Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Execute a Non-Binding Membership Agreement with the North Texas Innovation Alliance
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2B: Balance available resources to accommodate the growth and maintenance needs of the city)
MEETING DATE: March 17, 2020
DEPARTMENT: Development Services/Engineering
CONTACT: Gary Graham, PE, PTOE, Director of Engineering
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of Resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Resolution authorizes the City Manager to execute a non-binding membership agreement with the North Texas Innovation Alliance
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• The North Texas Innovation Alliance (NTXIA) is 501c3 consortium of cross-sector organizations including public, private, civic and academic entities, working to build and implement a regional smart city strategy for North Texas. The NTXIA will be the largest regional initiative of its kind in the United States. A holistic view of a Smart Region encompasses the use of data, technology and community to improve quality of life, inclusive economic development and resource efficiency.
• The purpose of the NTXIA is to develop a network that recognizes that the duty to support citizens doesn’t stop at municipal borders, and there is a timely opportunity to make North Texas a leader in implementing integrated smart cities efforts that cross geographic boundaries. No single entity, whether company, community, or academic institution, possesses all the expertise and skillsets needed for sound growth initiatives. A best-minds approach to the consortium makes subject matter expertise amongst partners available for counsel on collective and individual initiatives.
• North Texas has been a leader in smart cities initiatives and deployments in many of the region’s 27 cities and 17 counties. Currently, most cities are working independently to develop smart cities and innovative solutions to support and serve their own citizens. A regional approach allows results and learnings to be amplified, with the result that the entire region progresses at an accelerated pace. The benefits of this approach include resource conservation, economic development, operational efficiencies, sustainability, equity and strengthening the talent pipeline.
• By establishing a regional consortium, the NTXIA will work to identify and collaboratively address barriers that inhibit sustainability, efficiency, growth and quality of life. A regionally-focused strategy will serve as a national model and ultimately help create standards and policy-driven initiatives that serve the needs of all citizens across North Texas.
• The proposed agreement is a non-binding membership agreement that the NTXIA is using to promote membership. All cities who execute the agreement by March 27th, will be considered Founding Members. NTXIA will also focus future efforts on private sector partners to become members.
• Eight entities have formally signed the agreement to date with six other communities are either reviewing the document or presenting to their City Council’s.
• The NTXIA has not request financial commitment at this time, however they will have a membership fee based on population. For a community the size of McKinney it will be $25,000. MEDC has already signed the non-binding membership agreement. For both the City and MEDC to be members, NTXIA has indicated that the total membership fee would be $37,500, which would be split between the two entities.
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• N/A
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A