TITLE
Recommendation to request City Manager, in consultation with the City's Technology and Innovation Commission, to develop an Open Data Policy and related standards to implement modern citywide practices for sharing data with the public, staff, and policy makers.
DISCUSSION
The City of Long Beach generates a variety of data as it serves its residents, businesses and visitors. Departments already make some service and other data available to the public. Additional standardized sharing of data can further increase transparency and accountability, as well as accelerate the scale, scope and speed of innovation through collaboration with researchers, developers and other key stakeholders.
In addition, the data can be used to better inform the public, staff, and policy makers when collected and presented in a usable form and timely manner.
This Open Data Policy should be pursued with the intent of realizing many different varieties of public good, with a primary focus on accessibility, transparency, public participation and collaboration. The City of Philadelphia has successfully established a policy based similarly on these priorities and is one potential model.
Through this initiative the City of Long Beach will show that the concept of "Open Government" is a continuous and collaborative process of currently untapped potential.
SUGGESTED ACTION
Approve recommendation.
Respectfully Submitted,
MAYOR ROBERT GARCIA