The City of Houston Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
PPllaatt TTrraacckkeerr RReeggiissttrraattiioonn aanndd SSeettuupp GGuuiiddee
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐2‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
CCoonntteennttss WelcometothePlatTracker..............................................................................................................................................4
PlatTrackerPortalPageFeatures....................................................................................................................................5
Registration/Login........................................................................................................................................................5
CurrentMessageBoard...............................................................................................................................................5
PublicLinks......................................................................................................................................................................5
GISMaps............................................................................................................................................................................5
SubmittalPeriod:Open/Close..................................................................................................................................5
CalendarofEvents.........................................................................................................................................................5
RegistrationOverview...........................................................................................................................................................6
NewOrganizationRegistration.........................................................................................................................................7
WhoShouldRegistertheOrganization?...................................................................................................................7
BeginRegistration..............................................................................................................................................................7
RoletheOrganizationUsers...........................................................................................................................................7
PrincipalContact............................................................................................................................................................7
Organization‐ApplicantUsers..................................................................................................................................8
CompletetheOrganizationandPrincipalContactProfile.................................................................................8
ApprovalProcess................................................................................................................................................................9
ManagingPersonalProfile.................................................................................................................................................10
LogintoPlatTracker.......................................................................................................................................................10
ApplicantWelcomeScreen...........................................................................................................................................10
ChangingYourPersonalProfile..................................................................................................................................11
RetrievingYourUsernameand/orPassword.......................................................................................................12
ManagingYourOrganizationProfile.............................................................................................................................12
StandardViewofOrganizationProfile....................................................................................................................13
ModifyingtheOrganizationProfile...........................................................................................................................13
ManageOrganizationUsers..............................................................................................................................................14
ViewOrganizationUsers...............................................................................................................................................14
AddNewUser.....................................................................................................................................................................15
UserStatusManagement...............................................................................................................................................16
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐3‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
CreatinganApplication.......................................................................................................................................................16
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐4‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
WWeellccoommee ttoo tthhee PPllaatt TTrraacckkeerr ThePlatTrackerisdedicatedtocustomers(applicants)andareaagenciesthattakepartinthesubdivisionplattingofpropertywithinHouston’sextraterritorialjurisdiction.Applicantsarelandplannersandcivilengineerswhorepresentlandowners,developers,andbuilders.AnapplicantusesPlatTrackertoelectronicallysubmitapplicationsalongwithsupportingdocumentsforlanddevelopmentreview.ThematerialsaresubsequentlypresentedtoHouston’sPlanningCommissionforapproval.ThePlatTrackerallowstheapplicanttoviewtheprogressoftheirapplicationduringtheentireprocess.
RegionalagenciesaswellasPlanningandDevelopmentstaffusePlatTrackertoreviewfiles,routeinformation,communicatecomments,andperformotherkeybusinessprocessesrelatingtoHoustonarealanddevelopment.
ThepubliccankeepupwithlanddevelopmentproposalsintheirneighborhoodsbyviewinganddownloadingPlanningCommissionagendas,spreadsheetsregardingapplications,meetingminutes,andmore.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐5‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
PPllaatt TTrraacckkeerr PPoorrttaall PPaaggee FFeeaattuurreess ThePlatTrackerportalpagefeaturesquickaccesslinksandinformationrelatingtothePlatTrackeraswellaslanddevelopmentingeneral:
RReeggiissttrraattiioonn//LLooggiinn Registeranapplicantorganizationand/orLogontoPlatTracker.
CCuurrrreenntt MMeessssaaggee BBooaarrdd PublicnoticespertainingtothePlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.
PPuubblliicc LLiinnkkss PublictoolsforlanddevelopmentresearchincludingaccesstoPlatTrackerstreetnameandsubdivisionnamecheckwithoutloggingin.
GGIISS MMaappss ViewpublicGISmapsoftheHoustonareaincludinghurricaneevacuationzones,trafficcameras,citycouncildistricts,parks,andmore.
SSuubbmmiittttaall PPeerriioodd:: OOppeenn//CClloossee PlanningCommissioncurrentagendasalongwithPlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentcontactinformation.
CCaalleennddaarr ooff EEvveennttss PlanningCommissionmeetingdates,specialcityevents,andholidayschedule.UsesGoogleCalendartechnologyallowingyoutoaddthistoyourpersonalGooglecalendarwithasingleclick.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐6‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
RReeggiissttrraattiioonn OOvveerrvviieeww AllHoustonarealanddevelopersmustregistertheirorganizationinthePlatTrackerSystem.Onceapproved,theorganizationmaysubmitapplicationsanddocumentstoHouston’sPlanningCommissionforlanddevelopmentprojects.
Thefirststepistofillouttheonlineorganizationapplication.Next,theorganizationmustbeapprovedbyTheCityofHoustonPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.Organizationapproval(orrejection)occurswithin48hours.Onceapproved,theindividualwhosubmittedtherequestwillreceivePlatTrackerlogininformationincludingausernameandtemporarypassword.ThediagramontherightisasummaryofthePlatTrackerorganizationregistrationprocess.
Note: Agencies and planners are typically pre‐registered and pre‐approved by the Planning and
Development Department.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐7‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
NNeeww OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn RReeggiissttrraattiioonn
WWhhoo SShhoouulldd RReeggiisstteerr tthhee OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn??
LeaderintheOrganization–individualinanorganizationwhowillbecomethePrincipalContactfortheirorganization.
ReviewingOrganization–memberofareviewingagencywhichparticipatesinthereviewingprocessofsubmittedplatapplications.Mostagencyorganizationsarepre‐registeredandpre‐approvedbytheCityofHoustonPlanningandDevelopmentDepartment.
BBeeggiinn RReeggiissttrraattiioonn
GotothePlatTrackerportalpage'Logon'form,andclickthelink,'RegisteritHere'.The'ApplicantOrganizationRegistration'pageexplainstheroleofthePrincipalContact,ApplicantOrganizationUsers,andReviewingAgencyUsers.Begintheregistrationprocessbyclicking'IwouldliketoregistermyApplicantOrganization/Company'.
RRoollee tthhee OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn UUsseerrss
PPrriinncciippaall CCoonnttaacctt TheindividualwhoregistersanorganizationisdesignatedasthePrincipalContactforthatorganization.Oncetheorganizationisapproved,thisindividualhastheauthoritytorevisetheirorganizationprofile,addnewusers,modifyuserstatus,anddelegatetheroleofPrincipalContacttoanotheruserwithintheorganization.He/shealsomaydraft,review,and/orsubmitapplicationson
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐8‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
behalfoftheorganization.Itisimportanttonotethatonlyoneprincipalcontactisassignedforanyorganization.
OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn‐‐AApppplliiccaanntt UUsseerrss Allapplicantshavetherighttodraft,review,and/orsubmitapplicationsonbehalfoftheorganization.
CCoommpplleettee tthhee OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn aanndd PPrriinncciippaall CCoonnttaacctt PPrrooffiillee
OrganizationName–Enteryourorganizationslowly(onecharacteratatime).Asyoutypeeachcharacter,alistwilldisplaybelowtheorganizationnamefieldshowingorganizationspreviouslyapprovedinthePlatTracker.Ifyourorganizationappearsinthelist,pleasedonotattempttoregisteritasecondtime.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐9‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
PrincipalContact–RecallthattheindividualwhoregistersanorganizationisthePrincipalContactforthatorganization.Onceapproved,he/shemayupdatecompanyinformation,addusers,andmodifythestatusoftheusers,anddelegatetheroleofPrincipalContacttoanotheruserintheorganization.
Address–Organizationofficeandmailingaddress
AftercompletingtheApplicantOrganizationRegistrationrequestform,clickthe'Submit'button.Ifanyrequiredinformationismissing,amessage(s)willappearonthescreen(seebelow).Ifthisoccurs,completeallmissingrequiredinformationandre‐submit.Asuccessfulsubmissionofyourrequestisconfirmedimmediatelyviaemail.
AApppprroovvaall PPrroocceessss
Pleaseallow24to48hoursforapproval.IfyourorganizationisapprovedbythePlanningandDevelopmentDepartment,youwillbenotifiedviaemailincludingausernameandtemporarypassword(below).Organizationsthataredisapprovedwillalsoreceiveemailnotification.Occasionally,alegitimateorganizationisdisapproved.Ifthisoccurs,pleasecontactthePlanningandDevelopmentDepartmentforassistance.ForacompletelistofPlatTrackeremailcorrespondence,seetheexternaldocument'PlatTrackerEmailNotification'.
Approved:LoginIDandTemporaryPassword
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐10‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
MMaannaaggiinngg PPeerrssoonnaall PPrrooffiillee
LLooggiinn ttoo PPllaatt TTrraacckkeerr
Foryoursecurity,PlatTrackerrecommendsthatallnewapplicantsloginandchangetheirtemporarypasswordimmediately.RecallthatthelogonscreencanbefoundonthePlatTrackerSystemportalpage.
AApppplliiccaanntt WWeellccoommee SSccrreeeenn
ImmediatelyafterloggingintoPlatTracker,applicantswillseethe"WelcometothePlatTracker"page.Hereyouwillfindimportantcurrentinformation(LatestNewsandGeneralMessage)regardingtheplanningdepartmentandplanningcommission.Inaddition,thereareavarietyoflinksthatcouldbeusefulinapplicationresearch(PlatTrackerLinks).Itisagoodideatocheckthispagebrieflyeachtimeyouloginasthepageisupdatedregularly.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐11‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
CChhaannggiinngg YYoouurr PPeerrssoonnaall PPrrooffiillee
Youruserprofileincludingusernameandpasswordareaccessiblebyselectingthemenuoptions:'User/UpdateMyProfile'.Thiswillopenyourpersonalprofilepage:'MyProfile'.
Theprofilepageallowsyoutoupdateyourusername,password,andpersonalcontactinformation.
Usernameandpasswordrequirements:
Username:6‐25characterscomposedoflettersandnumbers(nospecialcharacters)Password:8‐25characterscomposedoflettersandnumbers(nospecialcharacters)
Note: For security purposes, you must enter your current password when changing Username or
Password.
Enteryourusernameandpasswordrevisions,andclickthe'ChangeUsername/Password'buttontosaveyourchanges.Note:duplicateusernamesarenotallowedinPlatTracker.Ifaduplicateisdetected,anerrormessagewilldisplayandyourusernameand/orpasswordwillnotbechanged.
Yourcurrentcontactinformationisdisplayedatthebottomofthepage.Enterrevisionsintheboxesontheright.Clickthe'Update'buttontofinalizeyourrevision.Updatesarepostedimmediately.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐12‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
RReettrriieevviinngg YYoouurr UUsseerrnnaammee aanndd//oorr PPaasssswwoorrdd
GotothelogonformonthePlatTrackerportalpage.Clickthelink:"Forgotyour'UsernameorPassword'."Next,youwillseeapromptrequestingyourorganizationnameandpersonalemailaddress.(the'LoginAssistance'page)
Typeyourorganizationnameslowly(pausingaftereachletter).Youmaytypeanycharactersintheorganizationnameaslongastheyareconsecutive.Whenyouseeyourorganizationnameinthegoldbox,simplyclicktohighlightthename.
Enteryouremailaddress,andclickthebutton:'GetMyUsername/Password'.IfyourorganizationandemailaddressexistinthePlatTracker,youwillreceiveanautomaticemailincludingyourusernameandpassword.
MMaannaaggiinngg YYoouurr OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn PPrrooffiillee AnyvalidPlatTrackeruserinyourorganizationmayviewtheorganizationprofile.However,changestotheprofilearelimitedtothecurrentPrincipalContactfortheorganization.Toviewthecurrentprofile,selectmenuoption'Organization/MyOrganizationProfile'.
Highlightyourorganization
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐13‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
SSttaannddaarrdd VViieeww ooff OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn PPrrooffiillee
Organizationprofiledetailsvisibletoallorganizationusers.(screenshotonright)
MMooddiiffyyiinngg tthhee OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn PPrrooffiillee
Theprincipalcontacthastheauthoritytorevisetheorganization’sprofile.Theorganization’sinformationcurrentlyinthePlatTrackerisdisplayedontheleftsideofthescreen.Allchangesmustbeenteredintheboxesontheright.Simplytypeallrevisionsintheappropriateboxes,andclickthe'Update'buttontosubmitthenewinformation.(seebelow)
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐14‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
MMaannaaggee OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn UUsseerrss AfterloggingintoPlatTracker,alluserswithintheorganizationmayviewthestatusofanyuserlistedforthatorganization.Theserecordsarevisibleregardlessofuserstatus:"Active"(maylogon)or"Inactive"(maynotlogon).Toviewtheusers,selectthemenu'Organization/MyOrganizationUsers'.
VViieeww OOrrggaanniizzaattiioonn UUsseerrss
Belowistheviewofusersasseenbyallactiveorganizationuserswithintheorganization.Noticethattheprincipalcontact’srecordishighlighted.Also,theprincipalcontact’sstatusisalwayslistedas"Active".
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐15‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
AAdddd NNeeww UUsseerr
Theprincipalcontactmaycreateanewuserforhis/herorganization.Firstclickthe'CreateNewUserAccount'.
Enterthenewuser’sinformationintoform(shownbelow)thenclickthe'Add'button.AmessagewilldisplayaftertherecordissuccessfullyaddedintothePlatTrackerandthenewuserwillreceiveanemailwithlogoninstructions.Youhavetheoptiontocanceltheprocesspriortoaddingtheuser.Dothisbyclickingthe'Cancel'button.
Note: Required fields are designated with an asterisk (*). Failure to fill in one of these fields will result
in an error message. The user will be added in Plat Tracker after ALL required fields are completed.
PPllaattTTrraacckkeerrRReeggiissttrraattiioonnaannddSSeettuuppGGuuiiddee
The City of Houston ‐16‐ Date Modified: March 15, 2013
Planning and Development Department Rev 1.1
UUsseerr SSttaattuuss MMaannaaggeemmeenntt
Userstatusiseither"Active"or"Inactive".AnactiveusermaylogintothePlatTrackerwhereasaninactiveuserdoesnothaveaccesstothesystem.Theprincipalcontactcanchangeauser’sstatusfrom"Active"to"Inactive"byclickingthe'Deactivate'buttonforthatuser.Likewise,aninactiveaccountcanbeactivatedbyclickingthe'Active'button.
Inaddition,theprincipalcontactmaydelegateany"Active"userasthenewprincipalcontactsimplybyclickingthe'SetAsPC'buttonforthatuser.Thisresultsin:
1. PlatTrackerimmediatelyassignsthenewuserasthecurrentprincipalcontact.2. Theoriginalprincipalcontactisimmediatelyassignedtheroleoftheuserreplacing
him/her.3. TheoriginalprincipalcontactisimmediatelyloggedoutofthePlatTrackerforcinghim/her
tologinwithnewcredentials.
CCrreeaattiinngg aann AApppplliiccaattiioonn Theprocessofcreatinganapplicationisexplainedintheexternaldocument"PlatTrackerApplicantUserGuide".