City of Bishop Streamlines Building Permit Process

County Inclusion Pending on Vote

Bishop is in the process of contracting with OpenGov for building permit software that is anticipated to streamline the process. Public Works Director Nora Gamino made the presentation at Monday’s City Council meeting. She anticipates the savings in staff time will pay for the $15,000 annual fee.

Gamino expects Inyo County will approve the 80/20 cost split at the next Inyo County Board of Supervisors’ meeting, especially since the City will pay the lion’s share. She explained the cost split was based on population of the two jurisdictions. County staffers, housed in Bishop City Hall, have been handling the permitting process for Bishop since 2016. Even with the non-intuitive boundaries between the City and Inyo County, the system will identify which entity has jurisdiction when the project address is input.

The advantages of the new process, according to Gamino, include an increase in customer convenience, department transparency and the reduction of paperwork. Those advantages apply to contractors as well, she explained, as they will know where the process is in real time.

The switch from paper to digital brings up the issue of a “learning curve,” a question asked by Councilmember Stephen Muchovej. Gamino assured the Council OpenGov will provide technical assistance through the six-month build-out; there will be some “handholding” as contractors adjust to the new system. Building inspector Tyson Sparrow admitted it “will be wonky” for a while.” Eventually all documents will be digitized.

As the staff acclimates to the new OpenGov system, new applications can be phased in, including special events at City Park and food vending. One suggestion: consider a new mantra “change is good.”