Q: What is eCityGov.net?
A: eCityGov.net, also known as eGovAllinance.org, is a multi-jurisdictional effort to improve access to government services to customers over the web.
Q: Why would a multi-jurisdiction site provide better services?
A: Citizen surveys frequently indicate that access to on-line government services is very desirable.
Citizens often do not know exactly where to go for on-line services. Even if they reach the correct agency home page, drilling down for specific services can be a daunting task. Through the eCityGov.net site, only on-line services are listed and the services are organized as homepages by functional area. MyBuildingPermit.com and MyParksandRecration.com are the first two such sites.
The eCityGov.net services also aggregates functional services for multiple jurisdictions together so citizens and contractors only have to remember one location for a particular kind of service. For example, MyBuildingPermit.com, not only provides on-line services for member agencies, but also provides web links to every city in King County (Washington State).
For citizens or contractors seeking similar services from multiple agencies, a visit to only one web location is required. Multiple jurisdiction purchases are possible with only one payment transaction.
Q: What are the benefits to member agencies?
A: Providing on-line services is a growing trend for many jurisdictions. Web services adds a new, but potentially expensive service delivery channel for government. The infrastructure for in-house service delivery is prohibitively expensive. Utilizing vendor supplied application service provider (ASP) models can lower the initial investment but are still relatively expensive. Perhaps more importantly, in-house and ASP models, further silo service delivery to citizens.
The eCityGov.net model provides the best of both worlds, cost effect, robust, member-controlled infrastructure and horizontal service access for citizens and contractors.
Q: What other benefits does the Alliance provide?
A: These and more!
- Semi-annual technology and business forums.
- Informal technology and business practice coordination and information sharing.
- Joint training.
- Local and regional business process alignments.
- Improved negotiating leverage with software implementers and vendors.
- Potential opportunities for shared infrastructure and hosted software solutions.
Q: Is the Alliance considering other on-line applications in the future?
A: Yes, the Alliance is always looking for new opportunities in which partners can share applications to reduce costs and improve service delivery. In some cases this will be an individual agency negotiating with the Alliance to share existing applications or the Alliance jointly deciding develop or purchase applications for the portfolio. Examples might include: Job Applications, Business Licenses, Utility Billing, and Parks Class & Facility Registration.
Q: How did eCityGov.net get started?
A: The building officials of several Eastside cities (Bellevue, Kirkland, Issaquah, and Mercer Island) have been collaborating for several years to align business objectives, code administration practices, and philosophy. Their desire has been to provide consistent service delivery ("seamless experience") to their customers who conduct business in each of their cities.
At the same time a group of King County city managers began examining the possibility of a collaborative project to provide on-line services and reduce operating costs. This work evolved in the eGov Alliance, which now represents eight King County governments. The permitting portal, MyBuildingPermit.com is the Alliance’s first project.
Q: How does use of the eCityGov.net portal effect my existing backend systems?
A: Existing jurisdiction systems such as permitting and parks registration are not effected. The portal’s business rules are enabled in such a manner that each jurisdiction can choose to how they want to integrate or interface to the web application. There are several options, including not interfacing the backend system. Some agencies will go with this option as it is the least expensive and current application volumes do not justify the investment cost of an interface.
Q: What happens if I don’t integrate or don’t have a backend system?
A: The jurisdiction will receive an email for each transaction. The email will contain all of the necessary information to for each permit. Organization can re-enter the data in to permit systems if needed.
Through your bank merchant account you will receive your Visa statement for reconciliation.
Q: How much will it cost if I want to interface one of the web applications to my backend system?
A: We cannot give you a firm cost as each agency's situation is unique. However, the Alliance is negotiating with several application vendors regarding interface capabilities and cost. For some of the more common applications the Alliance is considering purchasing the interface licenses in order to spread the cost.
Q: If my jurisdiction joined the Alliance, how long would it take to integrate my services on the portal sites?
A: Once an agency has formally joined the Alliance, we would post the informational elements relating to your jurisdiction immediately. Integration in business services will take some time depending on the following factors:
- Time and resources the agency can dedicate to the project.
- Level of backend application integration (or lack of integration).
- Vendor’s ability and willingness to integrate to a non-ASP model.
- Adoption of Alliance baseline business practices.
- Availability of Alliance resources to coordinate and implement the integration.
Q: Does utilizing an eCityGov.net portal site require that my jurisdiction utilize exactly the same fees, policies and regulation as other jurisdictions?
A: The short answer is no. However, teams from each of the functional areas have developed a few baseline business practice policies that will require adoption by new member agencies. These policies are administrative in nature and do not require any formal council action for adoption.
One example is the use of standard code interpretation and inspection checklists for the most common construction projects. These can be seen on the MyBuildingPermit.com site under Public Information/Construction Tip Sheets.
A second example is the use of a common refund policy for recreation actives. These process alignments are needed to make the portal site function smoothly and improve the experience for the customer.
More substantive policy and code issues such as resident – non-resident, fee schedules, land use and construction codes do not need to be changed.
Q: What happens if my jurisdiction cannot agree to the baseline business practices?
A: The baseline business practices adopted by the Alliance will always be open to review and possible modification by the partners. New partners are encouraged to participate in this process. However, the baseline business practices are fundamental to the operation of the portal sites. That is, the on-line applications have been built around these practices. Any change would have to be agreed to by the Alliance Board and may require additional programming changes to the web content and/or application software.
Q: Who governs the eCityGovAlliance?
A: The Alliance is a legally bound entity. The Executive Board is made up of city managers or chief administrative officers of the partner level member agencies.
Full partner membership fees and voting rights are based on population. Subscriber fees are also based on population. Subscribers elect to utilize a single service but cannot vote. Basic members can attend quarterly functions and training sessions, but cannot vote. Basic membership is a flat fee.
Q: Does eCityGov.net have any private partners?
A: Yes, Microsoft has generously provided consulting services, training (through NetDesk), and software, all of which helped to jumpstart the project. This project showcases Microsoft’s .Net technology, with the use of Commerce Server 2000, BizTalk Server 2000, and SQL Server 2000.
Q: What is the system architecture and software?
A: The transaction engine is designed to serve a wide range of system platforms. The XML enabled system runs on servers hosting Microsoft Commerce Server, BizTalk and SQL Server 2000. The hardware is housed in a secure, climate controlled environment, with a robust backup power supply. System data is backed up daily, with weekly backup tapes moved off-site to a secure location.
Q: How are Internet transactions secured?
A: All transactions utilize 128-bit encryption. In addition the site does not store any credit card information at the host location. Credit card data is passed directly to Verisign.
Q: What Web browser versions are required to utilize the site?
A: MyBuildingPermit.com's web site is designed to support Microsoft Internet Explorer (IE) 5.x and 4.x and Netscape Navigator 6.x, 4.x, and 3.x. This accounts for approximately 95% of users on the Web site. Other browsers may work but have not been tested for compatibility. To view this site as it was intended, please use one of the browsers mentioned above. You may also use the links below to download a free Internet browser.The preferred Internet browser for this site is Microsoft Internet Explorer 5.x or higher. This browser is most compatible with the programming on this site. Netscape browsers will work, but users with Netscape browsers may experience longer response times. Any questions concerning Internet browsers can be directed to mybuildingpermit@bellevuewa.gov.
Q: How are ADA requirements meet?
A: The site is designed to meet current web ADA accessibility guidelines. Each page has an option for a "Low Tech" display.
Q: Does the site have a privacy statement?
A: http://www.ecitygov.net/info_public/gen_public_privacy_security.asp
Q: How do applicants sign on-line documents?
A: This was one of the very first issues the MyBuildingPermit.com development team faced. Business managers indicated that every Over-the-Counter (OTC) permit was signed by the application.
Initially the team examined the possibility of utilizing digital signatures, however; other related questions arose regarding the use and intent of the signature in current business practices. More specifically, the intent of the signature is to insure that the applicant is who they say they are. In practice the signature gathered at the permit counter is only an affirmation of this fact. No attempt is made to verify the authenticity of the signature.
Since the signature is only an affirmation, it was determined that a digital signature was not required. The affirmation is collected as part of the ePermits process of the process flow questions at the beginning of the application process. One example is a series of questions that determine if the applicant is the homeowner or a contractor. If homeowner is the applicant, is the work done by the homeowner or a contractor. If it is the contractor, are they properly licensed.
Q: What are the concerns about credit card fraud?
A: Due to the nature of services purchased on the eCityGov.net site, it was determined that extraordinary credit card fraud protection was not required. The reasoning is that the individual purchasing the service has a locally verifiable address. In the case of ePermits, the services are also associated with real property. So the potential for fraud is extremely low and there is always an individual or local property tied to the transaction.
Q: How do I contact the eCityGov Alliance about receiving more information?
A: Please contact:
John Backman
Executive Director
eCityGov Alliance
PO Box 90012
Bellevue, WA 98009
425.452.7821
jbackman@bellevuewa.gov