Waterloo, Iowa Development News

City Council Reviews CIP Software Upgrades from Planet Software

The council reviewed a presentation from Planet Software regarding upgrades to the city's Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) software. The presentation highlighted two new tools: a replacement plan management tool and a web transparency tool. The replacement plan management tool aims to automate forecasting for asset replacement costs, improving planning effectiveness by consolidating data from various department spreadsheets into a single, controlled environment, thus reducing errors and streamlining processes. The web transparency tool is an interactive website that can be integrated into the city's website, allowing constituents to view and access information on CIP projects, department summaries, and analytics. Examples from Roseville, Minnesota, were showcased, demonstrating its capabilities in displaying cash flow reports and project details. Discussions also touched upon the potential for public input features, future development timelines driven by customer demand, and the cost of these upgrades. The finance director confirmed that the two items presented would cost $3,000 each, with an anticipated annual renewal increase of approximately 6% for the Planet software. The council was informed that these upgrades are intended to improve efficiency and provide citizens with visual access to the city's planned projects and expenditures. The upgrades are slated for implementation shortly after council approval on August 3rd.