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DBI details citywide permit-tracking overhaul; staff estimate up to 24 months to full implementation
Summary
DBI staff outlined a vendor-driven permit-tracking project, said four responses were received to the solicitation, and described a testing plan that includes two months of parallel production testing plus three months post-go-live support. Commissioners urged quicker timelines and closer interdepartmental coordination.
Department staff told the Building Inspection Commission that a citywide permit-tracking system is under evaluation and that project timing will depend on vendor selection and contract negotiations.
Pamela Levin presented a project plan and procurement status, saying bids were due the prior Friday and the evaluation team received four statements of interest: "We got 4," Levin said. The department identified common contractual stumbling blocks such as legal review, insurance and indemnity terms that can lengthen negotiations.
Commissioners pressed staff on a projected implementation timeline. Staff said current, conservative estimates place full implementation at up to 24 months after contract signing, but that parts of the project can proceed in parallel and that vendors and other city departments are working to shorten the schedule. Commissioners repeatedly urged faster delivery: "Twenty-four months seems like a long, long time," Commissioner Lee said.
Testing and cutover details were clarified: the commission was told the rollout will include two months of parallel production testing and an additional three months post-go-live support, for five months of testing and verification overall. Staff stressed the project involves many departments and data conversions (planning, public works, fire, health and others), and that an up-front citywide addressing database will ease data standardization.
Public commenters and stakeholders urged better interdepartmental coordination so the DBI system is interoperable across departments. Henry Kornilowicz of SSCIG said DBI's tracking is good but needs other departments tied in to accelerate progress and ensure the system realizes promised efficiency gains.
Staff committed to providing regular progress updates to the commission and said it will report stumbling blocks encountered during vendor evaluation and negotiation.
