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Council to review iWorks access and communication plan after members raise concerns over permit access and process
Summary
Councilmembers debated whether access to the iWorks permitting system had been approved by council and whether it had been removed without council action; staff said access had been provided previously and council agreed to review records in September. Separately, council approved a motion to institute recurring administrator updates to reduce siloed communications among council and committee leaders.
A lengthy planning-and-zoning exchange focused on access to iWorks, the city’s permitting and project-tracking system, and broader communication practices between council members and staff.
Multiple councilmembers said they had previously been given access to iWorks and used it as a cross-check in Planning & Zoning (PNZ) meetings; they said access had subsequently been removed and called for it to be restored and for the council record to be checked. One councilmember characterized the removal or informal use as an "abuse" of the system; others asked for specific examples. Staff said the system had been made available as part of past administration actions and that records from early 2024 and February of the previous year will be reviewed to determine whether a formal vote granted access.
Council agreed to research the minutes and records and to revisit the topic at the next meeting in September. The clerk and administrator will trace the authorization history and provide documentation back to the council.
Council also approved a motion to institute recurring updates from the city administrator to council members and committee leaders to reduce siloed communications. The discussion included options for distribution (push email, shared folder or DLs), two‑way feedback, and open‑meeting constraints for any collaborative platform. Staff will draft a framework proposal for council review.
No formal disciplinary or policy changes were made; both issues will return to the council with factual records and proposed processes.
