Navigating the complex twists and turns of the Cortese Knox Hertzberg Local Government Reorganization Act of 2000 (CKH) is a challenge all LAFCO practitioners are familiar with. Whether your LAFCO processes a few dozen or only a few applications per year, making sure you process the application properly requires a focused effort to ensure the Commission’s ultimate action can withstand any possible challenge.
For decades, LAFCO staff have devised methods to make sure they don’t miss any subtle statutory requirements using sticky notes, whiteboards, spreadsheets, and home grown checklists to manage the process.
Over the past 40 years the software industry has developed tailored applications to meet the needs of virtually every other type of organization. The catchphrase “there’s an app for that” has brought the power of information systems to bear for others, while LAFCOs were forced to improvise on their own, using administrative methods that would be familiar to our grandparents. Until now.
User Experience
Assura’s intuitive interface ensures that users of all skill levels can navigate and utilize Assura Software effectively. With a focus on user-centric design, you’ll experience a smooth transition and immediate productivity gains – it looks like your process.
Flexibility and Accessibility
Available on both web and mobile platforms, Assura Software provides the flexibility to manage your tasks from anywhere. This cross-platform compatibility is ideal for teams and individuals who need consistent access and functionality across devices.
Security and Scalability
Assura Software invests in the security of their platform to ensure it is as robust as possible. As your needs evolve, the Assura Software solution scales with you, ensuring long-term value and adaptability.
Specialized Software for LAFCOs
Specialized Software
This year Assura Software, a technology company from New Zealand and CALAFCO member, worked with a California based CALAFCO member, Kennedy Water Consulting, to develop the first ever workflow software specifically designed to assist LAFCO staff when processing applications. The software, which is a secure cloud-based application that runs on ordinary web browsers and includes mobile app for your phone, has been built to “understand” some of the complex rules in CKH.
For instance, if you are processing a landowner initiated application the information collected and workflow process will be different than if it were initiated by the vote of a board of directors. As LAFCO practitioners know, CKH has a variety of deadlines for notifications and other processes and these have been built into the software. The software automatically calculates the dates for these notifications and prompts users as the deadline nears.
From Large to Small
The larger LAFCOs were eager to get started with San Diego LAFCO “going live” on the Assura platform this summer. The new software has revolutionized their processes.
Assistant Executive Officer Priscilla Mumpower reports that “the Assura team has assisted LAFCO staff in creating a tailored platform that streamlines proposal management and keeps the executive team updated on all ongoing proposals”. Now, all team members can see the exact status of any proposal from anywhere – including their phone – without having to track down the analyst or find their notes or checklist. Executive Officer Keene Simonds adds “the new norm out of the pandemic of regular teleworking practices means greater importance in technology to help bridge the communication gaps that exist when employees are not in the same place; among other benefits, Assura is San Diego LAFCO’s investment in bridging the communication gap to help ensure proposals are proceeding as intended.”
Better yet, the Assura system automatically develops a detailed, complete administrative record that documents each and every step in the application process. While no LAFCO wants to experience a challenge to their process, using the Assura system will save a ton of time and legal costs should that happen. Assura can also incorporate local county policies into the workflows as the software is highly configurable to meet specific needs.
What About Smaller LAFCOs?
While this is great for larger LAFCOs, how do smaller LAFCOs afford this sort of system with limited budgets? Over this summer, CALAFCO Executive Director Rene LeRoche put out a call for CALAFCO members to provide input to Assura on how to develop a shared system for smaller LAFCOs.
Thanks to Rene’s efforts a group of LAFCOs was put together to provide feedback on the application and suggest changes so that it would work for these smaller entities. So a big thanks to these entities and leaders for their time and help with this – Shiva Frentzen (El Dorado LAFCO), Krystle Heaney (Shasta LAFCO), Mitzi Stites (San Joaquin), JD Hightower (San Joaquin LAFCO) and Jeren Seibel (Marin LAFCO).
This workgroup met several times to review the software’s capabilities and develop a basic version that will bring the benefits of a customized installation to a shared system – at an affordable cost. This shared system features user level account security, so only your staff members see the data for your LAFCO – no other LAFCOs can see your data. Since it is a shared server, the workflow processes will be the same for all participants, but thanks to the efforts of the CALAFCO workgroup, the system features all the tools most LAFCOs will need. If you are a part time LAFCO EO and process very few applications, the Assura system will guide you through the process and make sure you don’t miss a thing.
