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DBI says Accela permit system testing revealed defects; go‑live pushed toward late summer
Summary
City IT and DBI reported initial user‑acceptance testing of the Accela (Exela) permit system uncovered significant defects, extending testing into mid‑August and shifting the department’s go‑live target; vendors added resources and DBI began staff training on June 4.
Sean Buhlen of the Department of Technology briefed the commission on the Accela (referred to in the meeting as Exela/Accela) permit‑tracking project on June 20, saying production environments are in place and limited user‑acceptance testing began in late May.
Buhlen said early test cycles uncovered many defects and that testing and data migration were pushed back: "Now testing wraps up in mid August," he said. He explained the vendor increased resources and that a larger round of testing would start the following Monday, with ongoing defect resolution and training continuing through the summer.
DBI and IT staff told commissioners training had started June 4 and that management sessions are underway to sign up staff for hands‑on training. Buhlen said the vendor will remain engaged for roughly three months after go‑live to provide support and that the department expects to need post‑launch adjustments.
Commissioners thanked staff for outreach to employees and urged broad staff training and change‑management support to ensure a smoother transition when the system replaces legacy permit workflows.
