Southlake, Texas has selected Accela Automation from Accela, Inc. to provide better customer service through automated technology solutions. The Web-based system will support the city's goal to make land use and asset management information readily available to internal users at all organizational levels and to meet demand by citizens and the business community for online access to city services.

The city selected the Web-based solution to provide staff in the Planning & Development Services department the ability to access a centralized database and share mission-critical information related to permitting, zoning, code enforcement, building inspections, asset inventory, facilities and fleet management, and more -- improving the overall efficiency and effectiveness of key city functions and operations and enabling faster and more accurate response to customers.

"Southlake joins several new Accela customers who recognize the benefits of Web-based technology for streamlining internal processes and making services more accessible to its residents," said Maury Blackman, Accela's president and CEO. "We welcome the opportunity to support Southlake with the very best products and services available to meet their objectives."

Additional Accela applications were selected to enhance the functionality of Accela Automation. They will facilitate sharing of GIS information from a centralized database and enable mobile staff to work more efficiently from the field:

Accela GIS seamlessly integrates with Accela Automation to provide powerful real-time visual analysis to enhance land use, zoning, and infrastructure data. It allows creation of multiple map layers, automated map analysis, parcel and asset inventory management, direct editing of GIS data or files, and auto-distribution of information to mailing lists. It is built on the ArcIMS platform by ESRI.

Accela Wireless is a mobile government software application that allows government staff to perform their jobs from the field for inspections, code enforcement, work orders, and service requests. Optimized for Intel Centrino® Mobile Technology, Accela Wireless is compatible with PDAs, laptops, and Tablet PCs running on the Microsoft Pocket PC 2003, Windows Mobile 5, Windows 2000, or Windows XP operating systems.

About Southlake

Southlake is a suburb of the Dallas/Fort Worth Metroplex. It has a population of approximately 25,000 and covers 22.5 sq. miles. With a median household income of almost $153,000, Southlake is designated by CNNMoney.com as one of the 25 top-earning towns in its current list of Best Places to Live. For more information about Southlake, please visit www.ci.southlake.tx.us.

About Accela

Accela provides innovative, Web-based enterprise software solutions that automate land, permit, and asset management processes for local, state, and federal government agencies of all sizes. Backed by nearly 30 years of development and implementation in more than 500 agencies in the U.S., Canada, and Puerto Rico, Accela products and services empower agencies to increase efficiencies, reduce workload, and provide citizens and businesses with more convenient access to government services. Accela is located in San Ramon, Calif. Accela products can be purchased directly from the GSA Schedule Contract #GS-35F-0249R. For more information, please visit www.accela.com.