El Paso, Texas (May 7, 2008)
El Paso, Texas has selected Accela
Automation® from Accela, Inc. to streamline its zoning, permitting,
licensing, and inspection processes and improve the quality of service
it provides. The more user-friendly, easily accessible system will support
several agencies charged with safeguarding the life, health, and welfare
of the public by enabling them to conduct business more efficiently and
effectively via the Internet.
El Paso is upgrading to the Web-based technology of Accela Automation
from a legacy Accela product.
Staff in several city departments will be able to access land use, asset,
and service request information from a centralized database and share
the information across the agency so staff can work together to better
track and manage processes related to current and long-range planning,
new development, and building and housing safety. Departments using the
system include Environmental Services, Development Services, Health, Police,
Fire, and the City Manager’s Office.
“The city is dedicated to streamlining and enhancing the services
we provide to the community, and Accela's solution will enable us to make
a significant step forward in meeting this goal,” said Environmental
Services Director Ellen A. Smyth. “This project aligns with the
City Council’s strategic policies to bring multiple departments
under one system and increase our ability to offer more online services
that make an important and recognizable impact for our citizens.”
The city also selected additional Accela applications that will enhance
the functionality of Accela Automation by facilitating management of citizen
requests, sharing of GIS information from a centralized database, enabling
field staff to work more efficiently in conducting inspections, and providing
residents with the ability to apply for and obtain permits online:
Accela GIS™
seamlessly integrates with Accela Automation to provide powerful real-time
visual analysis to enhance land use, zoning, and infrastructure data.
It allows creation of multiple map layers, automated map analysis, parcel
and asset inventory management, direct editing of GIS data or files, and
auto-distribution of information to mailing lists. It is built on the
ArcIMS™ platform by ESRI®.
Accela Wireless™
is a mobile government software application that allows government staff
to perform their jobs from the field for inspections, code enforcement,
work orders, and service requests. Optimized for Intel Centrino® Mobile
Technology, Accela Wireless is compatible with PDAs, laptops, and Tablet
PCs running on the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003, Windows Mobile 5, Windows
2000, or Windows XP operating systems.
Accela Citizen Access™
provides real-time, direct access via the Internet to agency permit and
land management activities. Online permit applications can be configured
to allow citizens and businesses access to apply and pay for permits,
schedule inspections, check the status of a permit or inspection, or print
an approved permit directly from the Internet 24 hours a day, seven days
a week.
“We welcome El Paso to a growing list of Accela clients who are
upgrading their systems to Accela Automation,” said Maury Blackman,
Accela president and CEO. “The City realizes the significant and
far-reaching impact of utilizing Web-based technology to integrate agencies,
improve staff efficiencies, and deliver high standards of customer service.”
El Paso is financing the upgrade to Accela Automation through Accela
Financial Services™, which provides low interest rate, municipal
lease purchase financing for government agencies.
About El Paso
El Paso covers 250.5 sq. miles on the farthest western edge of Texas,
and is located on the Rio Grande River across the border from Ciudad Juarez,
Mexico. It is the County Seat of El Paso County and has a population of
approximately 610,000, making it the sixth largest city in Texas and 21st
largest city in the U.S. For more information, please visit www.ci.el-paso.tx.us/.
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