LOGIS Blog

Optimize your permitting process with ePermits and eScheduling

Date Posted: 03/14/19

The snow is melting quickly and the building season is heating up!

Our members are anticipating an active start to the busy season due to the rapid meltwater and ice dams that we have encountered this winter. Speed and accuracy will be key to serve the permitting needs of residents and businesses in our cities. LOGIS has many mechanisms to help improve efficiency within PIMS.

Many of our members utilize our ePermits solution to help speed up the permitting process for residents and businesses in their cities. Some members have opted to implement eScheduling, which allows permit applicants to schedule time with a building inspector from the convenience of their computer. Permits, inspection records, and correction notices can be emailed directly from PIMS to building contractors and homeowners directly, speeding up the process of getting these documents in the hands of those who need them.

If you’re interested in implementing any of these solutions, or learning more about how other cities have handled particularly busy permit and inspections situations due to storms, city growth, or other situations – LOGIS staff is prepared to answer questions and help you out!

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

City of Alexandria and City of St. Louis Park Live on eScheduling!

Date Posted: 02/15/19

We are pleased to announce The City of Alexandria and the City of St. Louis Park are now live using eScheduling!

eScheduling is an extra function of the ePermits website which allows contractors and homeowners to schedule permit inspections online. This is a quick and efficient means of scheduling required inspections associated with any permit in the PIMS database.

Scheduled inspections and inspection results can be viewed on the ePermits website by simply searching for the linked permit number.

Both cities are excited to offer this service to their customers as a way to enrich customer service.

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

LOGIS PIMS Welcomes City of Le Sueur

Date Posted: 06/28/18

LOGIS is excited to announce that the city of Le Sueur has started production use of PIMS on June 25, 2018. A LOGIS staff person was available on site on the 25th and 26th to answer questions, assist with unique configurations, and offer hands on support as City Staff began to dive in to the software.

Le Sueur is also pursuing implementation of PIMS Business Licenses and online ePermits. City staff will be attending training to configure and use the Business Licenses module later this week, and will begin the project to configure ePermits in the near future.

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

City of Farmington Gearing Up to Incorporate ePermits

Date Posted: 05/09/18

The City of Farmington is getting ready to introduce ePermits as part of their daily business process.

After months of preparations, database/web site setup, training, and testing, the City of Farmington is excited to introduce this new functionality to contractors and homeowners.

Currently, there are 20 cities utilizing the ePermits module. With so many cities offering this option, contractors are accustomed to applying for permits online utilizing this familiar interface. Great job Farmington staff!

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

LOGIS Welcomes the City of Le Sueur

Date Posted: 04/11/18

LOGIS would like to welcome the City of Le Sueur as a new member!

Le Sueur reached out to LOGIS to request a demonstration of the entire PIMS (Permits and Inspections Management System) in December 2017. Staff scheduled the PIMS demo in early January 2018. Following the demo, Le Sueur immediately responded and elected to incorporate PIMS as their software solution for permits, inspections and scheduling.

The PIMS software implementation project began with a kick off meeting in April 2018. LOGIS has initiated data discovery for migration purposes. LOGIS will also set up meetings to build code table definitions and add permit fee schedules for automatic fee calculations. We will include an in depth PIMS training session for all Le Sueur staff, to help facilitate maneuvering comfortably within the application.

City staff has also expressed interest in ePermits as well.

We are very excited to work with the City of Le Sueur to implement PIMS.

Please join us in welcoming the City of Le Sueur to LOGIS and PIMS!

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

New Health Inspections Module

Date Posted: 03/14/18

LOGIS Staff has been working with the City of Edina to develop a PIMS health inspections module. Initial design and development started in early 2017 and focused on food establishment inspections. Food inspections went into beta testing in the fall of 2017.

We are pleased to announce that the City of Edina went live with Food Inspections in PIMS in January of 2018!

Health Inspections build upon the Business License framework that already exists in PIMS. The new module provides an interface to review upcoming health inspections, tracking of inspection dates and frequencies, and custom reporting – which includes CFP’s and detailed inspection reports.

LOGIS staff are currently working with Edina staff to add Lodging and Pool inspection types. These inspections use a similar design as food inspections but are being tailored to meet the unique needs of both. Lodging and Pool inspections are currently in internal testing and will be moving into beta testing soon!

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

City of Savage Implementation of ePermits, eScheduling, Business Licenses and Code Enforcement

Date Posted: 02/14/18

PIMS (Permits and Inspections Management Systems) was initially launched into production with the City of Savage in June of 2017. They began using the permits, inspections and scheduling modules. Since that time, city staff and LOGIS have been working hard towards implementing other modules available within PIMS.

After months of meetings, preparations, data entry sessions, database/web site setup, training and testing, Savage introduced new functionality for homeowners, contractors, business owners and city staff.

In September 2017, Savage went live with ePermits and added eScheduling in November. At the beginning of the 2018, Savage also implemented Business Licensing and Code Enforcement within PIMS.

There are many modules offered within PIMS which can fit the needs of several departments within a City. This allows the City to utilize one software package with multiple functions to increase efficiency and improve customer service. Great job Savage staff!

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

City of Minnetonka Live on Electronic Plan Review

Date Posted: 01/23/18

We are pleased to announce the City of Minnetonka is live using Electronic Plan Review!

As of September 2017, Minnetonka is offering plan review permits online using ePermits. Some time ago, only permits that did not require plan review were offered online, now cities have the opportunity to offer all permits online.

For permits that require a plan review, our PIMS software begins the process by allowing the applicant to apply for a permit online. Once submitted and fees are collected, a permit is created in PIMS.  The permit has not been issued at this point, but a percentage of the permit fee can be collected upfront and subsequently subtracted from the total fee.

Next Step: Documents and drawings (plans) are submitted electronically by the applicant and reviewed by city staff for accuracy and proper orientation.  All electronic plans can be reviewed by multiple departments within a city concurrently.

Once approved, an approved date will be transferred from the electronic plan review software to the PIMS system.  This action will alert the applicant (via email) that the submitted plans for the permit have been approved, and final payment needs to be completed before the permit can be issued and approved plans can be downloaded.

Since going “Live” in September, Minnetonka has approximately 400 projects submitted online using ePermits and electronic plan review.

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

Coming Soon: eLicenses!

Date Posted: 12/19/17

LOGIS has been working on developing and testing eLicenses at the request of many members. This feature builds upon existing animal and business licenses that are tracked and maintained within the PIMS system.  eLicenses allows customers to renew business and animal licenses, and apply for new animal licenses. Customers are able to pay for their elicenses online.

eLicenses is moving into beta testing in January. Two member cities have volunteered to beta test and provide feedback.

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management

City of Maple Grove Live on Electronic Plan Review

Date Posted: 11/15/17

We are pleased to announce the City of Maple Grove is now offering permits that require a plan review online through ePermits.

In early October 2017, Maple Grove went live with Electronic Plan Review. Currently, Maple Grove is offering Commercial Building, Electrical, Mechanical, Plumbing and Fire Permits that require plan review online. There are a number of permits that do not require plan review that are now available online. In the future, the city will also offer residential building permits that require plan review online.

Documents and drawings specifically related to the project can be submitted electronically by the applicant. Once all uploaded files are reviewed for accuracy, the review process begins. Due to the nature of the electronic plan review software, all plans can be examined by multiple departments at the same time. This increases efficiency and precision throughout the project. All correspondence with the applicant regarding the project is communicated via email.

More cities are realizing the value of electronic plan review and deciding to incorporate this solution to completely renovate the permit application and plan review process.

LOGIS will be hosting a user group meeting for cities that utilize electronic plan review. The first meeting is scheduled for November 21^st, 1:00 PM at the LOGIS Office (5750 Duluth St., Golden Valley). Future periodic meetings are anticipated.

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Category: Permits & Inspections Management