Feature Story

GOVPARTNER GIVES POWER TO THE PEOPLE

Asking city hall to fix a pothole could one day feel like ordering a sweater from an online retailer, thanks to a San Diego company.

Rancho Bernardo-based GovPartner has expanded its line of Web-based software for local government, and will now help denizens of certain cities make requests over the Web.

The new system is called RequestPartner, and cities like Sunnyvale and Laguna Hills are already hooking it up.

Problems with potholes, or traffic speeding through the neighborhood? Concerns about a weed-choked lot? Constituents in certain cities will be able to go online, check the proper boxes, type in their comments and send the concern to the appropriate person at City Hall.

City staff can then tap into the program to find out what needs doing. Authorized city staffers can also post messages related to the request in a secure area of the Web site.

The programs are hosted on a server run by GovPartner. The system also lets a constituent log back into a personal account on the system to see if a city's staff is progressing on the request. Go

vPartner suggests its municipal government clients put other requests received at City Hall - verbal, written or telephoned - into the system as well, letting RequestPartner serve as a way to manage it all.

GovPartner's earlier offerings let people apply for building permits and reserve park and rec facilities. The company also offers a management system for planning, zoning, building safety, public works and code enforcement.

Sunnyvale and Laguna Hills use those modules as well. Sites are custom tailored to a city's needs.

GovPartner sells the RequestPartner Web service by the month. Cities with fewer than 50,000 inhabitants pay $500 a month, and fees go up with population. The company also charges a $5,000 set-up fee.

GovPartner is an affiliate company of Berryman & Henigar, a San Diego-based municipal consulting firm.

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