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Homewood approves contract for village website redesign. More in local news: The Homewood Village Board has approved a four-year agreement with CivicPlus at the July 14 meeting to redesign the village's website to meet the new requirements for Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and improve overall accessibility. Homewood has used Granicus as its website content management system since 2017. While the platform was affordable and served the village well for several years, staff found it increasingly difficult to update, lacked features common on modern municipal websites and did not provide the level of customer support the village needed, Homewood Assistant Village Manager Terence Acquah said. The village also began reviewing alternatives because new federal ADA standards require municipal websites and mobile applications to be more accessible for people with disabilities. Among other requirements, online content must be compatible with screen readers, images must include descriptive text, videos must include captions and digital documents must be accessible. Communities with fewer than 50,000 residents, including Homewood, must comply by April 26, 2028, Acquah said. Village staff initially explored whether Granicus could address those concerns but learned the company's current platform would be replaced with a new ADA-compliant system at a substantially higher cost. Officials then requested proposals from Granicus, CivicPlus and Revize, he said. As part of the selection process, the village surveyed employees across departments to identify challenges with the current website. Staff reported difficulty locating frequently requested information, opportunities to improve mobile usability and a need for better online forms and payment options. Staff also suggested improved organization of department information and the creation of a dedicated downtown Homewood website, Acquah said. Representatives from several village departments then evaluated demonstrations from the companies. Granicus was eliminated after the initial review, leaving CivicPlus and Revize as finalists, Acquah said. Staff compared the two companies based on website design, functionality and customer support and training. Additional features and overall user experience was evaluated as well. CivicPlus received the higher overall evaluation score and was selected because of its user experience, technology and competitive pricing, he said. According to Acquah, the redesigned website is expected to launch in about a year. During that time, staff will review existing webpages, update outdated information and remove unnecessary content while the current website remains fully operational. Homewood's current agreement with Granicus expires in February 2027, giving the village time to complete the redesign, test the new platform and transition to the new system before the existing contract ends, he said. The agreement includes a one-time implementation cost of $45,000 and annual maintenance and hosting fees of $23,000 for the remaining three years, with a negotiated 3% annual increase. The project will be funded through General Obligation Non-Referendum Bond funds for implementation and the village's General Fund for ongoing maintenance, Acquah said.

Lassen County launches new online public records portal for increased transparency. Thursday, July 16th, 2026 Lassen County has officially partnered with CivicPlus to implement its NextRequest solution, a modern, web-based platform designed to simplify how residents request and access public records. The new portal is aimed at boosting local government transparency and accountability by providing a centralized, user-friendly space for submitting and tracking public records requests. According to a release from the county, the NextRequest platform automates workflows and streamlines request processing behind the scenes. This allows county staff to respond more quickly and consistently to public inquiries while easily adhering to California public records laws and the Freedom of Information Act. "Lassen County's goal is to make government more accessible, transparent, and responsive to the people we serve," the county stated in a press release. "Implementing NextRequest gives our residents an easier way to request public records while helping our staff respond more efficiently and consistently. This investment reflects the County's ongoing commitment to improving customer service and strengthening public trust through greater transparency." What the New Portal Offers With the transition to CivicPlus' NextRequest software, the county expects to: Simplify Request Management: Streamline the entire process so residents can quickly request and retrieve the public information they need. Automate Workflows: Free up staff time with advanced automation tools, allowing departments to focus on delivering timely, high-quality responses. Enhance Inter-Department Collaboration: Improve coordination across various county departments to compile more accurate and complete records. Maximize Resources: Better handle high volumes of requests and manage staff time efficiently, even during peak periods of demand. Eric Grant, CivicPlus Vice President of Product Management, expressed excitement about the partnership. "CivicPlus is committed to empowering government agencies with tools that enhance transparency, streamline workflows, and foster greater trust within their communities," Grant said. "By adopting NextRequest, Lassen County is taking an exciting step toward supporting timely, compliant, and efficient management of public records requests." How to Access the Portal The new online portal is fully active. While residents can submit requests online 24 hours a day, county staff will process them during standard business hours, typically between 8:00a.m. and 5:00p.m. You can explore the portal and submit a public records request directly by visiting lassencounty.nextrequest.com or by navigating through the main county website at lassencounty.gov.