The Oshkosh Common Council voted 5‑0 Oct. 28 to approve a professional services agreement with OpenGov for permitting and licensing software through 2030, and a corresponding budget amendment to cover implementation and annual subscription costs.

City staff said the new system will replace several legacy platforms — including parts of Evolve and SeeClickFix — and allow residents and businesses to apply, schedule inspections and renew permits online 24/7. Staff estimated a return on investment through reduced labor costs of roughly $75,000–$100,000 annually and said the vendor will build initial workflows and train staff from multiple departments.

City officials told council that the current electronic systems require vendor changes whenever the city wants to add or edit online services and that record searches and public‑records responses require manual searching across departments. The OpenGov contract includes a one‑time implementation fee and an annual subscription intended to consolidate those services and improve customer notifications and analytics.

Council members who spoke in favor described the move as modernization that will make government services easier for residents and the business community. “Making government easier to use is always a good thing,” a council member said during debate, noting frustration with current processes that require residents to visit multiple departments in person for some permits.

The agreement was recorded as Resolution 25‑0560. Roll call was recorded as Flom: aye; Belo: aye; Stevenson: aye; Spannbauer: aye; Mugwower: aye. The vote carried 5‑0.