City To Follow Lead of Patch.com For Its Website

In a move that would more closely link public and private sectors, Sunset Hills is moving ahead with plans to establish online interaction among businesses, real estate, the city and residents, with the city government website.

Members of the city's Business Development Committee began working toward an online business directory not long after Patch—a hyperlocal news website—launched with similar features exclusively for Sunset Hills and Crestwood in December.

With the city's proposals for its website, residents could shop and spend online with the city and businesses, via credit cards. 

Residents who subscribed to the city's newsletter would also be eligible for coupons and other specials, information and ads. City postcards and other notices mailed through USPS could be phased out.

Real estate listings would also be managed on the site. Licensing and permits would also be available, according to city documents.

The city is putting out to bid July 1-15 (ending 5pm CT) the request for creation of the new online features, officials said Thursday. The  is the contact for the bid process, officials said.

The cost to add the business listings and other apects was estimated at about $100,000 during meetings earlier in the year. No other figures were publicly discussed in Thursday's meeting, so it was unclear whether additional features revealed would add to the cost.

It was also unclear how much or whether businesses would pay to be a part of the online feature.

The move began as part of a business development strategy, since city government typically sees revenue in its coffers from sales tax generated by retail within its boundaries.

Sunset Hills resident John Basler, who helped define the product for the city, described it as "a black box" and "off the shelf" content management system that the city and/or businesses would simply put the information into. It would be part of the city's website.

City documents said the move would provide stakeholders with increased visibility to local businesses and promote local consumption.

Typically, an investment like this by the city would have to go before the Board of Aldermen for approval. Aldermen Stephen Webb and Scott Haggerty are part of the Business Development Committee.

Haggerty showed early interest in the Sunset Hills-Crestwood Patch website, and its business model of links to local business, local real estate and local news.

Haggerty blogs on Patch and participates in a weekly real estate column House Hunt.