and welcome to the brand new City of Waterloo website! The site was redesigned with the goals in mind to improve our communication with the public, to enhance customer service, to allow citizen input and to display a more positive image of our great city. As you explore and familiarize yourself with the new site we hope, like us, you will find it presents a fresh, inviting, interesting and informative look and feel. All of the contents of the old site are here, and many new links, forms and other features have been added. For instance, you can now access a city government calendar on the City Clerk page that shows various public meeting dates and times. You can also submit comments, questions, ideas on a friendly format under the "Contact Us" tag. Note, also, the many links to community organizations, other government agencies, community activities, and most of our city departments' websites.

This site was developed by Terry L. Butz Creative of Waterloo with the financial support of the Waterloo Industrial Development Association (WIDA). TLB Creative turned city staff's charge and committee input into a site that can be justifiably compared the best municipal sites in the country. WIDA provided the original concept after helping to launch a new economic development site for the city, again in collaboration with TLB Creative. Plus, WIDA contributed more than half the cost to design, develop and launch the site. I am very grateful for the support from WIDA. We would likely not have even started a redesign without their assistance. WIDA organizational members are listed on the front page under "Current City News".

I think this new website represents a great step forward in our communications to and access from the outside world. Of course, the final judge will be those of you who use it. Please let us know what you think, especially about ways we can make even more improvements or enhancements to the site. Enjoy!!