HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-21-2024 Information & Technology Meeting Minutes (Signed),II
OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
BIA CAL. TIRADO, CITY CLERK
INFORMATION & TECHNOLOGY March 21, 2024 3:30 P.M.
Committee Members Present:
Committee Members Absent:
Others Present:
Presenters:
Agenda I.
Rachel Tomas Morgan , Sherry Bolden-
Simpson, Canneth Lee*, Kate Berlent, Maria
Gibbs
None
Bianca L. Tirado , Matthew Neal , Kerry
Joseph , Madi Ro gers , Dan O 'Connor, Kelsey
Lange , Bob Palmer*
Denise Riedl
Call to Order
II . I&T Committee Member Introductions
III. Department of Innovation & Technology
2023 Annual Report ; Presentation by Denise
Linn Riedl , Chief Innovation Officer, and
staff
IV. Discussion and Questions to Follow
V. Collecting Priority Topics for I&T
Committee from Committee Members
VI. Planning Ahead for Committee Meetings
VII . Adjournment
Members marked with an asterisk(*) are present digitally
Please note the attached link for the meeting recording:
http://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/browse.aspx?dbid=0&mediaid=381542
Please note the attached link for the presentation:
https://docs.southbendin.gov/WebLink/0/edoc/381547/2023%20Annual%20Report 3.21.20
24 %20IT%20Comm %20Meeting.pdf
Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan called to order the Information & Technology Committee
meeting at 3 :30 p.m.
D ani ca Kul e m e ka
C H I EF D li PUTY/ C HI EF OF ST AFF
INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY
Eli ve l Quijad a-N avarro
D EPLlTY / DIRECTO R OF PO LI CY
Mallhew Neal
D I RECTO R OF SPEC I AL PROJECTS
EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION I EMPOWERMENT
455 Cou nty -City Buil din g 1227 W. Jefferson Bl vd. I Sou th Bend . Indiana 4660 1 I p. 574.235 .9221 I f. 574 .2 35.9 1731 www.sou th bendin.gov
CITY O F SO UTH BE D I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Denise Riedl , Chief Innovation Officer, with offices on the 12 th floor of the County-City Building ,
presented the Department of Innovation & Technology 's 2023 Annual Report. Denise Riedl gave
an overview of the Department of Innovation & Technology 's organizational structure and
functions. Denise Riedl highlighted some of the 2023 accomplishments of the Department of
Technology & Innovation: one thousand and one hundred (1 ,100) resident engagements for the
Build the Budget, a greater than four point five out of five (4.5 /5) customer service rating for three-
one-one (311) Customer Service calls , more than fifty (50) open training and tech events , etc.
Denise Riedl outlined future reorganization plans as well as goals for 2024.
Committee Chair asked the Citizen Committee Members to introduce themselves .
Committee Member Maria Gibbs stated that she is currently the Senior Director of iNDustry Labs
at Notre Dame and has started and run her own venture capital fund focusing on technology that
serves customers in small cities. Committee Member Gibbs stated that she is impressed with South
Bend 's forward looking vision regarding innovation and technology, and hopes to be able to utilize
her experiences to empower the Innovation & Technology team. Committee Member Gibbs asked
Denise Riedl how well hiring and recruitment is going for the Department of Innovation &
Technology.
Denise Riedl stated that hiring is going well so far , although it may be too early to tell the extent
of the effectiveness of the recent organizational changes . Recruiting and hiring is going more
smoothly than expected , Kerry Joseph began in his role on January 2, 2024 and already has a fully
staffed team. Dan O 'Connor is currently looking for a Cybersecurity Specialist.
Committee Member Kate Berlent stated that she worked at Google for the last decade and recently
began a new role at Autodesk which focuses on technology for the manufacturing design and
construction industry. With a background in technology education Committee Member Berlent has
coached residents on how to apply for remote work.
Committee Member Canneth Lee inquired about the plans for expanding South Bend 's Real Time
Crime Center.
Denise Riedl stated that Council can reach out to her regarding specific areas they want to see the
Real Time Crime Center expanded to.
Committee Vice Chair Sherry Bolden-Simpson stated that she is interested in hearing about how
the Department of Innovation & Technology plans to reach out to the seniors in the City. Some
people are frightened of technology and the committee should work on how to help with such
situations. Committee Vice Chair Bolden-Simpson asked where she can access the City 's official
color themes and templates.
Denise Riedl stated that she can show Committee Vice Chair Bolden-Simpson where to find the
templates after the meeting.
Committee Vice Chair Bolden-Simpson inquired about the restructuring of the Department of
Innovation & Technology.
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County-City Building 227 W. Je fferson Blvd . Sout h Ben d , Ind iana 46601 p. 574.235 .9221 f. 574 .235 .9 173 www .so uth be ndin .gov
' ..
CITY O F SO UTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
Denise Riedl assured Committee Vice Chair Bolden-Simpson that the restructuring did not involve
any reductions , rather simply reorganizing the reporting hierarchy.
Committee Vice Chair Bolden-Simpson suggested more outreach tactics for the Department of
Innovation & Technology to utilize to help promote technological literacy.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan stated her intere st on having a joint committee meeting with the
Innovation & Technology Committee and the Utilities Committee regarding the utilities
integration of the One Stop Shop. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan asked Committee Members
what their topics of priority for the year are .
Committee Member Gibbs stated that she is interested in prioritizing generative AI and its potential
applications for the City.
Committee Member Berlent inquired about topics of priority from previous years.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan stated that one of the previous topics was public safety, more
specifically the Real Time Crime Center.
Denise Riedl stated that a couple previous topics were the City's Digital Equity Portfolio and the
centralization of resources for the Common Council regarding the different ways each City
department is supporting small businesses.
Committee Member Berlent stated that she is interested in prioritizing the improvement of the
City 's outreach initiatives.
Committee Member Gibbs stated that she would like to see the success stories of City programs
presented along with resident metrics.
Committee Member Lee would like to prioritize the Real Time Crime Center expansion , as well
as simplifying enrollment processes (Home Repair Program).
Committee Chair Bolden-Simpson would like to prioritize the improvement of the City 's outreach
initiatives.
Committee Chair Tomas Morgan would like to have a joint meeting with the Health & Public
Safety Committee regarding public safety technologies such as the Real Time Crime Center, the
Business Security Program, and the Transparency Hub . Committee Chair Tomas Morgan would
like to prioritize AI , utility integration , South Bend Open WiFi , the Rental Safety Verification
Program (RSVP), and landlord verification. Committee Chair Tomas Morgan suggests scheduling
another meeting at the end of April or early May , and states that the next meeting will detail updates
regarding the Real Time Crime Center.
With no further business , Committee Chair Rachel Tomas Morgan adjourned the Information &
Technology Committee meeting at 4 :52 p .m .
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 Cou nty-C ity Buil din g 227 W. Jeffe rson Bl vd. Sou th Bend , Indiana 46601 p. 574.235.922 1 f. 574.235.9 173 www.sou th be ndin.gov
CITY O F SO UTH BEN D I OF FI CE O F THE CLE RK
Respectfully Submitt ed,
Rachel Tomas Morgan , Committee Chair
NOTICE FOR HEARI NG AN D S IGHT IM PAIRED PE RSONS
Auxili ary Ai d or Oth er Services may be Ava.i lablc upon Request at No Charge.
Pl c:1se give Reaso nable Adva nce Req uest when Poss
EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT
455 County -City Bu il ding 227 W. Jefferson Blvd . Sout h Bend , Indiana 4660 1 p. 574 .235 .9221 f. 574 .235 .9 173 www.southbendi n.gov