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City outlines 24‑month plan for new permit tracking system amid calls to accelerate rollout
Summary
DBI staff and vendor representatives told the Building Inspection Commission that a contract with Exela/Accela is in effect and the permit tracking system will follow a seven‑stage rollout planned for about 24 months; commissioners and stakeholders pressed for a faster, phased 'bare‑bones' launch and monthly oversight.
The San Francisco Department of Building Inspection (DBI) told the Building Inspection Commission on Oct. 19 that a new citywide permit tracking system (PTS) is under way, but officials and vendor representatives sparred over how quickly it can be delivered.
Penny Venable, the newly hired DBI project director for the PTS, said the contract with Exela became effective Sept. 12 and staff are in the initiation phase of a seven‑stage program. "We signed the contract with Excela 21 Tech effective on September 12," Venable said, adding that the project schedule anticipates a full deployment in about 24 months.
The plan calls for staged work: initiation, analysis, configuration, build, testing and training, deployment and final transition. Venable said the city has set up a staging environment, drafted a project charter and scheduled internal kickoff and public demonstrations.
Commissioners and members of the public pressed for a faster path. Commissioner Walker and others repeatedly asked why stages 2 and 3 (analysis and configuration) could not be condensed to deliver usable functionality more quickly. One commissioner asked for an earlier target for a minimal viable system that could begin issuing permits while work to refine the system continued.
Exela CEO Morrie Blackman told the commission his firm will "work... to squeeze every ounce of efficiency" from the schedule and said earlier stages might be compressed if the city provides timely access to subject‑matter experts. "When projects get slowed down... the vendor and the consultants are unable to extract information from staff," Blackman said, adding that strong, small teams and clear governance can accelerate delivery.
DBI said the estimated two‑year timeline is driven by the volume and complexity of interfaces with planning and other city systems and by the need to transfer legacy data. Staff and the vendor promised monthly updates to the commission and said the project has a steering committee and a governing committee that include directors from planning, DBI and the mayor's office.
Venable said the city is aiming for high quality and transparency and will seek to avoid "mistakes in the system" that could mislead the public or disrupt permit issuance. Commissioners and members of the construction community requested more frequent status reports and the formation of oversight and stakeholder groups to monitor progress.
The commission asked staff and the vendor to explore whether a limited, "bare‑bones" launch or a condensed schedule for early stages could deliver public value sooner without compromising accuracy or public safety. DBI staff agreed to provide updated timelines and additional detail at the next meeting.
