SIMI, MOORPARK CITY HALLS AT HOME ON THE INTERNET.

Byline: Terry Kanakri Daily News Staff Writer

The cities of Simi Valley and Moorpark have launched their own home pages on the Internet, a move officials believe will spur interest in their communities, attract new businesses and keep residents informed.

The new home pages on the World Wide Web offer information on city government and structure, City Council members, demographics and recreational activities.

``We're trying to keep up with the times,'' Simi Valley Mayor Pro Tem Bill Davis said Monday. ``Technology is moving so fast that it's really hard to keep up, but you have to make every effort that you can to stay up with the technology within reasonable cost.''

Moorpark City Clerk Lillian Hare said it is a good way to reach many people.

``People are really interested in what's going on and what's available, and they just don't know how to get it,'' she said. ``This will be an avenue.''

In Simi Valley, the home page address is: http://www.ci.simi-valley.ca.us

In Moorpark, the address is http://www.ci.moorpark.ca.us

Randi Joseph, a city management analyst, said Simi Valley's home page answers frequently-asked questions about permits and contacting various departments.

The home page also gives data on community growth, housing, climate, utilities and the labor market, she said. The home page also contains biographies of council members. Traffic updates and weather information soon will be added, Joseph said.

Davis said the economic data can help attract new jobs.

``Outside companies a lot of times go on the Internet and look in different areas with the potential . . . they're going to move their plants there,'' he said. ``So before they would contact the city, they will bring up the city home page and take a look at it.''

Joseph agreed, adding: ``I also think people who think about moving their business here or moving their family here will be able to get a lot of information, and it certainly helps with our image that we're a technologically up-to-date city.''

Moorpark's home page, similar in format to Simi Valley's, give helpful data to Internet surfers, Hare said.

``The benefit is to get as much information to the public as we possibly can and, as more and more people will access the Internet, we hope to have more and more information,'' she said.

Some portions of the home pages are still under construction, so residents will find new information from time to time, officials in Simi Valley and Moorpark said.

For more information or to give comments about the Simi Valley home page, Randi Joseph may be reached by telephone at 583-6701. In Moorpark, Lillian Hare may be called at 529-6864, Ext. 213.

Administrative intern Leigh Davis volunteered her services to install the home page in Simi Valley, Joseph said. In Moorpark, the cost was about $500, Hare said.