IPTD-519
MPAP Application Tool Development
Description
The purpose of this project is to assist the Department in providing support to municipalities in completing their Municipal Public Access Plan by developing a web-based application for data collection. The application will be hosted at Rutgers University and accessible through the Department’s website and be available for Department approved users to upload municipal public access data. In Phase 1 of this project, Rutgers will review and assess the needs for this application, work with the Department in developing designs for the database and application, and complete development of the database component of the application and the data collection user interfaces.
Project Justification
None
Activity
Show:
Meeting on Thursday Feb 28th with John Gehr, Elizabeth DeCicco, Kristi Tallone and Colleen Keller.
Elizabeth shared an attached example MPAP from Stone Harbor and commented that:
DEP's Public Access/ MPAP page NJDEP| Public Access to the Waterfront | Municipal Public Access Planning was launched last year, but the contact information doesn't seem to be correct. The Division of Coastal and Land Use Planning no longer exists (see Public Comment Process). MPAPs are reviewed by the Division of Land Resource Protection in 501. We also added a new email address for MPAP submissions. Can we put in a request through DOIT to make the updates?
Pete referred ELizabeth to DOITs web lead Rick Hyjack for updates.
See full meeting recording here: MPAP developments-20250226_153516-Meeting Recording.mp4
AI summary of the meeting:
Meeting Summary (AI generated) – MPAP Developments (Feb 26, 2025)
Key Points:
AI Tools: Discussion on using NJ AI Assistant for secure transcription and document processing.
MPAP Submission Challenges: Plans are often incomplete, requiring extensive review and revisions.
Proposed Solution: Rutgers proposed a GIS-integrated tool to help municipalities submit complete plans.
Concerns with Rutgers: Uncertainty about their ability to build a workflow tool that integrates with NJDEP systems.
IT & Integration Issues: Ideal solution should work with NGEMS; options like Facility Submittal Service and SimplyGov were discussed.
Funding & Timeline: $200,000 CZM grant with a September 30, 2025 deadline; possible extension.
Next Steps: Decide whether to proceed with Rutgers or shift to state-approved vendors for a more sustainable, integrated solution.
From Knute and not AI: I would add that an appropriate and optimized solution probably would include:
a robust conversion of the existing application/model Plan into an online form capturing data elements or plan elements that can be put through conditional checks, possibly with AI assistance, to ensure maximum level of completeness.
inclusion in the online submission a map-based collection of points and possibly shapes that define access points or spaces
allowing for an online back-and-forth comment, edit and update platform around an application leading to approvable final plan
placing critical data elements, including at least GIS data points if not polygons, and a final plan into NJEMS activities, data tables and GIS layers
evaluation of how much and how to load aspects of existing MPAPs beyond their existence, last approval and expiration.
Conclusion: These elements are all do-able but will require a significant coordinated effort involving DOIT staff and either much progress in SimpliGov/NJEMS integrations or a vendor up to speed on NJEMS. Such complexity does not seem to fit within the current grant spend deadline, especially given current work in the pipeline for these same resources. There is not an obvious path to do something iteratively that could happen sooner or be done more simply or smaller which would not complicate the desired eventual optimal solution.
Preliminary conversation with John Gehr and ELizabeth DiCicco today: Clarity on priority- this is #2 for Jenn M. after NJPACT and has some spend deadlines. We asked for both a problem assessment worksheet and updated IT Project sheet for this project. Rutgers proposals are light on the problem and focus on general solution. Rutgers has also given feedback with negatives to Survey123 potential although the program is unsure if these are legimate and the program GIS staff express confidence in being able to develop for this.
Bigger questions may exist about an interim solution or possible ideal future solution depending on the degree of value to putting either PDFs into NJEMS (which happens manually now) or whether a new platform enabling data capture would make the case for porting specific data elements into NJEMS tables.
Some notes on the fly:
Scope change from white paper to tools. 1st of 3yrs of this project to get better municipal uptake of MPAPs. Rutgers exploring 232 towns eligible, not getting response, those who respond many getting stuck in current inefficient application with long lag in back-and-forth.
Any grant funded project needs to be complete Sept 2026. Seeking 8 months for the contract. Trying to start in July 2025. $195k to use. Must use by Sept 2026 (project complete and vendor paid) or lose it.
Initial response to potential for Survey123. security, lack of GIS accounts. (??) see RU email
Point of program: Beach and dune maint. (permitting?) is cheaper if a town has an MPAP, to be renewed/reviewed every 5 years to retain savings . Green Acres also able to provide Grant funding for MPAP development ($10-30k cost now for munis to pay a consultant). DO we work with towns and Consultants on any design of a system to accept the MPAP?