The city’s online e-permitting system should be up and running by late this fall, helping remedy any applications backlogs, city council members learned last Tuesday evening.

Mike Gau, the city’s director of development services, called the pending advancement “a game changer.”

Last spring’s release of lots in the city prompted “a very large surge in applications” for building permits, Gau told the standing committees meeting. “Most of them have applied this spring.”

He estimated there is a backlog of 90 applications for building permits. Given that the staffing component is short two people, Gau said, it will take four to five weeks to clear the backlog, retroactive to last Wednesday.

The component dealing with development permits is fully staffed, so the flow of applications is normal, he added.

“We are doing everything we can to staff back up,” Gau said. “This is a very busy time of season.”