Put Technology to Work
The Arlington City Council adopted “ Put Technology to Work ” as a new priority for fiscal year 2016 . Technology touches all parts of life within the City of Arlington – the organization , residents and businesses . Advancing new technologies , building infrastructure for the future , promoting transparency , and engaging our data and security privacy are among the ways the City is striving to be innovative and create better lives for its citizens .
City Data Strategic Plan Unveiled
Tapping into data can help City employees improve internal efficiencies , analyze current and future needs and opportunities , and increase transparency for Arlington ’ s citizens and business communities .
Thanks to the City Data Strategic Plan , Arlington has a better understanding of current data inventories , platforms , connections and business processes . This will help drive decisions about future data management and integration strategies , analytic capabilities and open data .
City Continues Energy Efficiency Program , LED Streetlight Conversion
The Arlington City Council designed to improve energy efficiency approved funding for Phase II of the at various City-owned facilities . The City Public Works and Transportation also continued retrofitting with new
Department ’ s Energy Efficiency
LED lighting and technology . Besides Program . The $ 3.3-million project , appearing brighter than the former engineered , designed , constructed yellow sodium vapor lights , the LED and commissioned by OpTerra Energy fixtures save energy , enhance street Services , includes installation of building safety and generate cost savings for the energy control systems , and upgraded City . HVAC systems and modifications
Arlington , UT-Arlington Partner to Investigate Sewer Lines
Technology can be a useful tool to help gather information in places where humans can ’ t or don ’ t want to go . One such place is underground sewer pipes . Last year , Arlington Water Utilities and the University of Texas at Arlington engineers partnered together to test a more efficient , cost-effective way to explore miles of large-diameter sewer pipes . As part of the project , the team will use a multisensor robot to look for cracks and other defects inside the pipes using a highdefinition camera , lasers and sonar .
Once a weakness is discovered , a joint University-City team digs down to extract a segment of the pipe . Researchers will then analyze the pipe sample in the laboratory by using analytic methods to determine its current condition and remaining life . The information provides City staff and elected officials valuable information to determine maintenance costs now and needed capital replacement costs for the future .
New Electric Contract Saves City Millions
A new 9-year retail electricity supply contract with TXU of Irving is expected to save the City an estimated $ 2.5 million a year . Arlington hired Priority Power Management , LLC , to solicit bids from various electricity firms and help negotiate a contract for the City , which consumes more than 72.6 million kilowatt-hours of electricity a year . Seven electric companies responded with bids . After negotiations , the Council approved a contract with TXU to deliver an estimated $ 23.5 million , or 32.8 percent , savings in electricity costs over the term .
Fans Can Access Free WiFi at Levitt Pavilion
Spectrum , formerly TWCWiFi , provides fast and reliable broadband Internet access at no charge on WiFi enabled devices across the entire Levitt Pavilion venue . Cable subscribers receive unlimited broadband access and non-cable subscribers receive 1 hour of free broadband service with the option to purchase additional access .
Arlington Police Test Body Worn Cameras
In 2016 , the Arlington Police Department conducted a 6-month , $ 50,000-pilot program to evaluate the organizational impact of police body camera usage . User surveys conducted both internally and externally provided feedback on the experience . At the direction of City Council , body worn cameras were included in the 2017 budget . The Police Department , which received a state grant to help defray the cost of the initial equipment , anticipates it will implement approximately 350 body worn cameras by fall 2017 .
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