By MADDY VITALE
Residents and visitors of Ocean City may have gone on the city’s website a number of times over the years to find out about public meetings, read the Mayor’s Corner, learn about projects and even buy beach tags.
But just like many things in life, after time, a bit of sprucing up, some revamping and improvements were needed.
And that is exactly what the city is in the process of doing to the website. Some major changes can already be seen by visiting the site at www.ocnj.us.
Some of the noticeable changes start with the overall look. Drone footage showcases why residents and visitors alike enjoy the resort. A view of the city’s skyline with miles of beaches, the Boardwalk, water tower, and amusements highlight what makes Ocean City a vacation and year-round destination.
Tabs at the top of the homepage offer a plethora of information at a person’s fingertips. Users may click on an array of links, including ones specifically for residents, visitors and businesses that provide information especially geared to them.
Then underneath, there is a tab for the Mayor’s Corner to read his latest messages to the community. A Project Updates tab gives viewers a list and status of a variety of key projects in the city.
Flood Smart offers important information for home and business owners about flood insurance, floodplain information and how to protect their properties.
There are also links to buy beach tags online.
An “Alert Me” tab allows people to sign up for emergency alerts and other notifications. A COVID-19 link offers the latest statistics in the community of the virus.
A section for news provides the latest city presentations, videos, news releases, trash pickup schedules and more. Below those tabs are community events and meeting dates and agendas for City Council and other city boards and commissions.
Ocean City Public Information Officer Doug Bergen said of the improvements: “The city website is now using an upgraded platform from the same vendor we have used since 2011.”
He noted, however, that the website is not yet finished.
“We’re still in the process of updating content and making revisions to make the site as useful and user-friendly as possible,” he added.
While Bergen emphasized that the upgrades to the website are still underway, he did not give a timeframe for when the new website will be completed.
“When the transition is complete, we’ll share information with the public on how best to get the most out of the site,” he said.
