Overview

May 9

Watch Now

From renovating a house to hosting events at a public park, there are thousands of scenarios in which a constituent might need to obtain a permit or license.

Unfortunately, understanding permitting and licensing needs has traditionally been difficult – And when residents experience trouble navigating the process, they turn to staff for answers, costing your permitting experts tens of thousands of hours every year repeatedly answering the same questions.

The good news is there are ways to relieve your workforce, improve the public permitting experience and lower your city’s permitting costs. 

Permitting and licensing software makes it easy for the public to understand zoning and permit requirements, associated costs and can even guide the public on how to apply – all without ever talking to an employee or making an in-person visit. And when staff are equipped with the right tools, things get even easier for those at the front counter. 

Join Government Technology on May 9 at 11:00 am PDT to learn about solutions that streamline permitting operations and make the process easier for applicants and staff.

Our panel of public sector and permitting experts will cover:

  • The benefits of innovating traditional permitting processes by equipping staff with the latest tools
  • How to save the public time and minimize hassle when figuring out what permits they need
  • How to lower the cost and raise the quality of permitting operations

Speakers

Jeff Taylor headshot

Jeff Taylor

Project Manager, OpenCounter

After gaining a Master of Engineering in urban management, Jeff started his career as an assistant planner at the County of Lake in California before heading off to planning departments in the Cities of Renton and Redmond, Washington. Today, Jeff works with OpenCounter’s Government Services team where he helps public agencies all over the country make their municipal codes easier for the public to understand.

Russ Nichols headshot

Russ Nichols — Moderator

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Russ Nichols’ public service spanned over 32 years and included management and executive positions with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, the California State Controller’s Office, and the Employment Development Department. In 2015, Nichols was appointed by Governor Jerry Brown as the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation Chief Information Officer and Director of Enterprise Information Services. While serving at the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, Nichols also served as a board member for the Corrections Technology Association and served as CTA President from 2019 to 2021. In February 2021, Governor Gavin Newsom appointed Nichols Deputy State CIO and Chief Deputy Director at California Department of Technology. Prior to retirement, Nichols also served as Acting State CIO and CDT Director for several months.

Shonte Eldridge headshot

Shonte Eldridge

Senior Fellow, Center for Digital Government

Shonte Eldridge is an award-winning strategy and organizational change expert who spent 23 years in State and Local Government leadership. She served in senior positions for a Governor, two States’s Attorneys, and two Mayors, and ended her public sector career as the Deputy Chief of Operations for the City of Baltimore. Shonte is currently focused on helping government leaders simplify cumbersome business operations and navigate an ever-evolving technology landscape. Shonte was named one of the 25 women to watch by the Baltimore Sun newspaper and magazine in 2020 and is most known in the industry for her energetic approach to solving complex government challenges and developing process improvement and digital transformation strategies that get results.