The changes include an improved way to search the city’s site using the popular Google search engine, and offer options ranging from animal licensing, to garbage pickup and getting a police accident report. The web design is better organized than the previous version, and is now available in the seven most frequently spoken languages in Louisville.

“We have an award-winning city website that provides increasing opportunities for our citizens to get things done from their computer, whether it’s paying bills online, getting city permits, animal licenses or police reports,” Abramson said in a news release. “Having a strong website creates efficiency both for city government and our citizens, who can connect with us without having to leave home and travel to a city building.”

And thanks to the e-transparency ordinance, which was co-sponsored by Metro Council members, Ken Fleming, R-7, and Hal Heiner, R-19 in 2009, the city’s website also provides complete information about Metro government spending, in addition to employee salaries and a complete tracking of federal stimulus dollars throughout the Metro Louisville area.

Users can also see videos about city news and projects from MetroTV.

Other new improvements include an improved “Map It” feature that allows citizens to enter their address and find services and city government facilities in their area. A new “social media center” makes it easy for users to connect with the city through Facebook, Twitter and other digital media. And a mobile version of the city site for smart phones is also available at m.louisvilleky.gov.