2019-013 Smart City UpdateDate: January 18, 2019 Report No. 2019-013
INFORMAL STAFF REPORT
TO MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
SUBJECT:
Provide information on the City of Denton’s Smart City Initiative.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
During the Oct. 9, 2018 City Council meeting, Denton resident Dorothy Kuhn requested the City
develop a smart city vision and strategy based on community needs. Following her remarks, the
City Council directed staff to provide information and recommendations on Denton’s smart city
plan.
First, staff reviewed what initiatives city departments have already completed or have in progress
that would qualify for inclusion in a smart city plan, a few examples of which are provided
below. Staff also attended the Smart Cities Connect Conference and Expo in Oct. 2018 and will
attend the US Forum on Smart City Connectivity in February. As part of our research, staff
explored over 30 smart city organizations that could potentially assist in generating a smart city
plan. In addition, a benchmarking survey of 15 local cities was conducted to determine what
methods our neighboring cities are utilizing to create their smart city plans. Staff research results
and recommendations on how best to develop Denton’s definition of what makes a smart city
and a corresponding implementation plan are anticipated to be presented to the Committee on
Citizen Engagement (COCE) on Feb. 5.
BACKGROUND:
Staff investigated over 30 local, regional, and international smart city organizations. Instead of
there being a central authority and singular definition of what makes a smart city, there are
multiple organizations vying to be the leader of a rapidly growing industry. Some programs turn
cities into testbeds for new technologies while others partner local governments with businesses
looking to sell smart city products and services. These smart city programs are sponsored by
large corporations including IBM, Microsoft, Cisco and Dell who pay up to $50,000 annually to
be marketed to cities through case studies, press releases, newsletters, conferences, and
workshops. What these programs lack is a neutral perspective and a focus on our specific
community needs. If citizen input should be the foundation for Denton’s smart city plan, these
organizations would not enable us to build a plan that prioritizes public needs above everything
else.
Like Denton, many neighboring cities are just beginning to realize the need for a formal smart
city plan. As mentioned earlier, a survey of 15 Texas cities was conducted to explore what
methods are being utilized to develop smart city programs across the state. Nine metroplex cities
responded: Carrollton, Coppell, Farmers Branch, Flower Mound, Frisco, Grapevine, McKinney,
Plano and Richardson, and none have a formal smart city plan in place yet. Like Denton’s
Date: January 18, 2019 Report No. 2019-013
current situation, six of the cities reported having of a few individual projects underway that can
be considered smart projects while lacking a formal smart city plan. For additional details on the
results of the survey, please see Attachment 1.
Below are several efforts that are currently under way in Denton that will likely fit with our
future definition of a smart city.
Ongoing Smart City Efforts:
Open Data Portal: This program enhances the city’s use of data and evidence. Denton
launched its Open Data Portal in 2016 and continues to provide our community with
datasets and dashboards including an interactive Community Crime Map, the City’s
Operating Budget, and a dashboard for each Key Focus Area of the Strategic Plan with
performance results. http://data.cityofdenton.com/
Free Public Wi-Fi Downtown: Free Wi-Fi service offered in downtown Denton since
2015.
Engage Denton application: Mobile application launched in June 2018. This app provides
citizens a user-friendly way to enter service requests online and receive emails and text
reminders about their weekly recycling and trash pickups.
https://dentontx.citysourced.com/
Interactive Capital Improvement Plan Project Map: Realtime display of location, project
timeline, contact details, and other relevant information about infrastructure projects in
the planning and construction phases. An improved version of the interactive map was
just added to the Open Data Portal on January 16.
https://dentontxgis.maps.arcgis.com/apps/MapSeries/index.html?appid=a24a5e6a5b0c4df
fb8dfb04a0da828f6
Upcoming Smart City Initiatives:
Automated Traffic Management System (ATMS): Smart traffic signals will send data
back on a fiber network aiding staff in moving vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians more
safely and efficiently through our transportation network. The fiber network is being
installed now and the new Traffic Management Center (TMC) is planned to be built this
year on Mayhill Road. The project will finish with an ATMS software upgrade scheduled
to coincide with Traffic staff’s relocation to the new TMC later this year.
DISCUSSION:
After considerable research into the multitude of smart city programs and organizations, staff
recommends hiring a consulting firm to assist with this project. The main benefit of hiring a
consulting firm is that it would provide staff with impartial guidance during the development of a
smart city strategy free from bias. Further, this direction would enable staff to require the
gathering of citizen input be the foundation of the project. Based on informal discussions with
vendors, staff estimates this project would cost between $70,000 and $100,000 and require
between four to six months to complete once purchasing processes have concluded. The
following outputs are expected to be written into the scope of work:
Date: January 18, 2019 Report No. 2019-013
1. Identification of community values & needs
2. Smart city definition for Denton
3. Smart city strategy
a. Roadmap
i. Prioritized list of projects
ii. Synced with existing Strategic Plan
iii. Measures for effectiveness
b. Framework for future staff decisions
CONCLUSION:
Staff recommends entering into an agreement with a consulting firm to prepare a smart city
strategy and multi-year implementation plan based on our specific community needs. Staff will
present research and recommendations to the Committee on Citizen Engagement (COCE) on
Feb. 5. Following discussion and feedback from the COCE, staff recommendations will be
provided to the full City Council.
ATTACHMENT(S):
Table with smart city survey results
STAFF CONTACT:
Lisa Collaud
Management Analyst
Lisa.Collaud@cityofdenton.com
940.349.7519
Melissa Kraft
Chief Technology Officer
Melissa.Kraft@cityofdenton.com
940.349.7823
Rachel Wood
Chief of Staff
Rachel.Wood@cityofdenton.com
940.349.7718
Smart City Survey DataCarrollton Coppell Farmers Branch Flower Mound Frisco Grapevine McKinneyPlano RichardsonFormal Smart City PlanNo No No No No No No No NoSmart City Individual InitiativesStarted research six months ago; Have met with a few consulting companies & Dallas Innovation Alliance; Already have a few projects that would likely fall under the umbrella of smart city but they need a formal definition.Coppell's Executive Team has developed a definition based in part on an International City/County Management Association E‐book; Will likely look to hire a consultant to develop a plan; Has multiple projects already in place brought about by business needs that could be considered smart city initiatives including automatic license plate readers & smart water meters.Smart cell service light pole pilot project underwayHas just formed a committee to discuss strategy; Has smart traffic signal projects underway; All efforts have grown organically from departments' suggestions that were supported by City Management & Council.Plano has a committee comprised of major departments to review advancements quarterly; Additionally they have partnered with the University of Texas at Dallas and the Plano School District's Advanced Placement Program for students on pilot IOT devices.Some initiatives underway with the University of Texas at DallasContactDiane Holmes, Information Technology Director/Chief Information OfficerJerod Anderson, Director of Enterprise SolutionsBen Williamson, Assistant to the City ManagerShelly Willson, Customer Relations ManagerBeth Ann Unger, Information Services ManagerTessa Allberg, Chief Technology OfficerSid Hudson, Chief Information OfficerBrandi Youngkin, Assistant City Manager & Chris Chiancone, Director of Technology Services/Chief Information OfficerGreg Sowell, Communications Director