Title
Consider approving Resolution No. 2024-069 authorizing the City Manager to enter into a three-year agreement with Vertosoft, LLC for the purchase of OpenGov software licensing, implementation, and training, in the first-year amount of $97,634, utilizing the State of Texas Department of Information Resources Contract DIR-TSO-4227; and take appropriate action.
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BACKGROUND:
The OpenGov Reporting & Transparency module is a software tool that facilitates government agencies' reporting and transparency efforts by creating an open data portal. These portals can be utilized by both city staff and our community to streamline access to vast datasets that are stored in numerous systems and data repositories. Open data portals facilitate greater citizen participation by providing the public with user-friendly self-service tools to explore and comprehend complex government data. Open data portals also help to streamline the process of accessing public records by providing a wealth of information directly through the portal, eliminating the administrative burden of collecting and disseminating this data repeatedly.
Some Council members previously expressed interest in a platform for customized searches across various data sources. IT staff began exploring various options for providing this type of service and discovered that open data platforms not only serve this need but also add much more value to the organization through improved decision-making, increased operational efficiencies, and overall transparency. The Director of Innovation & Technology provided an overview of the OpenGov solution in his study session presentation to the City Council on April 16, 2024.
DISCUSSION:
Open data portals, like OpenGov, serve as an invaluable asset by fostering transparency, accountability, and efficiency. The OpenGov platform offers an internal and external view of various datasets, allowing this tool to be used by both the staff and the public. The decision to make data public or for internal use only can be made in the portal upon ingestion. The types of public data that will be made available include, but will not be limited to, financial information, performance metrics, permit data, and other routinely requested information currently provided through the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) process. The number of datasets available will grow over time as the City integrates additional systems and data sources.
The City currently utilizes an open finance portal provided by Tyler Technologies for $10,000 annually. This service will be discontinued as part of the implementation process, and a new financial data portal will be created in OpenGov. Funding for implementation and the initial yearly subscription cost for the OpenGov platform was provided as part of the City's 2023-24 fiscal year operating budget amendment approved by Council on May 7, 2024.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The cost for year one of this software solution, including implementation and training, is $97,634. The agreement costs for years two and three would be $74,112 and $77,818, respectively.
POSSIBLE COUNCIL ACTION:
1. I move to approve Resolution No. 2024-069 as presented.
2. I move to approve Resolution No. 2024-069, with modifications.
3. I move to table the issue for further study or take no action.
ATTACHMENT(S):
1. Resolution No. 2024-069
2. Vertosoft Pricing Quote
3. OpenGov Scope of Work