The search is over for a good search engine for Bellevue's website. Users will have an easier time finding the service or program they want with Google Mini, rolled out in December.

Bellevue's site was substantially revamped in 2006, in part to be more easily navigable. However, users still sometimes just want to type something in a search box. The old search engine could generate frustration because it favored documents over web pages.

A search for "parks," for example, was likely to pull up a variety of PDF (portable document format) files, such as City Council minutes or the Comprehensive Plan, before it would bring up relevant web pages.

The Google Mini search appliance finds the most relevant web page first. 

"We wanted something with better and more accurate search features, both for the website and a customer relationship management portal we're working on," said Doug Dossett, Bellevue's web developer. "After reviewing other search appliances, we decided on the one by the industry leader in search technology."

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