HomeMy WebLinkAboutFCS-17-002 - Digital Kitchener Strategy
REPORT TO: Finance and Corporate Services Committee
DATE OF MEETING: January 9, 2017
SUBMITTED BY: Dan Murray, Director of Technology Innovation and Services,
519-741-2200 x7825
PREPARED BY: Dan Murray, Director of Technology Innovation and Services,
519-741-2200 x7825
Justin Watkins, Interim Manager, Business Relations and
Solutions Delivery, 519-741-2200 x7203
WARD(S) INVOLVED: All
DATE OF REPORT: December 14, 2016
REPORT NO.: FCS-017-002
SUBJECT: Digital Kitchener Strategy
___________________________________________________________________________
RECOMMENDATION:
THAT the Digital Kitchener strategy be approved, attached as Appendix A to staff report
FCS-17-002; and
THAT staff be directed staff to begin work on the actions as outlined in Digital Kitchener
over the course of 2017 – 2021.
BACKGROUND:
This report represents the conclusion of efforts to create the City’s first ever digital
strategy. Identified as a corporate project in the 2015 business plan, Digital Kitchener
replaces the 2010 Corporate Technology Strategic Plan and presents a renewed vision
to guide the work of the City’s Information Technology (IT) division both internally
(corporate facing) and externally (community facing) over the next four years.
REPORT:
Over the last 18 months, significant research and engagement has taken place to
inform the development of Digital Kitchener. This includes roughly 12 months of focused
internal and external outreach, including but not limited to:
Mayor Vrbanovic’s Digital Kitchener Forum, attended by roughly 30 tech leaders
and visionaries from across the community
*** This information is available in accessible formats upon request. ***
Please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994 for assistance.
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Two roundtable events hosted by the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier
University student unions
Participation in the Ideas of the Brave Symposium
Brainstorming exercises with eight of council’s advisory committees (over 100
participants in total)
Hosting a “Digital” Town Hall, with participation from approximately 230 users
Receiving 441 questionnaire responses (online and hardcopy responses, hosted
with the help of the City’s community centres, Kitchener Public Library branches
and the Working Centre)
Input from roughly 150 City staff, through one-on-one interviews, brain storming
exercises and four action setting sessions hosted at Communitech.
Countless hours of informal discussions with stakeholders on ideas and
opportunities for the strategy
These collective efforts have resulted in a truly co-developed plan to deliver on council’s
2015 direction, creating an inspired vision and strategic framework to guide the work of
the City’s IT division for the next four years. Digital Kitchener’s direction also affirms
some of the initial goals and assumptions made about the project, specifically that the
strategy would create a greater understanding of:
The City’s role in taking Kitchener’s progressive tech reputation to the next level
The role of information and technology in fulfilling council’s commitments –
particularly around customer service and open government
How IT can better deliver high quality services to its clients so that in turn, the City
can deliver high quality services to citizens and other end users
How to transform civic culture through collaboration and ideation
Digital Kitchener’s Vision
Together with our partners, we will build a foundation that harnesses the power of digital
technology to create a world-class smart city.
As the vision implies, Digital Kitchener is about putting essential pieces in place to
create a smart city and build upon our IT investments – both planned and existing.
Digital Kitchener’s Strategic Framework
To achieve this vision, Digital Kitchener proposes that the city become more:
Connected by infrastructure that makes Kitchener more competitive, more productive
and a more attractive place to live and work;
Innovative by inspiring and driving change that has a meaningful impact on citizens’
lives;
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On Demand by improving access to information and digital tools, such as open data
and online services; and
Inclusiveby improving capacity to support digital literacy and increased access to
technology.
While information and technology solutions are a critical component to much of the work
that will be completed, the solutions themselves are only things. Digital Kitchener is a
strategy about transforming the way we do things.
Each of the four areas of Digital Kitchener’s strategic framework and its actions have
also been developed to directly support council’s strategic plan. For more detail on
Digital Kitchener’s strategic framework and actions, please refer to Appendix A.
Digital Kitchener’s Implementation
As outlined above, Digital Kitchener is about more than just tech solutions. Rather than
be constrained to a tactical, four year work plan, Digital Kitchener is designed to set a
tone and direction that will allow the exploration of emerging opportunities as staff
continue to engage and involve community partners.
In consideration of this, it is proposed that the implementation of Digital Kitchener occur
by:
Staff identifying four to five objectives each year that will tactically advance the
spirit and intent of the strategy; and
Based on council’s approval, for staff to then spend the following 12 months
scoping out work and implementing opportunities that will advance those approved
objectives. Initiatives with budget implications will be brought forward to council for
consideration in upcoming budget cycles.
In addition to this, Digital Kitchener will also be considered in all other technology
investments and initiatives to ensure that the day-to-day activities of IT continue to
contribute to the success of the strategy.
The above approach will allow staff to be flexible in pursuing work that will advance the
strategy; it will allow work to be more additive, reflecting the fact that some initiatives will
take more than one year to complete and will continue to be built upon; and it will
promote ongoing discussion and excitement around what work Digital Kitchener will
announce in each subsequent year – similar to the approach used by companies like
Apple, Microsoft and BlackBerry for product announcements. Planned objectives for
th
2017 will be discussed in more detail with council at the January 9 committee meeting.
Subject to council’s approval of the strategy, City staff are prepared to commence
implementation of Digital Kitchener immediately.
Communications and Marketing
The importance of telling the Kitchener story was heard clearly throughout consultation.
In light of this, staff have worked closely with Corporate Communications to develop a
comprehensive communications plan for Digital Kitchener and the many ongoing
initiatives that will result from it.
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ALIGNMENT WITH CITY OF KITCHENER STRATEGIC PLAN:
Strategic Priority: Effective and Efficient City Services
Strategy: 5.2 - Improve the design and delivery of city services so that they provide what
citizens want in the most reliable, convenient and cost efficient way
Strategic Action: #68 - Corporate Technology Strategic Plan and Digital Strategy
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
No financial implications at this time. Any initiatives resulting from the strategy with
budget implications will be brought forward to Council for consideration.
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT:
INFORM – This report has been posted to the City’s website with the agenda in
advance of the council / committee meeting.
CONSULT – The public at large has been offered the opportunity to provide input and
share ideas on the Digital Kitchener project through various engagement opportunities
as described in this report.
COLLABORATE – Many stakeholder groups such as Kitchener Public Library, the
Mayor’s Forum participants and the City’s advisory committees have collaborated to
develop innovative ideas for Digital Kitchener.
APPENDICES:
APPENDIX A: Digital Kitchener
ACKNOWLEDGED BY: Dan Chapman, DCAO Finance and Corporate Services
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Connected.
Innovative.
On Demand.
Inclusive.
Kitchener has a proud history of leadership and innovation – driving
change to become a world-class city.
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More than tech.
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 1
Our vision
Kitchener is a city of dreamers and doers – people who believe in the power of possibility
and are committed to creating a smarter, more connected city.
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The foundation of
a smart city
Connected Innovative
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4 Digital Kitchener
On Demand
Inclusive
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 5
Connected
Becoming more connected means:
12 3
Smart infrastructure will lay the groundwork for the innovation of tomorrow.
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To make this happen we will:
Position Kitchener as an easy to access, low risk
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 7
Connected
This is where it starts
1
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8 Digital Kitchener
Fairway Bridge LED
Lights
2
1 Smart infrastructure, like the city’s LED streetlight
project, will lay the groundwork for improvements to
the way citizens live, work, and experience life
in Kitchener.
2 Investments in infrastructure improvements, like
LED lights on the Fairway Road bridge expansion, are
already in place in some areas of the city.
3 Council approval of a strategy to include a narrowband
network installation simultaneously with LED streetlight
replacements will allow lights to brighten and dim as
lighting in the city.
3
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 9
Innovative
Becoming more innovative means:
123
Over a 12 month period, dozens of brainstorming sessions and stakeholder meetings
helped identify Kitchener’s digital priorities. Online and in-person contributions
helped shape Digital Kitchener.
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To make this happen we will:
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 11
Innovative
Beyond the ordinary
1
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12 Digital Kitchener
2
1 Kitchener Public Library has taken on its own
digital literacy initiatives and created services and
program ming open to the community.
Leaders from the tech and academic sectors
participated in brainstorming sessions to help form
Digital Kitchener.
3 The Maker Expo showcases the best of Kitchener’s
maker culture and its appetite for what’s next in
technology and innovation.
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 13
3
On Demand
Becoming more on-demand means:
123
In the heart of the second largest technology cluster in North America and as an
anchor in the Toronto-Waterloo Region corridor, Kitchener connects some of the
world’s top talent. Information on demand is essential in order to enable innovation
in the city’s thriving economy.
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To make this happen we will:
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 15
On Demand
Endless possibilities
1
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16 Digital Kitchener
2
1 At the Maker Expo, people of all ages are inspired to think
about the endless possibilities tech can provide – like the
ability to create a 3D printed superhero helmet.
2 Digital Kitchener will help drive smart city initiatives that
will have far reaching impact in both urban and suburban
neighbourhoods.
3 Leveraging technology to improve quality of life – like the
use of real-time reporting mobile apps – makes Digital
Kitchener a collaborative approach to making city services
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 17
3
Inclusive
Becoming more inclusive means:
123
Improving digital literacy will ensure that all citizens can be engaged in their city.
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To make this happen we will:
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 19
Inclusive
Breaking down barriers
1
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20 Digital Kitchener
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1 Programs like HackerGrrlz, are integral to encouraging
and supporting women in tech.
2 HiveWR (formerly Year of the Code) brings tech to the
mainstream, offering the opportunity for all to learn
a little about tech.
3 44 Gaukel is a creative hub in Kitchener that brings
the arts and tech communities together in one
space – advancing innovation under one roof.
3
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 21
3
We’re in this together
To achieve this, we will:
1
2
3
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22 Digital Kitchener
Kitchener’s Innovation District is home to world-leading tech
companies, North America’s largest tech-incubator, and a
wealth of talented minds that lead by example, inspiring others
to think big and dream bigger.
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Digital Kitchener Strategy 25
#DigitalKitchener
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