Carson, CA — Carson officials touted the success of a new citywide Enterprise Permitting and Licensing system during a June 3 City Council meeting, saying the technology has streamlined business licensing, improved coordination between departments and expanded online access for residents and businesses.

The presentation was part of an informational update on the city’s Enterprise Permitting & Licensing System (EP&L).

Finance Director William Jefferson said the city transitioned its Revenue Division from the HDL software platform to the new Enterprise Permitting and Licensing system on July 1 of last year.

The move was designed to create a more streamlined process for Carson residents and businesses while modernizing internal operations.

“The primary purpose of this transition was to provide a more efficient and user-friendly experience for the citizens and businesses of Carson while also streamlining internal processes and making it easier for city staff to perform their duties,” Jefferson told the council.

He said the effort reflects the city’s commitment to improving customer service, increasing operational efficiency and leveraging technology to better serve the community.

Revenue Manager Antonio Velasco provided an overview of the software, known as EP&L, which is produced by Tyler Technologies and serves as the city’s business licensing and permitting platform.

He said the system offers a centralized online portal where businesses can pay invoices, submit applications and receive licenses electronically.

Velasco said one of the most significant improvements is the introduction of a secure online service called Civic Access, which is available around the clock. Through the portal, business owners can submit business license applications, apply for permits and pay fees without needing to visit City Hall during business hours. The system is already being used by the city’s Planning Division as well.

“It’s open 24/7 so they have access all the time,” Velasco said. “Citizens are able to go in there and pay their invoices for their business licenses and permits. In addition to that, they’d actually file their business licenses and the permits electronically on there as well.”

City officials emphasized that the platform does more than provide online payments. Velasco said EP&L incorporates geographic information system, or GIS, technology to improve address accuracy and track permitting activity. The software also maintains an electronic history of every action taken on an account, allowing staff to see who made changes and when they occurred. Documents such as PDFs can be uploaded directly into the system, giving employees immediate access to records when assisting customers.

According to Velasco, the software was customized to accommodate Carson’s diverse business community, which includes a wide range of industries and permit types. In addition to business licenses and permits, the system can process other city-regulated activities, including bingo permits, and generate reports used by staff and elected officials. Monthly reports detailing new businesses operating in Carson are now produced through the platform.

Council members generally welcomed the update and used the presentation to ask about longstanding concerns regarding licensing delays.

Councilmember Jim Dear said some business owners had complained for years that they paid licensing fees but waited months before receiving physical licenses.

“In the past 10 years, we’ve received many, many complaints from businesses that they have paid for their license at the beginning of the year and 10, 11, 12 months have gone by,” Dear said. “They haven’t gotten actual physical license to put up on the wall where they’re supposed to.”

Dear asked whether the new system would solve that problem.

Velasco responded that it would, provided there were no outstanding approvals required from outside agencies such as the Los Angeles County Fire Department or county health officials.

He explained that the system allows city departments to communicate electronically and process approvals more quickly than before.

When Dear questioned whether EP&L would improve coordination among the city’s various departments, including planning, building and safety, code enforcement and revenue services, staff said the system would help eliminate bottlenecks.

“Will this system address the efficiency of that,” Dear asked.

“Yes, it will because we can actually talk to planning electronically and we can actually get approvals like that right off the bat,” Velasco replied. “It helps with our referral process as well.”

Dear called the update “good news” and described the modernization effort as an important advancement in technology for the city.

The presentation concluded without council action because the item was informational only.

However, officials said the system has now been in operation for nearly a year and is already helping Carson improve customer service, reduce paperwork and strengthen communication between departments and outside agencies.