Wasilla planning staff demonstrate new CitizenServe portal and updated planning web page
June 25, 2025 | Wasilla, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
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Acting City Planner Nygaard demonstrated a new planning section of the City of Wasilla website and the CitizenServe permitting portal at the Planning Commission’s June 24 meeting, saying the planning page "was launched on July 1" and is intended to centralize zoning maps, permitting checklists, project files and frequently asked questions.
Nygaard showed commissioners how residents and applicants can create a CitizenServe account to apply for permits (single‑family, duplex, administrative sign permits, mobile food vendors, short‑term rentals), submit complaints to code compliance and view linked zoning district maps and historical permit records. The planner said the site is mobile friendly and linked to internal review queues so planning, public works and finance review can occur online without paper routing.
Nygaard demonstrated that staff currently have a queue of pending items and noted about 158 permit records were awaiting review; unassigned tasks appear in the system for staff to distribute. The planner and planning clerk explained that submitted applications move through an internal review workflow and that conditions and reviewer notes are recorded in the system and can be printed on permits and inspection schedules.
Commissioners asked whether they would automatically receive access to internal administrative accounts. Nygaard said commissioners do not have automatic access but that accounts can be set up through the planning department; the commission discussed limits on commissioner access to ensure quasi‑judicial hearings are based only on the official record.
Commission members and the city attorney discussed training and information‑sharing policies for commissioners; the attorney said the city is also reviewing email and communications policy to protect the integrity of the record for hearings. Nygaard told the commission the department will continue refining links and broken items on the site and that staff plan to work with the borough’s planning department later to align platforms and share lessons from the Tyler system.
The demonstration was presented as an informational report; there was no formal action.
Nygaard showed commissioners how residents and applicants can create a CitizenServe account to apply for permits (single‑family, duplex, administrative sign permits, mobile food vendors, short‑term rentals), submit complaints to code compliance and view linked zoning district maps and historical permit records. The planner said the site is mobile friendly and linked to internal review queues so planning, public works and finance review can occur online without paper routing.
Nygaard demonstrated that staff currently have a queue of pending items and noted about 158 permit records were awaiting review; unassigned tasks appear in the system for staff to distribute. The planner and planning clerk explained that submitted applications move through an internal review workflow and that conditions and reviewer notes are recorded in the system and can be printed on permits and inspection schedules.
Commissioners asked whether they would automatically receive access to internal administrative accounts. Nygaard said commissioners do not have automatic access but that accounts can be set up through the planning department; the commission discussed limits on commissioner access to ensure quasi‑judicial hearings are based only on the official record.
Commission members and the city attorney discussed training and information‑sharing policies for commissioners; the attorney said the city is also reviewing email and communications policy to protect the integrity of the record for hearings. Nygaard told the commission the department will continue refining links and broken items on the site and that staff plan to work with the borough’s planning department later to align platforms and share lessons from the Tyler system.
The demonstration was presented as an informational report; there was no formal action.
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