get the best experience in Aliso Viejo.

Check out the newly redesigned website here and let us know what you think of the changes in the comments below.

OTHER CITY COUNCIL BUSINESS

— Michael Rodriguez, chief operating officer for Clarient, Inc. led the city council in the Pledge of Allegiance.

— Joan Burge, long-time volunteer in Aliso Viejo and with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley was recognized for her philanthropic efforts.

“People like Joan are the life-blood of our community, the backbone of our community. Aliso wouldn’t be the same without her,” Garcia said.

— Melanie Schlotterbeck from the “Connect the Coast with the Cleveland” project gave a presentation to the council asking for their support in keeping the Federal Bureau of Investigations from turning the El Toro National Wildlife Reserve into an FBI teaching and training facility. Schlotterbeck said other cities, including Irvine are showing their support for the program, which aims to connect the protected natural land along the Laguna coast to 150,000-acres of Cleveland National Forest and Santa Ana Mountain foothills.

— Director of Planning Services Albert Armijo announced that after an 18-month work program, which included 11 public brainstorming sessions, the Green City Initiative is complete. Armijo hopes to refine some of the language and clarify a few points for public evaluation and comments by April 4. Council Member Carmen Cave asked Armijo to provide a timeline for implementation and cost to the city.

“There is no doubt in my mind Aliso Viejo will be the leader in this area. Other people will come and envy what they see here,” Garcia said.

— The first step of the 2012-13 budget was discussed. The fiscal new will begin with a General Fund of $14 million. City Manager Mark Pulone discussed the accomplishments from the current fiscal year, including the completion of phase two of the Town Center Loop Trail and lighting enhancements at local sports fields and parks.

In the 2012-13 fiscal year Phillips said they should be focusing on economic development that will bring “jobs, jobs, jobs.”

“We have to push, we have to push harder,” he said. “Whatever we need to do to get jobs, we need to do it.”