The woman in charge of disseminating information to the public for the Santa Rosa County government wants the county to revamp one of the primary ways it communicates with the world -- its website.

"We have outgrown our current design and structure, which can hinder ease of navigation for those not familiar with the site," Public Information Officer Joy Tsubooka wrote in a report to the Santa Rosa County Commission. "Lack of consistency on current site leads to confusion."

Tsubooka will present a plan to redesign the county's website at today's commission meeting.

Tsubooka said the county's current website gets more than 67,000 hits per month. However, the current site is not responsive for access by mobile devices.

"In the fall of 2014, mobile internet usage exceeded desktop internet usage for the first time; more people are using smartphones and tablets instead of their PC to access information on the internet," she said. "This trend is only expected to grow."

The new site would work well with mobile devices, focus on uniformity and simplicity, and employ more content and fewer PDFs.

Tsubooka is recommending that the county use a blended contractor/in-house approach to rebuilding the site, hiring the Duncan McCall Marketing & Design firm of Pensacola at a cost of $9,600, with an hourly rate for additional assistance.

Last May the First Amendment Foundation scored municipal websites across the state on accessibility, ease of navigation and quantity and quality of information presented. On that survey, Santa Rosa's website scored 64 out of a possible 100 points. At the time, Tsubooka said she would use that feedback and more to improve the county's site.

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The commission meets at 9 a.m. at the Santa Rosa County Administrative Office Complex, located at 6495 U.S. 90, Milton (behind McDonald's). The agenda for the meeting is available at http://www.santarosa.fl.gov/agendas/04-20-15%20backup.PDF. The meeting is broadcast online at http://www.santarosa.fl.gov//bocc/BOCC_Calendar/.

Generally, the commission’s Monday meetings – called “committee meetings” – are used to discuss items and set the agenda for Thursday’s regular meetings where final decisions are usually made.

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Also on the commission's agenda Monday is discussion of replacing Count Administrator Hunter Walker, who is retiring on Dec. 31.

“I would expect that the recruitment of the next county administrator will take approximately four to five months, possibly longer depending on availability and potential length of notice to current employer of the successful candidate,” Walker, who has been county administrator since Oct. 23, 1995, wrote to commissioners.

Walker's current salary is $132,412 annually, with a vehicle allowance of $500 a month.

Walker will present commissioners with options on how to proceed with recruiting a new administrator. Under his proposed timeline, a new administrator could be chosen by Nov. 12.

Commissioners will also consider:

— A request from the Santa Rosa County Tourist Development Council to allocate $80,000 to the fifth annual Navarre Beach Sand Sculpting Festival. The event was born five years ago in the wake of the BP oil spill.

"The purpose of the event was to show everyone that our sugar-white beaches were clean and the oil did not destroy the natural environment," TDC Executive Director Julie Morgan wrote in a memo. "The first year provided a solid foundation ...  (Now) master sculptors come from around the world to compete and participate in the group exhibition carving."

Morgan estimates that the festival draws 20,000 people who spend more than $500,000. The festival is set for Sept. 25-27.

— A request to use the Pace Area Recreation Association Park on Woodbine Road as the site of a farmers market.

"Local small produce farms have been selling their products in downtown Pensacola for the last several years. They have had much success with that market, but wish to have the opportunity to sell their product right here in Santa Rosa County," Extension Agent Blake Thaxton wrote to commissioners.

"A group of farmers in Santa Rosa County have formed the Santa Rosa Farmers Market Association, Inc.... with intent of starting a farmers market in the Pace community."

Organizers hope to open the the Santa Rosa Farmers Market on May 16, with the  marketing being open every Saturday of the year.