TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager to work with Technology and Innovation (TI) Department and community stakeholders on a plan and return to the City Council, within 90 days, detailing the following:
• Current processes for the disposal of City-owned computers and technology;
• Recommendations from staff on how to increase the number of computers in the hands of families in underserved neighborhoods while reducing electronic waste;
• Work with Technology and Innovation Department, I-Team, Economic Development Department and Technology and Innovation in conjunction with nonprofit partners like Human-i-T;
• Detail existing and/or potential Incentives (rebates, write offs etc.) in place at the City, County, State level etc., for business to donate their technology to local nonprofits;
• Work with Human-i-T, Pacific Gateway, and other partners in the business and nonprofit sectors to provide support with training, wiping of refurbished computers etc;
• Inventory of publicly available computers at city facilities in underserved neighborhoods experiencing the digital divide;
• Digital inclusion activities that engage intergenerational residents (children to seniors) such as email, digital archiving of physical files (photos, address books, Skype etc.).
DISCUSSION
One of the main factors contributing to the digital divide is a lack of affordable technology. With the average computer costing in the range of 400-600 dollars 1, purchasing a computer is not always feasible for all residents.
Over the last few years the City of Los Angeles has rolled out Ourcycle. Ourcycle is a program in which the City of Los Angeles has entered into a public-private partnership with various businesses and nonprofits to accomplish the task of refurbishing salvage computers from City facilities and redistributing them to underserved families. Since the program's inception in 2015 thousands of computers have been diverted from e-waste facilities and/or landfills.
The City of Riverside has a similar program in place called Smart Riverside. Through this program residents earning $45,000 or less are eligible to receive a free computer on the condition that they attend 8-hours of free computer training workshops that are offered in multiple languages.
Computers in various facilities across City of Long Beach are constantly being updated with the older models likely discarded as e-waste. Many of these computers could be easily wiped of their contents, refurbished and recycled into the hands of residents of various backgrounds that are experiencing the digital divide. No operable City-owned computer should be discarded without first being offered to local nonprofit organization, residents and business that might take advantage of them.
In addition to city-owned technology, there are many large businesses in the City that update their computers regularly. There are various existing incentives for donation of this technology such as write-offs and tax-deductions.
TIMING CONSIDERATIONS
[Timing Considerations]
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact at this time.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
BODY
[Enter Body Here]
Respectfully Submitted,