CITY OF WORCESTER

Urban Technologies, Innovation and Environment Committee Meeting

Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Esther Howland (South) Chamber

Convened: 6:01 P.M.

Adjourned: 6:56 P.M.

Mayor
Joseph M. Petty

 

www.worcesterma.gov

 

Clerk of the City Council
Susan M. Ledoux

Committee Members

Chairperson Matthew E Wally
Vice Chairperson Kathleen M Toomey
Councilor George J Russell
 

City Hall - 455 Main Street Worcester, Massachusetts

Present Were:Chairperson Councilor Matthew E Wally Vice Chairperson Councilor Kathleen M Toomey Councilor George J Russell
 
Also:Chief Financial Officer Eileen Cazaroupel Director of Urban Innovation Eric Batista Data Officer Michael Glaser Process Improvement Officer Joshua Martunas Assistant City Clerk Stephen AJ Pottle, clerk
 
1.

Miscellaneous Item

1a.

Order of Councilor Matthew E. Wally - Request City Council’s newly created Standing Committee on Urban Technologies, Innovations, and Environment schedule a meeting to discuss the Committee's goals for the next two (2) years. As the Committee oversees matters pertaining to smart city solutions, process engineering, technology, telecommunications, strategic planning, green spaces, blue spaces, urban agricultural, urban trees, climate change and electric aggregation, the invitation should be extended to the appropriate staff in the Energy and Asset Management, Technical Services, and Urban Innovations Departments. # 8c CC January 14, 2020

Attachments

Chairperson Councilor Wally read the Item and provided an introduction to the newly formed City Council Standing Committee and asked the various department heads present to provide insight into their departments’ goals.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the Director of Urban Innovation, who provided the three main goals of the Department, which include 1) Create a Data Analytics Program; 2) Create an iLAB (Innovation Lab) using LEAN management principles and; 3) Create a Smart Cities team that works on innovative solutions using technology to leverage new opportunities and development.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the Chief Information Officer, who provided information concerning the creation of an open data portal, the creation of a five-year IT Strategic Plan and plans to upgrade or find new programs for the City, including a new Council Calendar Program and cybersecurity training.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who spoke what types of data that could be made available by the department and the creation of an open data portal, as well as the likelihood of the city developing its own app.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Toomey, who discussed ways that the Urban Innovation Department can link departments together through technology, as well as ways the department can partner with the various colleges in the city and ways to build “20 Minute Neighborhoods.”

Chairperson Councilor Wally discussed the timelines concerning reaching some of the goals set forth by the Department of Urban Innovation.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized Councilor Russell, who began a discussion around technology that could be used to report potholes and other customer service related services, which led to a discussion around SeeClickFix.

Chairperson Councilor Wally recognized the following speaker:
1. Bobby Hazleton, Worcester resident, spoke concerning increasing the amount of data available regarding green spaces

Chairperson Councilor Wally put forth the following two Chairman’s Orders: 1) Request City Manager provide City Council with a dashboard concerning the various performance metrics tracked by the Urban Innovation department on a routine basis and; 2) Request City Manager provide City Council with updates concerning Technical Service’s Strategic Plan on a routine basis.

Chairperson Councilor Wally moved to hold the item.

Recommend Hold.

Chairman's Orders

Request City Manager provide City Council with a dashboard concerning the various performance metrics tracked by the Urban Innovation department on a routine basis

Request City Manager provide City Council with updates concerning Technical Service’s Strategic Plan on a routine basis.