In February, the county’s building and development services department will start offering customers training sessions on Accela’s software.
“With the new system, there’s no need to come into our office,” said the department’s director, John Barnott. “You can do everything online.”
Community Plus, the county’s current permitting system, is being fazed out because it is no longer being offered by the company, Barnott said. Accela is based out of San Ramon, Calif., and was chosen during a request for proposal process in 2015, then offering their services for an annual subscription fee of nearly $3 million. The School District of Manatee County also uses software from the company to allow those who want to speak at school board meetings to sign up for a slot online.
“We’ve been saving nickels and dimes since 2008 to pay for this,” Barnott said. “Our customers are the ones who paid for it. We’re happy to bring it to them.”
One of the perks of the software is that it has the capability for customers to track their applications from start to finish. The new software also consolidates the planning, building and two code enforcement systems all into Accela. It will also make it easier to track down information when public records requests are filed.
Of course anyone can come into the departments offices either downtown or in Ellenton, Barnott said, but this will make the application process easier for those with busier schedules.
“(County employees) say the customers are going to love it,” Barnott said.
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