The Austin City Council is looking for a few good web developers.

The council will soon ask for requests for proposals to build a new city website.

“We’re hoping to get a lot of locals who apply,” said Finance Director Tom Dankert during the council’s Monday work session.

Council members hope to create a new, updated website residents can use to get more information about the city in an easier manner, from departmental homepages to easy-answer links.

The city hopes to switch to a new website on Dec. 1.

Mayor Tom Stiehm lauded the move as a good way to get more residents involved in the city.

“We want to get more information out to the residents,” he said.

The council will formally approve a request for proposal at its next meeting. Since the proposal is a professional contract, the council doesn’t have to take the lowest bidder, but rather the one that meets all qualifications. Both city staff and council members said they hoped local developers would apply for the project, though other entities have expressed an interest in applying. Dankert said he was contacted by an Oklahoma firm last month over the project.

In other news:

The Austin City Council approved Austin firefighter Troy Tigner’s promotion to fire commander during its Monday meeting.

Tigner, a fire engineer, will replace Commander Brian Lovik on the Austin Fire Department. Lovik is retiring and will leave the department on May 29.

Fire Chief Jim McCoy said Tigner’s engineer spot will be replaced as well.