Minneapolis is showing how local governments can harness cloud-based tools to transform permitting, reduce paperwork, improve service delivery, and save staff time.
Minneapolis hosts around 500 food-related events each year, many with amplified music. Each requires a permit and inspection, which used to mean an immense amount of paperwork and a slow, manual process for the city’s Health Department.
As reported by Route Fifty, Minneapolis staff previously sorted through handwritten permit applications, made paper copies for field inspectors, and took credit card payments by phone. That’s changed with the city’s adoption of a cloud-based work management platform from Smartsheet. Now, applicants can apply and pay online, inspectors get real-time access to digital records, and the overall permit process takes half the time.
From the article:
Rather than submit a paper application, permit applicants go online and fill out a form that has various logic fields, meaning if someone says they have a license in another jurisdiction, the form automatically updates with additional questions to ask. If an applicant says no, it stays as it is.
Once an applicant submits their form, city staff go into the software portal and automatically generate a document for themselves and can even communicate with applicants via Smartsheet if they require more information or clarification. For example, Gehrig said that could involve fixing simple errors like an amplified sound permit putting 11 p.m. as an end time, when the city only allows amplified sound until 10 p.m.
Beyond convenience, this type of digital transformation supports greater responsiveness and transparency in local government. It’s a model for local government to consider for food permits, park event requests, temporary use applications, and more.
