Navigating the Website
Viewing the Site
Welcome to the City of Richmond web site. We have made every effort to organize the site to allow you to easily navigate both the interactive services and reference information available.
You will require a current browser application and a recent edition of Acrobat Reader for optimal viewing of this site.
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This site can be viewed at a resolution of 800 by 600, but it is best viewed at a resolution of 1024 X 768. However, if your vision requires larger text you can use a lower resolution of 640 X 480 instead (in this case, you will be able to see the main content area, but at this resolution, you will have to scroll to view the navigation links on the right side of the page, as well as part of the Main Navigation Bar.
The Home page introduces you to the main content categories, as well as several tools designed to help you find information, all of which are described in this help page below.
We hope you enjoy exploring Richmond's web site. If you have any questions or problems, please use the Customer Feedback form to comment, or call our Information Desk for assistance.
The contents of this help page are divided into the following topics:
Navigation Methods
Locating Information
Getting Help and Submitting Feedback
Navigation Methods
Several navigation methods are available throughout the site. In general, as you navigate the site, you may click on a link to another part of the site for more details or related information. Please be aware that in many cases the new page you are viewing is not the only page with relevant details you should be aware of. It may be the first in a group of pages that you can locate by pointing on the menu to the left of the page. In these instances, you may see a tip that will provide directions to more information.
The navigation methods are described in detail following.
Main Navigation Bar
The Main Navigation bar displays at the top of each page, allowing you to access the Home page as well as the main content categories. When you click on a main category button you will open a new page that displays the main menu and the introduction to that section of the web site. The introduction page will also display a link to the site map for that section.
The blue tab in the Main Navigation Bar indicates you current position overall (and will tell you if you have moved to another section of the site).
Sub-Navigation Menus
With the exception of the Home page, each page displays a sub-navigation menu on the left hand side of the screen.
As you move the mouse over the sub-menu items, a highlight displays on the item you are positioned on, and items that display an arrow will fly-out to display additional menu levels. Click to display the item you want to view.
Tip: As you hover over items on the flyout menu(s), they are highlighted with a yellow icon.
In some cases more topics available for an area than fit on the fly out menus, in this situation an in-page menu is displayed. For example, in Public Safety, if you used the fly-out menu to select Fire Safety (under Fire-Rescue, Safety & Prevention) several topics are available as shown following.
Alternatively, you click on a sub-menu item:
You will be taken to a category map for that item:
Navigation Links
On the right-hand side of each information page a variety of navigation links display relevant to the section you are viewing. Simply click to display the item you want to view. These links may take you to a popular topic within that section, a related topic in another section, or a link to another site (external sites will open in a new window).
The navigation trail (just below the Main Navigation Bar) shows specifically where you have navigated to. Items listed on the navigation trail are links. On the navigation trail, clicking the link for the main page (in the section you are viewing) displays the site map (link to Site Map help).
To display the overview for the section, click Overview on the Navigation Menu on the left side of the screen.
As you read descriptive text, you'll also notice individual words within the text (as well as in page menus) that appear as hyperlinks. Click any of these contextual links to display information on that item.
If you click a contextual link, you can click your browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Keyword Search
You can perform a keyword search from any page (including the Home Page). Simply click to position the cursor in the box at the top right corner of the page, then type your keyword(s) and click Go (or press Enter).
A results list is displayed. Click the link for the item you want to view, or click the browser's back button to return to the previous page.
Site Map
The Site Map provides a comprehensive list of all items available in the content category you are viewing (or the entire site).
To view the site map for an individual category, display the category's Overview topic, then click Site Map in the gray tip bar (towards the bottom the page).
To view the site map for the entire site, click the Sitemap link at the very bottom of any page.
Locating Information
Information can be located in several different ways on the City of Richmond site.
The How Do I Section
The How Do I section on the Home page is located under the Popular Topics tab and provides links to information on frequently asked questions. Simply click to the display the item you want to view. To view additional How Do I items, click the More link at the bottom of the list.
Find Contacts
Click on the City Directories link on the home page to display the Richmond Service Directory main page.
This directory allows you to locate City of Richmond contact telephone numbers by service.
Type a service name in the Directory Search field then click Search, or, click a letter at the top of the screen to browse alphabetically.
Note: In the future searches performed here will provide web site links as well as contact numbers.
News & Events
Click the News & Events link at the top right of any page to display up to date City of Richmond news and events information.
Online Programs
A variety of applications can be accessed using this site, as described in the following.
Maps and GIS
Click on the Maps (GIS) link on the home page to open the Maps page and find the Richmond Interactive Map (RIM).
Use the Richmond Interactive Map (RIM) to view interactive maps for Richmond and to locate detailed property information including zoning, aerial maps, services and amenities. By clicking the link to RIM you are accepting our Terms of Use. For the full text see Disclaimer and Terms of Use.
Other Interactive Programs
The bullets on the right of the home page, and the tabs in the centre provide links to other interactive programs on the site including Recreation Registration, a Report a Problem Form.
The Pay and Purchase tab in the centre of the home page opens links to online services and payment options.
Tip bar Tax Certificates, Parking Tickets and Garbage Tags can all be paid for at once (that is, on each of these pages you can either choose to pay now, or add to your shopping basket to pay as a group.
Getting Help and Submitting Feedback
Tips
Tips provide you with quick notes on things like navigating the site. (For example, if the page you are viewing is not the only page with relevant details you should be aware, a tip will provide directions and/or links to the information.)
Tips are always indicated by a yellow bar on the left hand side.
Contact Us
Click Contact Us at the top right of the screen to find out about the five ways to contact departments and service representatives for the City of Richmond.
If you have a specific area that you'd like to submit feedback on, we invite you to use the online Customer Feedback form.
Submitting Feedback
The online feedback form enables you to submit feedback and service requests to specific areas within the City of Richmond. Use the online feedback form to:
- submit a comment
- request a service
- report a problem
The follow up system in place ensures that your requests, problems, or comments will be tracked to ensure a timely and appropriate response.
To submit feedback, click Customer Feedback at the bottom left of any screen.
Complete the feedback form, be sure to check the box then click Submit.
For comments on the website, in the "Which of the following does your request or concern relate to" section, click to check "questions or concerns relating to the city website" (towards the bottom of the list).
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