Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Stormwater Management topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Kent Approves Purchase of MS Forefront NPDES Program Software from Houston Engineering
Summary
Council authorized the city to purchase MS Forefront (Houston Engineering) to replace an aging in‑house database (PRISM) that tracks NPDES/MS4 inspection programs and reporting requirements under the Clean Water Act.
The Kent City Council on June 3 authorized the mayor to sign a software license, hardware and maintenance agreement with Houston Engineering for MS Forefront, a stormwater/NPDES (MS4) compliance management platform.
Leticia Slater (presenting as Leticia Slater) explained that the city’s current PRISM database is an end‑of‑life Access system that staff uses to track multiple inspection programs required by the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) municipal permit (MS4). Slater said PRISM relies on outdated components and requires paper workflows that staff must re‑enter into the database; MS Forefront is GIS‑integrated and supports mobile, offline inspections, a standardized IDDE schema for Ecology reporting, outreach tracking and cost‑tracking by program.
Deputy Public Works Director Kelly Peterson confirmed Amanda (permitting software) lacks the MS4‑specific modules. Council authorized execution of the agreement subject to final terms acceptable to the IT director and city attorney.
The motion passed unanimously; staff said MS Forefront will simplify Ecology reporting and replace multiple existing systems, improving field efficiency and permitting integration.
