08 November 2018

2018 Digital Cities Survey Winners: Mesa 3rd Place Cities 250,000-499,999

Digital Cities Survey 2018 — Winners Announced
Open to all U.S. cities, the survey questions focused on the Top 10 characteristics of a Digital City:
Now REALLY. How would you have answered this survey and rated Mesa if you were ever contacted?
There's little (if anything) published by the website about representative sampling, the methodology, or the reliability. 
Top 10 characteristics of a Digital City: Go ahead > Rate Mesa 0-100%
Open
Citizen-centric

Collaborative

Secure

Staffed/Supported

Connected

Efficient

Resilient

Innovative, with use of Best Practices

________________________________________________________________________ Leverage Data to Enhance Broad Range of City Services
Nov. 2, 2018 – The Center for Digital Government (CDG) announced the winners of the 2018 Digital Cities Survey. Now in its 18th year, the annual survey recognizes cities using technology to tackle
  • social challenges
  • enhance cybersecurity
  • improve transparency
  • and much more.
“This year’s Digital Cities Survey winners are leading the nation when it comes to leveraging data to improve a wide range of city services and initiatives,” said Teri Takai, executive director of the Center for Digital Government. “Thanks to the efforts of these innovative cities, citizens now benefit from enhanced services as well as improved transparency and privacy protection efforts. Congratulations to the winners!”   
The survey honors cities in five population classifications:
500,000 or more, 250,000 to 499,999; 125,000 to 249,999; 75,000 to 124,999 and fewer than 75,000. 
Digital Cities 2018: Winners Stretch Far Beyond IT Basics
This year's winners in the Center for Digital Government’s Digital Cities Survey are finding creative ways to solve government problems with technology, pushing the envelope of what is possible in the public sector.
by , / November 2, 2018
250-000-499,999 Population Category 
Congratulations to the 2018 Digital Cities Survey Winners:
1st City of Virginia Beach, VA
2nd City of Durham, NC
2nd City of Kansas City, MO
3rd City of Mesa, AZ
4th City of Long Beach, CA
5th City of Miami, FL
6th City of Henderson, NV
7th City of Riverside, CA
8th City of Greensboro, NC
9th City of Wichita, KS
10th City of New Orleans, LA
10th City of Sacramento, CA
_________________________________________________________________________________
 The city of Mesa has several strategies that are enhanced by IT supporting measures.
One is a sustainable Mesa economy.
Along with the Economic Development Department, IT engages with commercial carriers to use city conduit and dark fiber to enhance services for potential business partners. A proof of concept project demonstrates how city digital infrastructure can provide broadband service to businesses interested in locating downtown. 
The first customer is the LaunchPoint technology accelerator, which provides entrepreneurs and small companies with business development assistance, networking and training opportunities.
 
Transforming neighborhoods — keeping them clean, diverse, and economically vibrant — is another strategy and the MesaNow mobile app provides a central hub for services and information that includes utility payment access, news, calendar and video.




 
Cultivating vibrant spaces, ranging from a city block to entire economic centers that benefit residents, businesses and visitors is another goal.

To help achieve this, Mesa has deployed public Wi-Fi in several locations throughout the city, including downtown, the Mesa Arts Center, city pools and many parks and education centers. 



To engage residents and businesses, the city deployed ImagineMesa, an online digital forum for conversations about community priorities and unique ideas.
 
Data is gathered from social media sites, such as Facebook, Nextdoor, Instagram, as well as Google Analytics.
Since its launch, more than 65,000 people have visited the site and 10,000 people have shared comments or supported an idea. 
________________________________________________________________________________
Innovative Initiatives and Emerging Technologies Implemented
63% Innovative Cross-Department Business/ Technology Collaboration
60% Innovative Public-Sector Partnerships (non-profits, schools, other jurisdictions)   
49% Drones
4I% Internet of things (IoT) / Edge Computing   
33% Innovation Management and Testbeds (includes public/private partnerships)   
20% Artificial Intelligence/ Machine Learning   
10% Augmented Reality/ Virtual Reality   
  4% Blockchain 

________________________________________________________________________The Center for Digital Government is a national research and advisory institute on information technology policies and best practices in state and local government.
The Center is a division of e.Republic, the nation’s only media and research company focused exclusively on state and local government and education.
Contact:
Janet Grenslitt
Director of Surveys and Awards
jgrenslitt@centerdigitalgov.com