Just In Time For Open Data Day



After a lot of City of Mesa Newsroom fanfare back on August 5, 2015 [seven months ago], an announcement on Twitter by City Manager Chris Brady three months later that a Leadership Board had been nominated, a brief presentation to the Economic Development Advisory Board on January 5, 2016 and another to City Council a week ago - Mesa announced the adoption of an Open Data Policy just in time for Open Data Day today.
Good news, huh?

The Sunlight Foundation made an announcement yesterday
Mesa embraces open data with new Portland policy
By Alyssa Bloom
March 4, 2016, 1:10 pm.
As a part of its participation in the What Works Cities initiative, Mesa, Ariz., has made major progress toward establishing a comprehensive and sustainable open data program over the past several months. Last fall, Mesa adopted an open data policy, and today — just in time for open data day 2016 — the city has taken another step in advancing its open data work with the launch of a new open data portal.
[underlined in blue are links to use]

 

 
The city’s Open Data Management Policy, which was signed by City Manager Chris Brady last October, affirms Mesa’s commitment to joining the open data movement. Meeting the majority of Sunlight’s open data policy guidelines, it firmly establishes processes for the collection and release of quality data, takes major steps to ensure that data release is timely and is prioritized based on city priorities and public feedback. It also mandates an annual open data report and review process — an activity that will be fundamental in the effort to achieve the policy’s ultimate goals.
[City Manager Chris Brady is shown in the image to the right signing the Open Data agreement]
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Here's a excerpt from the article from The Sunlight Foundation : Mesa is streamlining cross-departmental data sharing by "eating their own dog food
Off the bat, the portal features 94 new datasets related to building permits, bike paths and other information related to strategic priorities. Users can also put in requests for datasets they’d like to see on the portal.

Things, however, don't always work out - like this noted a couple of years ago in the African nation of Kenya . . . 

Why Kenya's open data portal is failing - and why it can still succeed

by Greg Brown

Sept. 23, 2013, 12:58 p.m.

Kenya’s open data portal is floundering.
Despite the excitement that surrounded its launch in July 2011, the portal has not been updated in eight months, has seen stagnant traffic, and is quickly losing its status as the symbolic leader

Mesa's Open Data Program
“Data is the fuel that powers our efficient and innovative services.
open.mesaaz.gov makes that data available to our residents,
providing a greater level of transparency and
fostering the creation of new ideas and applications”
                                                                                             
                                                                             - Mayor John Giles

Mesa celebrates Open Data Day with new open data portal

Innovative Partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ National What Works Cities Program

Post Date:03/04/2016 10:45 AM

The City of Mesa’s is proud to announce the opening of its new open data portal in partnership with Bloomberg Philanthropies’ What Works Cities and The Sunlight Foundation.

In celebration of Open Data Day on Saturday, March 5, the City of Mesa encourages everyone to check out the new portal at open.mesaaz.gov. 
“I strongly believe that data and evidence are the fuel that will continue to power the positive momentum we’ve created as we work to grow Mesa into an even better place to live work and raise a family,” said Mayor John Giles. “We are excited that Mesa is a leader in open data for Arizona.”
The portal will make it easier for residents to access data and learn more about the progress Mesa is making towards addressing the city-wide priorities of increasing prosperity, transforming neighborhoods and creating a vibrant downtown.
The data sets show trends over time, geographical concentrations and other indicators of what programs, projects or policies can be implemented to better reach Mesa’s strategic goals. The data sets can be exported for use in applications or to share via social media. 
There are currently 94 data sets available with more on the way. Users are encouraged to participate in the development of new data sets by providing suggestions.
To learn more about What Works Cities, please visit www.whatworkscities.org.

 

Mayor’s Office
Contact: Melissa Randazzo
Tel. 480-644-3219
melissa.randazzo@mesaaz.gov