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Council discusses $10,000-a-year GovPilot permit and code-enforcement software; no vote taken
Summary
Planning staff presented a proposal for online building-permit, planning and code-enforcement software (GovPilot) at $10,000 per year; council asked follow-up questions and deferred formal action for further review and module selection.
Planning staff presented options for cloud-based permitting, planning and code-enforcement software and recommended further research before the council votes.
Alex (planning staff) told the council staff had reviewed three vendors and highlighted GovPilot as the lowest-cost proposal at $10,000 annually. Alex said the $10,000 annual price would remain the same year-to-year and would include unlimited users and five available modules; the city could implement planning and zoning, building permits and a code-enforcement "report a concern" portal as part of the package.
Alex described how the software would allow applicants to upload required documents, pay fees online, monitor permit status, request inspections, and enable the planning, engineering and inspection reviewers to log into the same file. Alex said the system can also track bond expirations and issue automated reminders to avoid lapses similar to previous bond expirations for Ridgecrest.
Staff presented comparison figures for alternatives: a mid-range vendor (identified in meeting as CoreCivic) at about $18,000 for the first year (dropping in later years) and another vendor (WAMA/land management) that quoted a much higher starting cost; one vendor listed per-user fees that would increase total cost. Staff said GovPilot’s $10,000 offer was the most affordable over a five-year horizon for the modules under consideration.
Council members asked about adding modules for workflow and fire-prevention inspections, payment processing, public records requests and other functions; staff said some modules could be included at no additional cost while others would add to the $10,000 package. Council members asked staff to gather answers about which additional modules the city would need and whether the fire inspections and open-records workflows are appropriate to include.
No formal motion or vote was taken. Staff said they will continue due diligence and return with a recommendation and draft contract terms before the council votes.
