Transforming the User Experience With Tulare County’s Multi-Site Solution

Tools Used:

• Acquia DAM

• Acquia Site Factory

• Acquia Cloud

• Google Translations

The Challenges

Tulare County faced a few major challenges in creating a better digital experience for its community.

Like many local government sites, navigating Tulare County’s websites was frustrating. Residents often found themselves clicking through page after page, just trying to find a single form or the right person to contact. Something as simple as getting a phone number or accessing a service shouldn’t feel like a scavenger hunt, yet for many visitors, it did.

On top of that, their existing platform, Mura, was being deprecated. This meant they had no choice but to find a new solution. While this posed a significant challenge, it also opened the door for a fresh start. Moving to Acquia’s technology stack would give them the modern tools they needed, but it wouldn’t be a simple lift-and-shift. The transition required careful planning and problem-solving to migrate their many websites smoothly and securely.

Adding to the complexity was the fragmented nature of their old system. Each department had its own separate website, with its own design, structure, and theme. A resident visiting the Fire Department’s site might feel like they had landed in a completely different place when they clicked over to Health and Human Services. This lack of cohesion wasn’t just confusing for users; it was costly and resource-intensive for the county to maintain.

Tulare County needed more than just a technical upgrade. They needed a unified, modern platform that would bring their departments together, reduce costs, and create a seamless online experience that gave residents confidence they were in the right place, no matter which site they visited.

The Project Goals

When Tulare County set out to overhaul their digital platform, it was about more than just launching new websites. It was about rethinking how they served their community online. To make that happen, we needed to deeply understand the people who would be using these sites, including residents, visitors, and county staff.

We began by bringing our team and Tulare County’s stakeholders together for a series of journey mapping workshops. These sessions allowed everyone to step into the shoes of the people navigating the sites, whether they were looking for a form, paying a bill, or searching for important information. By walking through these real-life scenarios, we identified pain points, uncovered what mattered most to users, and built a shared vision of success.

As part of this process, we introduced the county to the tools that would bring this vision to life, including Drupal, Acquia Cloud, and Acquia DAM. We guided their team through how each platform worked, how it could be managed, and how it would ultimately make their day-to-day operations more efficient.

Next, we carefully reviewed their existing websites, analyzing every page and piece of content to understand the full scope of what needed to be migrated and improved. This deep discovery process helped us define a clear, scalable site architecture that would unify all county departments under one cohesive system.

We also established user roles, designed permission workflows, and created a comprehensive communication plan to keep everyone aligned throughout the process.

By the end of this initial phase, we had a clear roadmap and a set of actionable goals to guide the project forward. These goals included:

• Reducing operational costs through a more efficient and manageable system

• Designing an accessible, mobile-friendly experience for all users

• Establishing a consistent design and theme across every Tulare County website

• Integrating essential tools such as the Inmate Search, Animal Services, and GIS mapping for waste management

Our Web Migration and Design Approach

With the initial planning complete, it was time to bring the vision for Tulare County’s new digital experience to life. The first step was to focus on the foundation: the design and structure of the websites.

.gov Navigation Made Easy

Navigation quickly became a top priority. For many residents, it would be where they flock to find the information and services they need. We worked closely with Tulare County to create a navigation system that was clear, intuitive, and easy to use. Every menu item and search element was carefully organized to reduce frustration and help users get where they needed to go quickly.

But we didn’t stop there. We wanted to give residents a tool that would make finding information even simpler. That led to the creation of a task-based filter dialog, a feature not commonly seen on county websites. Located at the top right of every page, this “I need to…” bar lets users quickly select what they want to do and instantly find the right service or information. Users might not be familiar with county departments, yet they know the action they need to take, like applying for a marriage license or securing a building permit, and framing the site around these tasks rather than internal structures significantly enhances their experience.

This thoughtful approach to navigation and usability sets the stage for a website experience that feels modern, efficient, and centered around the people who use it most.

Right next to the “I need to…” bar, we focused on creating a department directory that was simple, intuitive, and easy to navigate. Residents needed quick access to the right contact information, and we made sure they could find it in just a few clicks.

Nothing essential should be hidden, so we included multiple ways for users to reach each department, from email and phone to direct links to departmental websites. All of this information is presented clearly on the first page, making it fast and effortless for visitors to connect with the services they need.

Web Design That Empowers Staff and Residents

Every design choice was made with both the user and the county staff in mind. Residents needed to feel confident they were in the right place, while content authors needed a system that was simple to use and flexible enough to keep up with the county’s evolving needs.

By keeping the Tulare County logo and search bar consistent across all pages, visitors always knew they were on an official site. The 9 page themes, inspired by warm earth tones, reflected the county’s agricultural heritage and created a welcoming, cohesive visual experience. To bring the sites to life, we collaborated with a photographer to capture authentic stock images that highlight Tulare County’s beautiful landscapes, adding a sense of familiarity and genuine local character.

Behind the scenes, content management was designed to be effortless. Staff can switch page themes or update content in just a few clicks, removing the need to rely on the technical team for routine updates. Even with 18 unique components configurable to fit each theme, this combination of clarity for users and simplicity for administrators ensures that Tulare County’s websites are not only visually appealing but also functional and sustainable over time.

Counties often face the challenge of keeping website imagery fresh, especially when new events or announcements need to be shared. To address this, we designed a flexible banner system for Tulare County that highlights the latest updates while relying on icons from an accessible library provided to their team.

This approach eliminates the need for constant custom photography and makes posting important announcements fast and simple. Residents can stay informed without delay, and county staff can update the site easily without depending on technical resources.

Web Development and Integrations

To bring Tulare County’s new digital vision to life, we implemented Acquia’s technology stack, including their Digital Asset Management solution. This made it far easier for county staff to organize content, upload images, and manage assets across their sites. Acquia Site Factory became the central hub for their page templates, giving the team the ability to quickly create new pages or update existing ones with minimal effort.

Accessibility was another key focus. County websites serve a diverse audience, so we made sure information was available to everyone. By integrating Google Translations, we created a site that is easy to navigate while ensuring content can be understood across different languages and communities. This way, Tulare County’s websites truly serve all residents, no matter their background or needs.

Acquia DAM Implementation

Hounder partnered with Acquia and Tulare County to implement the robust Digital Asset Management (DAM) solution. The goal was to create a centralized system where hundreds of county staff could easily access, manage, and maintain digital assets, without duplication or confusion.

Before the DAM was in place, county authors often uploaded the same image multiple times under different file names, leading to inconsistent visuals and unnecessary data storage. Hounder’s implementation of Acquia DAM transformed that process into a unified, organized workflow. Now, more than 300 content authors can upload, edit, and reuse images from a single source of truth.

This integration not only simplifies content management but also helps maintain a cleaner, more consistent website over time. By consolidating assets into one well-structured platform, Tulare County can manage its growing content library with greater efficiency, accuracy, and brand consistency, setting the foundation for digital scalability moving forward.

Department-Specific Solutions

During this project, we had a few instances where certain departments required particular solutions. We couldn’t write this case study without mentioning some of the awesome tools we worked with them on.

Inmate Search for Law Enforcement 

One of the most impactful custom applications we built was the inmate search tool for law enforcement. This application streamlined the process of searching through the inmate database, saving staff time and making critical information easier to access.

Animal Services Applications

A personal favorite of ours at Hounder (😉) was the suite of tools we created for the Animal Services department. These applications help staff stay organized with adoption records and track lost or found animals. We also built a custom calculator for animal kennels, simplifying the process of determining appropriate enclosures for kennel permits.

GIS Mapping for Waste Management

To help residents find the right waste management services, we partnered with Esri to create a GIS mapping system. This interactive tool allows users to quickly determine which waste collection companies serve their area, streamlining what was previously a confusing and time-consuming process.

Project Results

This hefty web redesign and detailed migration project transformed Tulare County’s digital presence into a modern, user-centered platform that truly serves its community. By rethinking how residents interact with the county online, we created a seamless experience where visitors can quickly find what they need and take action without frustration.

"Hounder has become a close and trusted partner. Their flexibility and commitment to our success are unmatched."

- Joseph Halford

One of the biggest improvements came from simplifying navigation. With the new task-based filter dialog and an intuitive department directory, residents no longer need to know which department handles their request. Whether they are applying for a marriage license, reporting a lost pet, or searching for waste collection information, they can now get to the right place in just a few clicks.

Behind the scenes, county staff also gained powerful tools to manage their vast network of websites. Through Acquia Site Factory and Acquia DAM, their teams can easily organize assets, update content, and maintain consistency across all sites without relying heavily on technical support. The nine flexible page themes, inspired by Tulare County’s agricultural community, give each department a cohesive look while allowing content authors to make changes quickly and independently.

We also built custom applications tailored to specific departmental needs, including an inmate search tool for law enforcement, a lost and found animal tracker for Animal Services, a kennel permit calculator, and an interactive GIS map for waste management. These tools have now streamlined internal workflows for multiple departments.

Most importantly, the new platform is built with accessibility in mind. With integrated translation tools and a clear, mobile-friendly design, information is now available to all residents, regardless of their language or the devices they’re using.

The end result is more than just a website redesign. It is a unified digital ecosystem that reduces operational costs, strengthens community trust, and empowers Tulare County to deliver essential services in a way that is efficient, accessible, and user-friendly.