Civic Innovation
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A long-gestating vacation rental ordinance will soon get an airing, starting with the city planning commission. Leaders are considering using software to get a better idea precisely how many such rentals the city has. -
The county has updated its application for cellphones, which enables residents to pay bills and obtain key services. Its notifications tab allows the receipt of real-time updates on severe weather and other events.
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The City Council postponed to September a vote that would install cameras with artificial intelligence on garbage trucks, to search out blight. Areas of concern included cost amid budget tightening, and privacy.
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The Pathogen Forecast Model launched this week by the Scripps Institution of Oceanography at UC San Diego looks five days ahead at weather, tides, waves and river flows to calculate ocean water conditions hour by hour.
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This effort to speed up the Honolulu Department of Planning and Permitting’s ability to process new building permit applications is scheduled to begin next month, city officials say.
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The link to the payment site, which is currently available from the town's website and Facebook page, allows residents to look up their tax bills from the past three years and pay them digitally.
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So-called drone entertainment offers cities like Aspen and Parker a diverting but less flammable option to Fourth of July fireworks displays. The latter may have the “boom factor,” but could also ignite a wildfire.
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City officials are building a comprehensive artificial intelligence ecosystem to support economic growth, by incentivizing businesses and enabling experimentation in what they call "the capital of AI."
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Ongoing work with Medici Land Governance has yielded a blockchain-enabled tool to aid in property searches and sales. The goal is to ease the transformation of thousands of vacant, abandoned or blighted properties.
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Voice, the city's digital survey tool, recently introduced as part of iAccess Life, enables people with mobility issues to share feedback on parking — and gives planners the benefit of their street-level insight.
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The Windy City has committed to maintain in-person access to its CityKey ID card program. However, the use of its online application platform is currently not available as officials reassess their processes.
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The Shelter Ready app, which officials began quietly rolling out in North County late last year, lets outreach workers reserve emergency beds in the same way that tourists book hotel rooms.
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The Federation of American Scientists has acquired MetroLab Network to expand the work in policymaking and local tech innovation the organizations do through universities and government partnerships.
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Grand Traverse County reports reveal how its human resources team is quickening around key tasks with new software and best practices. Elsewhere, no longer providing IT services to Traverse City will yield a revenue loss.
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In Florida, Tampa and Orlando are exploring new water treatment methods. The cities aim to uncover more effective ways to manage pollutants, improve water quality and significantly cut treatment costs.
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The project, which this month has simulated delivery of Munson Healthcare supplies, lab samples and medications, has linked its facilities by drone. The endeavor received a second $950,000 state grant, announced earlier this week.
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Its Board of Commissioners is examining a system that could result in the county being able to reduce its full-time hours. One idea still under discussion is the duration of a potential contract.
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The city has improved customer service and billing for its water and sewer customers, in part through new customer service software and a policy alerting residents to issues with bills.
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Commissioners for the local government of just over 180,000 unanimously approved a new solution that will eliminate paper checks and offer the option of a payment card. A goal is making sure jurors actually spend the money they’re paid for service.
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The city is readying DallasNow, a comprehensive planning, permitting and land management system intended to enhance efficiency, transparency and customer service in one of the nation’s most populous municipalities.
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The city has rolled out a new 311 app and request platform that enhances how residents request and track help in real time. Its features include being able to show a location by dropping a pin.
