Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the City Operations topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Millbrae council approves CloudPermit software to centralize permitting, inspections
Summary
The City Council voted 5-0 to authorize the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with CloudPermit to replace disparate permit systems with a single cloud-based platform; council and staff said the service will improve customer transparency and field inspections.
The Millbrae City Council on Jan. 14 adopted a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute a professional services agreement with CloudPermit for online permitting and inspection services.
The agreement covers a three-year initial term with total cost not to exceed $175,000, the staff presentation said. CloudPermit’s proposal includes a one-time setup fee (identified in the presentation as about $19,000), annual licensing under $50,000 and unlimited user accounts; staff said the service will be funded by the city’s existing 7% technology fee assessed on building permits.
Community Development Director Andy Bogganson described the selection process: the city issued an RFP, received 14 responses, invited six vendors to present and narrowed the field to two finalists that gave extended demonstrations. Staff tested a CloudPermit sandbox with county mapping data and found features that include an applicant dashboard, automated plan-check notifications, mobile inspections and document versioning.
Council members emphasized transparency and customer service. They said applicants often lack clear information on where a permit stands in review; staff said CloudPermit will provide real-time status updates, identify the next reviewer and archive all correspondence and plans. Staff also said the software includes a business-license module and will aid interdepartmental coordination among planning, public works, building and code enforcement.
A motion to adopt the resolution was made by Council Member Rinaldi and seconded by Council Member Nguyen. The vote to approve the CloudPermit contract was 5-0.
Why it matters: City staff and council framed the change as a modernization that should speed reviews, reduce phone calls by providing clear applicant status, and give field inspectors access to plans and inspection histories from mobile devices.
