Residents, entrepreneurs, innovators, students, large companies and City leaders are invited to join in a conversation about building a smart city in Mesa.
The City will host "Building a Mesa Smart City: A Citizen Innovator Workshop" Thursday, Oct. 25 from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the Mesa Arts Center, 1 E. Main St., to engage citizens in the local smart city conversation.
The term "smart city" means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. Ultimately, a smart city collects and uses data to efficiently manage assets and resources. Smart cities make decisions based on data that help communities become safer, economically prosperous, educated and diverse while offering affordable housing and a great place to live, work and play.
The City of Mesa is developing a Smart City Strategic Plan which will serve as a guide for decisions related to the expansion of technology to deliver improved services. Cities around the globe are making efforts to become smart cities and Mesa is on the front edge of this next technology era.
"We are thrilled to host this open discussion for citizens to share their ideas in the development of a smarter Mesa," Mayor John Giles said. "Technology can be a tool for us to improve the lives of Mesa residents, and we want residents to be a part of the process."
The workshop is designed to bring together a wide range of people to identify community needs and challenges with the goal of integrating that information into the Smart Cities Strategic Plan and using next-generation technologies to address them.
Additionally, Spanish-speaking facilitators will be in attendance for citizens more comfortable speaking in Spanish.
The FREE event will begin with networking and socializing (light appetizers provided) in the lobby from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. and continue with the interactive Smart City Citizen Innovator Workshop in the Nesbitt-Elliott Playhouse Theater from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. For tickets, please RSVP at mesasmartcity.eventbrite.com.
Public Information and Communications
Contact: Kevin Christopher
Tel. 480-644-4699
kevin.christopher@mesaaz.gov