Title
Review and Comment on the Draft Smart City Master Plan Recommendations (Discussion Item)
Body
Transportation Commission
11/17/2021
Item # 6B
(DISCUSSION)
Review and Comment on the Draft Smart City Master Plan Recommendations
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
At the September 19, 2017 City Council Meeting, City Council initiated a City Council Referral to investigate options to provide free public Wi-Fi throughout the City of Alameda (City) as part of the Smart City Initiatives in the Information Technology Strategic Plan (2017). With the recent Shelter in Place orders and increased distance learning and remote work, the need for available public Wi-Fi has increased. At the December 15, 2020 City Council Meeting, City Council received an update on the Smart City initiatives related to the City Council referral and approved the consultant contract for Iteris to develop a Smart City Master Plan, which will guide the City's use of new technology to improve community members' lives. At the March 24, 2021 Transportation Commission meeting, the Transportation Commission received an overview of the Smart City Master Plan effort, and requested Iteris to present preliminary findings. At the October 5, 2021 City Council meeting, City Council provided direction on the preliminary recommendations. Exhibit 1 is the Draft Needs Assessment and Recommendations Memo, which describes the preliminary draft recommendations that are intended to guide the City on how best to strategically invest in new technologies.
BACKGROUND
Multiple departments in the City are working together to develop a Smart City Master Plan. City staff also has been working with the Alameda Unified School District (AUSD), Alameda Family Services, Alameda Point Collaborative and Alameda Education Foundation to explore ways to address the "digital divide" to ensure all community members have equitable internet access, which is now considered an essential service. In Alameda, community members are fortunat...
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