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Put Technology to Work
Technology touches all parts of the city life . It is also integral in achieving the City ’ s other four priorities . This emphasis , which includes enhancing current and embracing new technologies , will improve access , convenience and timeliness of information for our community and create greater transparency . Additionally , the City benefits from increased efficiency and security , leading to greater responsiveness . These advantages lead to economic growth and position Arlington to provide better services and experiences to all we serve .
Arlington Launches Citibot Texting Service
Thanks to a grant from the Arlington Tomorrow Foundation , the City of Arlington became the largest in Texas in 2020 to implement
Citibot , an interactive text messaging tool that provides a new way for residents to report issues in the community , such as potholes or stray animals , or find information about city services and events , such as permits , public meetings or trash and recycling pick-up dates .
Innovation Zone at The East Library and Recreation Center Expands Access to Internet , Technology
Residents ’ access to Internet and technology has been expanded thanks to the Innovation Zone at The East Library and Recreation Center .
At The East , residents can access public computers for free and print , copy , fax and scan for a small fee . Adults can check out Chromebooks from the laptop dispenser for use in the building during
Water Utilities Adds New Tools to Know Your H20 Website to Help Customers
Hourly water usage readings from nearly 75,000 Arlington homes and businesses are now available online through the City ’ s water account portal ,
Know Your H2O .
The addition of hourly usage data to the Arlington Water Utilities website is another step in the City of Arlington ’ s efforts to give residents the tools they need to manage their own water usage and avoid billing surprises . Additional features include : an option for account holders to set up high-usage and high-bill alerts and a proactive continuous usage alert for residents .
their visit . iPads , with Osmo education software and complementing activities , are available for children . Residents can also make a reservation to use high-tech public rooms or study rooms to meet and gather . An additional amenity in this new facility is the outdoor pods with a full complement of power and connectivity to enjoy working or meeting outside .
Municipal Court Taps Technology to Serve Residents During Pandemic
In April , the City ’ s Municipal Court tapped available technology and implemented a new virtual court pilot program to continue to minimize foot traffic and protect public health during the coronavirus pandemic . Through the pilot program , the Municipal Court allowed defendants who received a citation within the City of Arlington to have procedural access to a judge and utilize the Zoom platform to speak with a judge during a virtual walk-in court session . Later in 2020 , the Municipal Court expanded its virtual court services by adding a live online court clerk .
In Other Technology News
• COVID-19 dashboard : The Office of Strategic Initiatives , in conjunction with the Office of Communication , Office of Emergency Management and IT-GIS , developed an all-in-one dashboard to display daily Arlington-specific COVID-19 data .
• The City shifted nearly all public meetings and town hall meetings to a virtual format during the coronavirus pandemic .
• Arlington ’ s innovative Your City at Work performance measurement dashboards were highlighted by GovTech magazine .
• The Arlington Police Department Jail began a remote video magistrate project with Tarrant County Criminal Courts , allowing prisoners to be arraigned by a Tarrant County judge within 24 hours and make bond without being transported to the Tarrant County Jail .
• Arlington celebrated Open Data Day 2020 by inviting residents to explore the Open Arlington portal , which features more than 40 datasets and interactive maps .
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