Five-year website services agreement with Vision Technology Solutions, d.b.a. Vision Internet

Approve a service agreement with Vision Technology Solutions in the amount not to exceed $43,652 over five years and direct the appropriate city representatives to execute (subject to review by the City Attorney).

In 2013, the City Council approved a city website redesign and professional service agreement with Vision Internet. Since then, the city has purchased a software subscription service from Vision, which includes licensing, hosting and technical support, on a year-to-year basis with an annual 5-percent increase. Because we have stayed with Vision for four consecutive years, www.ShakopeeMN.gov is now eligible for a free graphic redesign to be completed in 2018. This redesign will focus on the graphic appearance of the website only.

Vision Internet has restructured its software subscription services. On our current year-to-year plan, we will no longer receive any future redesigns. Therefore, staff recommends the city move to a new subscription service, vLive Standard Edition. The city will receive the same licensing, hosting and technical support, but will also earn credits toward future site improvements and additional website storage capacity. vLive Standard Edition requires a five-year commitment; however, service fees will continue to be paid annually. The change is anticipated to save the city approximately $675 total over five years.

City staff has been happy with Vision Internet’s services and does not see any reason for a vendor change at this time.

The annual vLive Standard Edition service fee will continue to be paid from the Information Technology Internal Service Fund. The total cost over five years is anticipated to be $43,652.