Click the Play button to start the video message from Mayor Hayward

(Pensacola) - Only 100 days into Mayor Ashton Hayward's administration, the City of Pensacola is getting a digital facelift, including a new website design and a soon-to-be-updated programming platform that will make the City's online home more user-friendly and interactive.

The new website, unveiled as part of Mayor Ashton Hayward's campaign to update the City's technology and online presence, will feature more graphics, links to city departments, updated information and news, and social media outlets for citizens to connect with local government.

"Our City website was in desperate need of a facelift," said Mayor Hayward, who has made cleaning up the City a priority for his administration. "This is the digital age, and our City's website was antiquated, slow, and unappealing. This new website design gives visitors a clear look at Pensacola, our local government and services, and gives our City a strong first impression to visitors and businesses who may be interested in coming here," said Hayward.

Hayward noted that the website was still a work in progress, and that new features will be added throughout the year. "This is just the first step in making our City a more citizen-friendly, business-friendly place. We want to be accessible, attractive, and efficient from a physical and digital standpoint, so we're going to keep building out the website to allow our staff and city departments to post information for the public and give the citizens a better picture of what their government is doing," said Hayward. "So I hope the public will be patient as we transition to this new web platform. There may be some bugs or some information we can improve, and we'll be continually updating and improving this site for the citizens."

Specifically, Hayward said that future changes would include an improved calendar of events, expanded access for visually impaired viewers, and more social media features.

Hayward also said that he hoped the new website would eventually be a central part of the City's service delivery to citizens, from paying bills to getting permits to reporting potholes all online.

"My hope is that we can make our city website an actual part of our city government, giving more value to our citizens and making government more transparent and more responsive," he said.

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