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Blacktown, NSW develops first-in-Australia program for Water Sensitive Urban Design compliance
Blacktown's long-standing inspection program proved ineffective at finding mismanaged WSUD device use. The council piloted a new program whereby 20 randomly chosen properties were required to report on the conditions of 337 WSUD devices. This pilot included the development of an education toolkit on legal requirements and device maintenance. Local officials anticipated reductions in pollutants entering waterways thanks to well-maintained biofilters, rainwater tanks, and litter traps.
Blacktown, NSW
Australia
Penrith, NSW makes asbestos register data more accessible to workers with QR code signs
The city sought a digitized alternative to the paper-based asbestos register used across 340 council buildings. A QR code sign in each building provides immediate access to the types and locations of identified or potential asbestos. Council teams can immediately update information and produce reports on code access per location from a single resource. This system complies with state workplace safety laws and protects workers from asbestos exposure.
Penrith, NSW
Australia
Sydney, NSW simplifies risk management and compliance by developing a cloud-based tool
City departments previously used spreadsheets and emailed reports to track risk management tasks. The new system provides a centralized resource for investigations, insurance claims, and risk assessments. An Executive Risk Report shows the status of ongoing actions, the effectiveness of controls, and residual risk levels. The platform offers department-level views and easy-to-use risk registers. Assigned coordinators can customize reports for specific departmental or project needs.
Sydney, NSW
Australia
Essex, ON supports zoning bylaw changes for short-term rental units with dedicated STRU hotline
Amended bylaws require licensing for all STRUs and restrict units opened after May 9, 2022, to commercial districts. The new rules also establish requirements for off-street parking based on each unit's number of bedrooms. Town officials established 1-833-ESSX STR as an around-the-clock hotline for community feedback on STRUs. Customer support representatives accept resident complaints about parking issues, noise levels, and other STRU issues.
Essex, ON
Canada
Minneapolis, MN funds Payroll and Bookkeeping Pilot for improved compliance with labor rules
Minneapolis approved $125,000 in stimulus funds for a pilot run by the Metropolitan Consortium of Community Developers. Small businesses apply for free software and assistance in complying with the city's paid sick leave and minimum wage standards. Approved participants agree to comply with city employment rules within one year of application. This program also assists businesses owned by members of marginalized groups with securing loans.
Minneapolis, MN
United States
San Jose, CA improves public access to police misconduct complaints with its SB 1421 Records Portal
California's SB 1421 expands public records access to complaints about officer-involved shootings and bodily injury cases. The Mayor's Office of Technology and Innovation and the Independent Police Auditor developed a portal for complaint searches dating back to 2000. Users can peruse a list of the most recent complaints or filter by complaint type and date. The SB 1421 Records Portal will hosts complaints related to discriminatory behavior, unlawful searches, and use of excessive force by 2023.
San Jose, CA
United States
Wakefield Metropolitian District Council, GB designs tool for accurate food allergen assessments
The national Regulators’ Pioneer Fund awarded £66,259 to the council for project design and development. The planned platform assists food-related businesses in identifying different types of food allergen cross-contamination during production. This categorization results in more precise labeling of food items with allergens than allowed by standard disclaimers like "may contain." Businesses, consumers, and the council will benefit from improved food handling and labeling practices.
Wakefield Metropolitan District Council, GB
United Kingdom
Toronto, ON approves Digital Infrastructure Strategic Framework for guidance on future technology
Toronto developed a document governing city projects ranging from IoT devices to data collection. The 108-page framework establishes strategic priorities for six principles of responsible technology use including privacy, transparency, and equity. Each strategic priority includes emerging issues and considerations for implementation. City officials consult the framework when determining if infrastructure proposals are necessary, compliant, and aligned with values.
Toronto, ON
Canada
San Jose, CA approves gun liability insurance and fee with first-in-U.S. harm reduction ordinance
The Gun Harm Reduction Ordinance requires every household with at least one firearm to hold current liability insurance. There are no minimums set in the ordinance but policies must cover losses from accidental firearm discharges. San Jose also applies a $25 annual fee to each household with registered firearms. Collected fees cover violence prevention, firearm safety, and mental health services through a non-profit partner.
San Jose, CA
United States
Bielefeld, NW offers reusable container subsidy for local restaurant compliance with federal law
The Packaging Act - or VerpackG - requires all restaurants with five or more employees to offer reusable containers starting in 2023. Bielefeld's subsidy program assists small businesses that are exempt from the law but want sustainable practices. The subsidy provides up to 500 euros per recipient for reusable containers or returnable container agreements among five or more eateries. Qualifying restaurants and cafes can apply for subsidies up to 1,000 euros for commercial dishwashers.
Bielefeld, NW
Germany
North Yorkshire County Council, GB develops an incident reporting mobile app for highways employees
Council-owned NY Highways worked with Clearway Technology and Connected Safety Net on the app's development. Employees record visual evidence of near-miss incidents throughout the county in the mobile app. NY Highways staff can also report non-compliance with PPE requirements and unsafe vehicle operations. Features of the app include automatic device location and an offline mode for incidents in low-connectivity areas.
North Yorkshire County Council, GB
United Kingdom
Frankfurt am Main, HE designs rent index calculator for improved transparency in housing costs
Federal rent control laws index monthly rental costs to changes in each region's consumer price index. Frankfurt's housing and IT teams developed an interactive tool based on the current year's index. Users enter the age, size, and amenities of rental units into the calculator. Each search produces a two-page report on the unit's local comparative rent. The rent index calculator offers a one-stop shop for reliable information during housing searches.
Frankfurt am Main, HE
Germany