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Citrus County prepares 'soft launch' for Acela permitting software; VIP, concierge and training options announced
Summary
County growth-management staff told commissioners a new Acela building-permit system will go live in about two weeks with a phased 'soft opening' that keeps the old system active. Officials described VIP beta testing, one-on-one concierge sessions, classroom Acela 101 classes and short how-to videos.
Citrus County growth-management staff on Tuesday briefed the commission on an imminent switch to Acela, a widely used building-permit platform, and described a multi-pronged “soft launch” intended to avoid interrupting customers.
The plan: Eric (last name not given) and staff said the county will go live with Acela in roughly two weeks and run the present system concurrently so users who are not ready can continue on the old platform. The rollout will include three customer-support tracks: invitation-only VIP beta testers (contractors invited by the building official), a concierge model offering one-on-one, by-appointment help to submit applications and logins, and Acela 101 classroom training in county facilities. Staff will also publish short, self-serve tutorial videos for common tasks such as creating accounts, applying for permits and requesting inspections.
Staff and contractor support: Sam, the building official, was identified as the point person for VIP outreach; the county will maintain a staffed customer-service line during business hours and an online sign-up on the county website for training and concierge appointments. Eric thanked growth-management staff and contractors for their patience through earlier software transitions and said the Acela rollout should be smoother because many Florida contractors already use Acela in other jurisdictions.
Phase 2 and transparency tools: The presentation said Phase 2, planned for the fall, will add planning and code-enforcement modules. Staff also hopes to display a public, live dashboard on the county website showing permit counts, cycle times and other transparency metrics once Acela is established.
Ending: Commissioners thanked staff for the outreach plan and encouraged contractors and customers to take advantage of training. There was no formal vote; the presentation was informational and staff will proceed with the planned soft launch and training options.
