7th: City of Long Beach — Long Beach took seventh place this year, and it’s no surprise given the work the city’s more than 150 IT professionals have been doing to prioritize cloud infrastructure and emerging technologies for service delivery and modernization.
The city devoted 25 percent of its IT budget to cloud and infrastructure services last year, channeling that money towards innovative solutions like its “MarinaGo” application, which lets customers of the city’s marina pay bills or manage relevant documents through online accounts, accessible via computer, smartphone or tablet. At the same time, the city has also partnered with a cloud-based mapping and analytics service provider, RapidDeploy, which gives emergency dispatchers the ability to more accurately locate wireless callers and dispatch appropriate responders. It also continues to invest in other cloud-enabling platforms that manage, secure or integrate cloud systems, as well as prioritize cloud training for city staff.
Long Beach has also prioritized emerging technologies not merely as a more efficient means of service delivery, but as a local economic driver and job creator. In 2019, the city launched a startup accelerator, the goal of which is to create a space where early stage tech startups are given the legal, financial and business planning they need to succeed, while also gaining access to capital from different sources. The city also completed its first year in the Startup in Residence (STiR) program, which allowed several city departments to work together with startups to develop solutions to pertinent issues, including traffic calming and mapping resources, artificial intelligence hiring and digital wayfinding.
Tie for 10th: City of Riverside — Riverside, which recently restored IT work and positions eliminated by a budget shortfall, now uses technology to help resolve unfunded pension obligations from the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS). The city of more than 328,000 slipped from seventh in the last survey to 10th, but continues to exhibit a strong use of data-driven performance measurement and decision-making; innovative department-level tech initiatives; and a strong focus on cybersecurity.
The city’s Innovation and Technology Department keeps the challenge of CalPERS front of mind — analyzing data to identify operational efficiencies and educate departments on cost-saving and forecasting long-term project costs to ensure successful implementations. I&T has also taken aim at homelessness with GIS mapping — tracking reports of debris and encampments; mapping property ownership to facilitate cleanups; and showing affordable housing locations.
Another top priority is strengthening and expanding cybersecurity work. Riverside utilizes machine learning to guard against ransomware and advanced threats. A data loss prevention project spearheaded by its security division looked closely at city liability and has boosted awareness of how sensitive data is handled; and of the need to reduce and prevent creation of protected data.
Riverside is developing a data governance framework. A platform to stimulate data sharing internally and externally, and its Open Data Governance Committee, will become a subsidiary of its Data Governance Committee. The city has implemented Robotic Process Automation (RPA) to mechanize repetitive work and free up staff. It’s also expanded “The Hive,” the city’s collaboration platform, taking paper-based workflows electronic; and has put in place quarterly and annual citywide performance measures. The city also convenes a quarterly IT liaison meeting with departments, which has helped forge strategy and deliver best practices.
*The Center for Digital Government is part of e.Republic, parent company of Techwire. This story first appeared in Government Technology magazine, Techwire’s sister publication.
