Handouts and presentations are available online at www.iowaleague.org.

City Services Online 101

Ryan S. Smith, The Schneider Corporation

Agenda

• Where did Permitting come from?

• Why online?• What we learned initially• Features of Permitting solution

– City of Harlan– Building one from Scratch

• Getting your Community Started

• Questions?

Is this the line for the building permit?

If there was only an easier way

Where did Permitting come from?

• An Idea• Grant Money• http://

technologygrantnews.com/grant-index-by-type/city-grants.html

• https://us-government-grants.net/technology-grants

Why Online?

• Your citizens expect it• 24/7 Access• Information can be

shared quicker• Commercial prospects• Tourism• Easier to pay bills

Do you do any of these?

• Animal Care & Control:– Dog License

• Building Department:– Electrical– Demolition– HVAC– Grading– Inspection– Mechanical– Occupancy– Plumbing– Roofing

• Engineer/Highway Department:

– Right-of-Way cut– Floodplain– Drainage

• Planning and Zoning:– Variance– Rezone– Construction– Conditional use– Outdoor recreational– Activity registration– Boat rental– Camping reservation

– Residential parking– Sign permits

• Public Health:– Septic System– Inspections– Food/Restaurant– Air Quality– Radon

• Sheriff:– Wrecking permit

• Utilities:– Sewer lateral connection

• ????

What we learned initially

• Everyone wants to do their Permit/Workflow first

• Start with the simple ones

A lot of Meetings

• Work through every possible option!!

• The more time spent up front will benefit you in the long run

• Document everything and stay consistent

Features of Permitting solution

• 24/7 Access• Timely communication with all parties• “Cloud-based”• Efficient• Revitalizes stagnant procedures• Removes possible barriers• Encourages new business• Integration with GIS and Property records

City of Harlan, Iowa

• Live demo• Combined all permit

options into one application– Construction– Electrical– HVAC– Plumbing

Building a Simple one

• Council Bluffs, IA• Public Health

– Dog License/ Cat License• City based• 2 Steps

Getting your Community started

Getting Started (Recap)

• What permits do I pick?• Paperwork required • Other Information?• Who provides it? • Sequential steps• Don’t make it more complex

than it needs to be

Who Provides it

• City Staff• The Applicant

– Homeowner– Contractor– Other??

• Property Database• State of Iowa

Write out Data to be Collected

What makes up a permit

• Application?• Workflow• Stages

– Think Steps– Can we skip steps?

• Data Entities/Fields – Actual information you are capturing– Different types

Stage 1

Stage 2

Stage 3

Stage 4

Stage…….

Linear WorkflowData EntitiesData Entities

Begin Documenting Workflow

• Leave the computers off• Whiteboard• Go through numerous

times• Go through again!!

Data to Be Collected (Examples)

• Section-Township-Range – Text Box– Comes from Beacon

• Applicant is – Lookup Table (table would be

Owner or Contractor)– Public

• Building Date– Date Field – Public

• Attach Documents– Document– Public

• Type of Building– Lookup Table (table would list the types

of buildings)– Public

Decision Tree

Request A Permit

Applicant Information

Type of Building

New Building Repair AdditionAlteration

Is this New Construction

Building Permit

Use

Single Family Multi Family Duplex Garage/carport

Retail/Restaurant Office Hotel Hospital/Medical

Church/School Gas/Garage School Retaining Wall

Yes No

Tar/Gravel Shingle

Wood Metal

Roof Type

Info for Construction

Residential Doing Own Work/Contractor

Yes No

Is this New Construction

Info for Homeowner Contractor Info

Residential Doing Own Work/Contractor

Text Box (All Auto-filled by Beacon)-RequiredDate

Text

Number

Long Text Box

Static Html

Lookup Table with Employee Names

Lookup Table with All Uses

Lookup Table with Types of Work

Number Number Number Number Number NumberNumberStage Skipping?

Lookup Table

Number Number Number Number

Number

Text Box (All Auto-filled by Beacon)-Required Number-Beacon Number-Beacon Number-Beacon

Stage Skipping?

Stage Skipping?

Text Text Text Text Text

Text Text Text Text Text Text

Text Date Text

Text Text Text Text Text

Lookup Table --

Text Text

Text Text Text

Static Html

Text Text Text

Text

How to really get started

• Log in • Collect paperwork

and start entering information based on what you documented

Thanks!

Ryan S. SmithThe Schneider Corporationrsmith@schneidercorp.com515.509.2121