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for this contract. Amendments for additional implementation and integration services (as <br />recommended, up to an additional $30,000) would also be covered by these grant <br />funds. <br />BACKGROUND <br />In March 2019, HCD released a Notice of Funding Availability (NOFA) available to all <br />local governments in California under SB 2's PGP. City Council authorized submittal of <br />the grant application to the State in August 2019, and the City has been approved for <br />funding of $310,000. The funds are intended to fulfill two separate efforts: a) the <br />creation of objective residential design standards; and b) an update of the City's <br />electronic permitting system (Accela) to allow for additional electronic plan -checking <br />capacity and streamline the development review process. City Council previously <br />authorized a professional services agreement with Van Meter Williams Pollack for the <br />creation of objective residential design standards at the August 4, 2020 City Council <br />meeting. The professional services agreement enclosed with this agenda report is <br />regarding the second effort, an update of the City's electronic permitting system to allow <br />for additional electronic plan -checking capacity and streamline the development review <br />process through permit software and technology upgrades. This upgrade would also <br />allow for implementation of online payments for planning and building applications. <br />The City's electronic permitting system (Accela) was launched in May 2011, and <br />included a public user interface, Accela Citizen Access (ACA). ACA allows any member <br />of the public to search and view building, engineering, fire, and planning applications on <br />the City's website. A major upgrade has not been implemented since the original launch <br />date in 2011. The City has retained TruePoint Solutions' services over the years to <br />implement minor upgrades, modify workflows, and oversee the integration between <br />Accela and other City software platforms, such as Tyler Munis. <br />DISCUSSION <br />There are several permitting software upgrades available as part of the City's annual <br />user license with Accela. The updates will allow for a broader range of permit <br />applications to be submitted by customers online and reviewed electronically and make <br />the system more user friendly overall for the public and staff. The updates will also <br />include adding online permit fee payment capability, which is not a service currently <br />available to customers. These new technologies will accelerate the housing <br />development permitting process by streamlining the application submittal processes and <br />reducing plan review turnaround times. Several of the planned improvements have <br />been identified in the Community Development Department's 5 -year Strategic Plan, <br />aimed at improving departmental efficiency and effectiveness, but to date have not been <br />implemented due to lack of funding. <br />The proposed Professional Services Agreement with TruePoint Solutions is for services <br />related to an update of the City's electronic permitting system (Accela) to allow for <br />online submittals and payments, and additional electronic plan -checking capacity. <br />TruePoint Solutions is an experienced software and solutions company, and an Accela- <br />certified implementation partner, having implemented the City's existing electronic <br />Page 2 of 3 <br />