The New System Will Streamline Application Submittal and Permit Approval Processes, Provide Intuitive Navigation, and More
The Santa Monica City Council unanimously voted to move forward with an initiative aimed at benefiting businesses, home renovators, and property owners by providing an updated and streamlined online system for securing building permits.
Last week, the City Council approved a $3.8 million, five-year contract with Speridian Technologies, LLC to adopt and implement the Clariti permitting and land use management system. The new system is expected to be fully operational within the next 18 months.
This decision follows staff input and an extensive evaluation of the existing permitting system and processes. The council’s vote paves the way for the city to invest in a modern and more intuitive permitting system that will guide customers through the permit application process and make the overall review and approval process more efficient for both the public and city staff.
“This new system will help us attract businesses to open here and thrive for years to come,” Mayor Phil Brock said in a release. “Opening a business can be complicated, so any way we can help to make the process smoother on the city side is a huge win for everyone.”
The Clariti system covers permitting processes from application to review to issuance, fee assessment, and inspections. It is designed to enhance efficiencies, improve the applicant experience, and serve as a “one-stop shop” for land management and related planning, licensing, permitting, and enforcement functions.
Community Development Director David Martin emphasized the importance of this upgrade in the release, stating, “We all have the same goal, which is to get projects in and out of our queue as quickly and efficiently as possible while ensuring safety, environmental, and other requirements are met. I’m proud that we took the initiative to look at our existing practices and are now taking concrete steps to improve and innovate.”
In addition to improving customer experience, the new permitting system will streamline application submittal and permit approval processes, provide intuitive navigation through an online portal, reduce manual processes through increased automation, and improve reporting and availability of permitting metrics. It will also offer reports and dashboards for city staff to monitor permit processes and status, and enhance integration with other city technology systems.
