BasicGov / BLOG

Our California-based customer, City of Beaumont, has added a fifth BasicGov software module and is now running four distinct city functions in a single cloud based database.

This most recent module is for the Permitting and Inspection department to go along with modules for Code Enforcement, Licensing and Planning.  All of these applications sit on the cloud, in a single database, providing for a more complete and integrated history on each citizen and parcel.

Southern California’s City of Beaumont, with a population of 34,217 and growing, strives to keep its rural charm with planned growth for residential housing, recreational parks and facilities, commerce investments and improved transportation. These goals put pressure on City staff to manage community development and land use smartly and efficiently.

The City implemented software to reduce pressure on staff by allowing them to process citizen requests faster, and with reporting tools city staff can make better decisions to support long term community goals.

Like most municipalities, city activity and budgets vary, which is why BasicGov software is so convenient. With a software-as-a-service (SaaS) model, BasicGov is flexible and can be changed as required to scale up or down the number of users and modules. And because it sits in a secure and reliable cloud environment, city staff can do their work from anywhere.

The City of Beaumont’s four departments – Planning, Code Enforcement, Public Works and GIS – are all now using BasicGov software.

“We started using BasicGov’s planning software a few years ago, then this year we added additional BasicGov modules for code enforcement, licensing, GIS integration and permits,” said a staff planner for the City of Beaumont, California. “Our City likes the affordable cost and flexibility of BasicGov software that allows us to change our number of users depending upon the level of activity within our community.”

“Many of our customers start with one BasicGov software product and then over time add more staff and more modules. And sometimes our customers want to lower the number of users for a period of time to manage within changing budgets,” said Michael Togyi, Vice President Marketing and Sales, BasicGov Systems Inc. “We find that BasicGov’s cloud computing type of software allows municipalities to work more collaboratively between departments, improve services to citizens, and stay within variable budgets.”

As a web-based software system, BasicGov has fast implementation and customers can have the software up and running in less than 5 weeks. Upgrades and daily support are included in the price.

Click here to request complimentary demonstration of BasicGov products.

Calling 311 gives citizens an easy way to call in to report broken streetlights or graffiti or after-hours construction. It is used by many municipal governments in both the U.S. and Canada (see list below).

With 311 New Yorkers are helping to solve problems they see in neighborhoods

This week there was an interesting story in Wired Magazine about New York using its 311 call center to solve the source of a series of related complaints – the maple syrup mystery - read more here.

In New York, 311 now fields on average more than 50,000 calls a day, offering information about more than 3,600 topics: school closings, recycling rules, homeless shelters, park events, pothole repairs. The service has translators on call to handle some 180 different languages. (source: http://www.wired.com/magazine/2010/11/ff_311_new_york/)

The image below shows how those calls are dispersed across a typical day in New York.

311 for smaller cities?

In Evanston, Illinois (population less than 100K), Aldermen are split over a proposed 311 city call center program that City Manager has proposed to handle citizens’ after-hours non-emergency calls. The Aldermen questioning the program wonder if the $783K is the best use of money in the wake of the budget’s call for cuts in service and programs in other areas. (source: http://www.pioneerlocal.com/evanston/news/2900974,evanston-311center-111810-s1.article)

Federal Grants help smaller cities launch 311 call centers

The Town of New Hempstead, NY (population also less than 100K) established its 311 call center in 2005 through a $500,000 federal grant. Today, the center averages 100,000 calls a year.

Municipalities using 311 call centers in US and Canada

According to Wikipedia, the following cities in the US and Canada have 311 call centers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/3-1-1

United States

311 is available in several major American cities, including: Akron • Albuquerque • Austin • Baltimore • Birmingham • Charlotte • Chattanooga • Chicago • Columbus, Ohio • Dallas • Denver • Detroit • Hartford • Houston • Kansas City, Missouri • Knoxville • Las Vegas • Laredo • Little Rock • Louisville • Los Angeles • Miami • Milwaukee • Minneapolis • Mobile • Nashville • New York City^[4] • Orlando • Pittsburgh • Philadelphia • Richmond, Virginia • Riverside, California • Rochester • Sacramento • San Antonio • San Francisco • San Jose • Somerville, Massachusetts • Springfield, Massachusetts • Tampa and Washington, D.C..

Canada

The service is available in the following communities:

• Calgary, Alberta (18 May 2005)
• Gatineau, Quebec (22 June 2005)
• Windsor, Ontario (22 August 2005)
• Ottawa, Ontario (19 September 2005)
• St. John’s, Newfoundland and Labrador (27 June 2006)
• Fort St. John, British Columbia (14 November 2006)
• Greater Sudbury, Ontario (12 February 2007)
• Laval, Quebec (3 October 2007)
• Montreal, Quebec (mid-December 2007)
• Halton Region, Ontario (18 March 2008)
• Edmonton, Alberta (16 December 2008)
• Winnipeg, Manitoba (16 January 2009)
• Vancouver, British Columbia
• Toronto, Ontario (24 September 2009)
• Peel Region, Ontario (5 October 2009)