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Planning staff says new cloud‑based permitting vendor signed; three‑month rollout planned
Summary
City staff told the Planning Commission that the city signed a three‑year contract with a new cloud‑based permitting vendor (referred to in the meeting as 'IWORKS/Excela'), will give notice to the previous vendor and expects a three‑month implementation that includes training, an online portal for permits and immediate addition of tree permits.
Mark (staff member) briefed the Planning Commission on a recently signed three‑year contract with a new cloud‑based permitting vendor, described in meeting remarks using the names "I WORKS" and "Excela/Accela" interchangeably. Staff said the new system will replace older, locally hosted software and move permit intake, tracking and many over‑the‑counter permits online.
Why it matters: A cloud‑based permitting system changes how residents and businesses interact with planning and permitting staff. Staff said the new system should reduce manual work and increase transparency for permit applicants.
Key details provided by staff: The contract is three years; the vendor was described as significantly less expensive than the prior vendor and includes training and human support. Staff said the city must give a 60‑day termination notice to the prior vendor and anticipates a roughly three‑month implementation window that will include workflow setup, data migration, and user training. Immediate priorities are plumbing and mechanical permits and then tree permits; staff also expects public works and the fire marshal to access modules for coordination.
What the commission asked: Commissioners asked about the vendor’s name, implementation timing and public impact; Mark reiterated the contract was signed, meetings with the vendor have begun, and staff plans to add permit types gradually. No policy changes or budget approvals were taken at the meeting.
Accuracy note on vendor name: The meeting transcript used several variants of the vendor name. The article quotes staff usage ("I WORKS" / "Excela/Accela" as spoken) rather than asserting a single verified corporate spelling; staff said implementation details and training will be provided to users during rollout.
Ending: Staff will continue implementation work, begin training, and return with operational details as the rollout proceeds. The commission requested updates on public access and customer‑facing changes when available.
