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Los Ranchos moves to modernize permitting and code enforcement with Granicus software
Summary
After reviewing 13 proposals, planning staff recommended Granicus for an electronic planning, permitting and code enforcement platform; trustees authorized the mayor to negotiate and execute the contract pending data‑ownership and export protections.
Village planning staff recommended and trustees authorized on June 16 the mayor to enter into contract negotiations with Granicus LLC to provide a planning, permitting and code enforcement software suite.
Planning Director Shana Schultz said the RFP drew 13 respondents and that Granicus scored highest on functionality, price and municipal experience. Schultz told the board the software would move the village from a paper‑based plan‑submittal and Excel tracking system to an online platform with plan review automation, fee calculation, GIS integration and a code‑enforcement module that allows residents to submit complaints and track case status.
Trustees and staff discussed several contract and implementation points before approving negotiations: public access to historic permitting records; support for project‑specific automations (for example, conservation development FAR calculations that deduct already‑allocated square footage); contract term length and scheduled reviews; and data ownership/export procedures if the village discontinues service or a vendor fails. Staff agreed to require explicit data‑export and continuity provisions in the negotiated contract, and confirmed an on‑site public kiosk or staff‑assisted submission process would be available for residents not comfortable filing online.
Trustees moved and seconded authorizing the mayor to execute a contract with Granicus following negotiation; the motion carried by voice vote.
What’s next: Staff will negotiate contract terms addressing data export and ownership, frequency of review, and performance milestones; the vendor will be expected to support migration of existing records into the new system prior to broad public rollout anticipated later this year.
