The “Saanich Peninsula Joint Website Development Project” was originally conceived in 2002 during discussions between the Peninsula’s Municipal Information Technology staff. The reason for discussing this Project was an obvious need for all three Peninsula municipalities to update and expand the information and services available to Peninsula residents from the internet.

In late 2002, approval was granted by the three Peninsula municipalities to commission a Study to explore the feasibility of jointly creating 3 new municipal websites. The Website Development Study, completed by Island Internet Inc, concluded that by working together, the Peninsula municipalities could reduce their individual cost of website development by up to 60%. Furthermore, potential savings could also be realized by sharing the ongoing costs related to website hosting and future development. The “Saanich Peninsula Joint Website Development Project” was approved by all three Saanich Peninsula Municipal Councils in June of 2003.

In the fall of 2003, after an extensive selection process, CGI Group Inc. of Vancouver was selected to complete the Joint Website Development Project on behalf of the Peninsula municipalities. The Project was to begin in December of 2003 and was to have three main parts.

1. Implementation of a comprehensive content management solution that would provide an efficient and cost effective way for each of the Peninsula municipalities to manage and update the content of their respective websites. Active Content Management solution (aka IronnPoint) was chosen for this Project. This content management solution gives selected staff members the ability to manage website content within their individual Departments. New or revised content is then placed on the website after an approval process is completed. By having each Department responsible for the management of content in their section of the website, the need to have a contracted service (or dedicated staff member) would be unnecessary.

2.  Complete the design and development of three new websites that would suit the needs of all three Peninsula municipalities. The intent of the Project was to have three separate websites that would have similar functionality, yet have enough visual difference to allow each municipality to maintain their individual identity. One of the key components of this Project would be the ability of the three municipalities to work together (with CGI) to complete the design and development process.

3.  Assist the municipalities with the selection of an appropriate hosting solution to store and distribute the websites over the internet. WeDoHosting.com Inc. of Victoria was selected to provide a dedicated Server to host the three municipal websites and IronPoint’s Content Management Solution.

As with most websites, the District considers this website to be a “work in progress”. The District will continue to explore ways to enhance the existing functionality as well as develop new functionality that will benefit the taxpayers of Central Saanich.

Central Saanich taxpayers are encouraged to provide their comments, suggestions or concerns regarding this website on the Website Feedback form.

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