Staff Report - Outdoor Interactive Digital Media Display (Digital Kiosk) Policy - Landscape Report and Status Update — Law and Legislation Committee, March 21, 2023

City of Sacramento
Law and Legislation Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.

Outdoor Interactive Digital Media Display (Digital Kiosk) Policy - Landscape Report and Status Update
File ID: 2023-00260
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive status update.

Contact: Jamie Mosler, Associate Planner, 916-808-7875, Kevin Colin, Principal Planner, 916-808- 5260, [email protected], Community Development Department Presenter: Jamie Mosler, Associate Planner, 916-808-7875, [email protected], Community Development Department.

Attachments:
1-November 15, 2022 Staff Report
2-Landscape Report
Additional Description/Analysis
Issue Detail: The Law & Legislation Committee log includes an item for consideration of an outdoor interactive digital media display, or digital kiosk, policy, which would include amendments to City Code Chapter 15.148 (Signs). A consultant (Third Plateau) was selected to support staff on responding to the committee’s direction in two phases. Phase 1 consists of Best Practices Research and Phase 2 consists of Community Outreach. The purpose of this staff report is to share Third Plateau’s findings from Phase 1 and provide a status update on the community outreach in Phase 2. · Phase 1: Best Practices Research: Third Plateau completed this phase by conducting research on best practices and discussing with city staff the considerations, features, and implementation of digital kiosks. Third Plateau used this research to develop case studies on cities that either implemented or considered digital kiosks. This research is presented in a Landscape Report included as Attachment 2 to this report and which includes the following key findings:

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File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.
· Digital kiosks offer a multitude of features, but generally support city efforts around wayfinding, digital inclusion, community messaging, and public safety. · Over time, cities have altered the features their kiosks offer in response to community needs and privacy concerns.
· Some cities are increasingly prioritizing equity in digital kiosk programs through strategic placement and features.
· Cities often run low- or no-cost digital kiosk programs through advertisement revenue sharing agreements.
· While many cities outsource most kiosk and content management to the provider or local tourism partner, city staff are most often involved in time consuming code changes and contract agreements.
· Kiosk critics have called for more community-focused and transparent approaches to kiosk planning, implementation, and content.

Considerations based on completed research include the following:
· Code Changes: Many cities approved at least one code change prior to launching a digital kiosk program in the public right of way. Some cities approved multiple ordinances and resolutions for the code, vendor agreement, and content policies including advertisements.
· Partnerships and City Staff Time: The pre-approval process can be time-consuming for both City Council and City staff as can pre-installation community outreach efforts.

Some cities partner with local tourism, economic development, or downtown development organizations that take on the majority of content management responsibilities along with the kiosk vendor who typically provides maintenance. However, some cities do spend more staff time managing the kiosk programs, especially those cities that limit kiosk locations to city properties and those that do not have advertisements. · Vendor Selection Process: In reviewing cities’ digital kiosk programs, Third Plateau observed many kiosk vendors as well as major technology companies that experimented with smart city street furniture. Several kiosk companies most frequently appeared in examined cities: IKE Smart City, Intersection, Smart City Media - CityPost, and Soofa.

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File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.
especially those in historic and residential neighborhoods, expressed concerns around large structures, light pollution, and frequently scrolling advertisements. Several cities required vendors to submit kiosk designs to historic preservation boards. Additionally, some kiosk vendors offer custom containers or wraps to blend in more with city or neighborhood specific aesthetics.
· Community Needs and Concerns in Selecting Features: As explored above, community members across cities expressed concerns about digital kiosk features as it pertained to privacy, accessibility, equity, and meeting community needs. Kiosk vendors are increasingly implementing features and functionality focused on accessibility. Further, some cities did not include features that raised surveillance concerns, such as cameras, and others altered their agreements to address some privacy and data collection concerns. · Funding and Revenue Potential: While not all digital kiosk programs include advertisements, cities do appear to increasingly leverage advertisement agreements to fund kiosk programs and share revenue. These sharing agreements vary, but cities typically receive approximately 20%-50% of advertisement revenue, which is sometimes then shared with local partners.
· Alternative Options and Integration with Other Programs: In Sacramento and other cities, Councilmembers and staff shared questions about wayfinding and digital inclusion alternatives, such as mobile phone applications and digital equity programs. Some cities, such as Seattle, focused on increasing internet access at community institutions such as libraries, public schools, and community centers as opposed to kiosks. With most new kiosks, kiosks are integrated with wayfinding and city-specific apps where users can continue to follow directions to a local business or see additional details about a city event. · Phase 2: Community Outreach
: Third Plateau is currently conducting community outreach based on findings from the Landscape Report to assess interest levels in kiosk design features, potential kiosk locations and content. This engagement will help inform the question of whether to amend the City Code to allow their installation. Additionally, if permitted, the outreach seeks to ensure kiosk design and implementation are aligned with community needs and interests as well as build awareness and buy-in from local stakeholders. Based on research from Phase 1, the outreach methods include:
o Virtual focus groups with neighborhood/community association leaders/representatives. o Virtual focus groups for Improvement Districts and other tourism and economic development groups.
o Interviews with representatives from organizations such as Sacramento Regional Transit District, Sacramento Municipal Utility District, and Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District.
o Interviews with relevant city staff (Public Works, Innovation & Economic Development, Staff on the Disabilities Advisory Commission, etc.)

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File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.
o Community Survey to engage the general public with high-level feedback. The survey will be deployed at the same time as interviews, interviewees and city staff can share links with members of the public.

Community outreach will conclude in April 2023. Staff will utilize the information derived from both the best practices research and community outreach to prepare a draft ordinance for consideration at a Law & Legislation Committee meeting in Spring 2023.

Should the committee proceed with recommending approval of an ordinance and, subject to City Council adoption, the project would move into an implementation phase. Broadly speaking, this would include the definition of project parameters (e.g., location, number, design features, public benefits to be derived, permissible private commercial messaging) and a competitive procurement process for the selection of a digital kiosk contractor and subsequent negotiation of terms for a license agreement. Lastly, the best practices research indicates that additional robust community engagement should occur when selecting specific locations and design features.

Policy Considerations: Digital kiosks support the following General plan policy:

ED 1.1.3 Economic Development Partnerships. The City shall partner with economic development organizations and businesses to improve and advance Sacramento’s economic development climate.

Economic Impacts: The potential economic impacts apply to the City’s revenue and expenditures, rather than the public generally. It is anticipated the costs (e.g., installation, maintenance, removal) of digital kiosks will be negotiated between a private entity (who owns the signs) and City of Sacramento (who owns the right-of-way). Such negotiations may include terms of revenue sharing for general off-site commercial signage.

Environmental Considerations: California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This informational update is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 5378(b)(2) and 15378(b)9%) and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).

Sustainability: Not applicable; to be determined.

Commission/Committee Action: None.

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File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.

Rationale for Recommendation: None currently as the item is review and comment only.

Financial Considerations: The consultant’s scope of work is being fulfilled within a budget of $80,000. Half of the budget is funded through the Community Development Department’s existing On -Call Consulting Services for the Neighborhood Development Action Team, and the balance is funded through the Community Development Department general operations fund.

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.

Background
The Sacramento City Code does not presently provide for a newer signage technology commonly described as ‘Digital Wayfinding Kiosks’ or ‘Smart City Kiosks.’ These electronic devices are usually located in public rights-of-way, visually resemble a large mobile phone, and both convey information and provide some public services. Examples of information and services provided by the devices includes wayfinding (e.g., maps), free Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging, emergency alert broadcasting, air quality information, pedestrian surveillance, local information (e.g., tourist attractions, social services), off-site general commercial advertising, and public transportation schedules. Commonly, these signage types are privately owned yet placed in the public right-of-way (when permitted by local code) through a license agreement.

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File ID: 2023-00260 3/21/2023 Discussion Item 3.
cannabis permit processing), but a consultant (Third Plateau) was selected to support staff on responding to the committee’s direction.

The consultant’s work started on October 28, 2022. Staff shared the consultant’s findings would be brought back to the Committee in March 2023.

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City of Sacramento
Law and Legislation Committee Report
915 I Street Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2022-01855 11/15/2022 Discussion Item 7.

Outdoor Interactive Digital Media Display Policy - Status Update File ID: 2022-01855
Location: Citywide
Recommendation: Receive status update.

Contact: Kevin Colin, Principal Planner, (916) 808-5260, [email protected], Community Development Department
Presenter: Kevin Colin, Principal Planner, (916) 808-5260, [email protected], Community Development Department
Attachments:
1-December 7, 2021 Staff Report
2-Consultant Scope of Work/Schedule
Description / Analysis
Issue Detail: The Law & Legislation Committee log includes an item for the consideration of an outdoor interactive digital media display policy. The purpose of this staff report is to provide the committee an update on work efforts to develop a policy concerning outdoor interactive digital media displays, which would include amendments to City Code Chapter 15.148 (Signs).

City Code does not presently provide for a newer signage technology commonly described as ‘Digital Wayfinding Kiosks’ or ‘Smart City Kiosks.’ These electronic devices are usually located in public rights-of-way, visually resemble a large mobile phone, and both convey information and provide some public services. Examples of information and services provided by the devices includes wayfinding (e.g., maps), free Wi-Fi, electric vehicle charging, emergency alert broadcasting, air quality information, pedestrian surveillance, local information (e.g., tourist attractions), off-site general commercial advertising, and public transportation schedules. Commonly, these signage types are

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File ID: 2022-01855 11/15/2022 Discussion Item 7.
privately owned yet placed in the public right-of-way (when permitted by local code) through a license agreement.

Prior committee meetings on this topic include:
· August 18, 2020: Councilmember Guerra added the topic to the Committee log. · December 7, 2021: The Committee reviewed preliminary information related to City Code amendments necessary to enable ‘Smart City Kiosks,’ provided comments to staff, and requested additional information (e.g., study use of mobile phone application, city cost vs. revenue estimate). See Attachment 1 for staff report. The Committee requested that staff report back with the following information:
o Community input on digital kiosks
o Options for multilingual communication
o Pros and cons of cameras on kiosks
o Options for a phone application
Subsequent to the December 7, 2021 meeting, the staff lead for this item was transferred from the Public Works Department to the Zoning Administration Section of the Community Development Department. In January 2022, the new staff lead (Zoning Administrator) resigned. Although that vacant position (Zoning Administrator) was filled in March 2022, staff turnover continued in the Zoning Administration Section (i.e., 4 of 11 positions vacated). In the intervening months, service delivery narrowed to the section’s core purpose - staffing the public counter to: (1) intake and evaluate all development and building permit applications; and (2) answer all inquiries concerning planning/zoning matters. Concurrently, recruitment efforts yielded (in September and October of this year) the filling of four planner vacancies and the publication of a request for proposals in June 2022 for a consultant to assist with the outdoor interactive digital media display policy.

In September 2022, a consultant (Third Plateau) was selected to support staff on responding to the committee’s direction (see Attachment 2). The consultant’s work started on October 28, 2022 and includes the following scope and schedule:
· Phase 1: Best Practices Research
: Third Plateau will conduct secondary research and have conversations with City officials regarding the considerations, features, and implementation of digital kiosks. Third Plateau will develop case studies on cities that have successfully implemented digital kiosks. Through desk research, Third Plateau will also examine lessons learned from cities who pursued alternative methods to provide community information as well as jurisdictions that discontinued the use of kiosks. This work will be presented in a landscape report summarizing digital kiosk best practices, findings from case studies, and

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File ID: 2022-01855 11/15/2022 Discussion Item 7.
recommendations
· Phase 2: Community Outreach: After completing the best practices research, Third Plateau will conduct community outreach to assess interest levels in kiosk design features, potential kiosk locations, and content. This engagement will help ensure kiosk design and implementation are aligned with community needs and interests as well as build awareness and buy-in from local stakeholders. Outreach methods include:
o Targeted Community Meetings (2 total)
o One-on-One Community Stakeholder Interviews (12 total) o Community Survey
o Interagency, Interdepartmental, and Community Meetings (4 total) This scope of work will be carried out over a five-month period, concluding in March 2023. Phase 1 will take two months to complete; Phase 2 will occur over the remaining three months.

At the final community outreach event (i.e., at Law & Legislation Committee), staff will request final direction on whether to proceed to amendments to the city code (i.e., Chapter 15.148 (Signs)) and, if so, the parameters to address when drafting said legislation, as informed by the research and community input.

Should the committee proceed with legislation and, subject to City Council adoption, the project would move into an implementation phase. Broadly speaking, this would include the definition of project parameters (e.g., location, number, design features, public benefits to be derived, permissible private commercial messaging) and a competitive procurement process for the selection of a digital kiosk contractor and subsequent negotiation of terms for a license agreement.

Policy Considerations: Digital kiosks support the following General Plan policy:

ED 1.1.3 Economic Development Partnerships. The City shall partner with economic development organizations and businesses to improve and advance Sacramento’s economic development climate.

Environmental Considerations:

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File ID: 2022-01855 11/15/2022 Discussion Item 7.

California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA): This informational update is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 5378(b)(2) and 15378(b)(5) and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).

Sustainability: Not applicable; to be determined.

Commission/Committee Action: None.

Rationale for Recommendation: None currently as the item is review and comment only.

Financial Considerations: The consultant’s scope of work will be fulfilled within a budget of $80,000. Half of the budget is funded through the Community Development Department’s existing On -Call Consulting Services for the Neighborhood Development Action Team, and the balance is funded through the Community Development Department general operations fund.

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable.

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Susana Alcala Wood, City Attorney Jorge Oseg uera, City Auditor Mindy Cuppy, City Clerk Howard Chan, City Manager John Colville, City Treasurer Law and Legislation Committee Report
915 I Street, 1st Floor
Sacramento, CA 95814
www.cityofsacramento.org
File ID: 2021-01377 December 7, 2021 Discussion Item 04 T
itle: Consider Amending City Code to Allow for Smart City Kiosks Loc
ation: Citywide
R
ecommendation: Review and comment on: 1) amending chapter 15.148 of the city code to allow for the installation of digital display smart city kiosks.

C
ontact: Ofelia Avalos, Engineering Manager, Public Works Department (916) 808-5054; Darin Gale, Senior Development Project Manager, Office of Innovation & Economic Development (916) 808-7190; Darin Arcolino, Assistant IT Director, Information Technology, (916) 808-0403; Evan Compton, Principal Planner, Community Development Department (916) 808-5260
P
resenter: Ofelia Avalos, Engineering Manager, Public Works Department and Darin Gale, Senior Development Project Manager, Office of Innovation & Economic Development A
ttachments:
1-Description/Analysis
2-Background

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File ID: 2021-01377 Discussion Item 04
December 7, 2021
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City of Sacramento

Description/Analysis

Issue Detail: On August 18, 2020, staff was asked to return with an outdoor interactive digital media policy as an opportunity to look at new technology that could link air monitors and other equipment. Staff has researched the use of commonly called ‘Smart City Kiosks.’ This new type of street furniture is usually located in public rights-of-way and built with emphasis on digital engagement and combining multiple services in one physical structure. Smart City Kiosks are often deployed at no cost to cities in exchange for placement in the public right-a- way. The kiosks are funded by advertising revenue obtained through digital advertisements on the kiosks.

Kiosks provide a myriad of different interactive services including wayfinding; free Wi-Fi; EV charging; emergency alerts; air quality monitoring; surveillance; interaction with local businesses; tourist attraction information; and access to public and private services such as public transportation schedules.

Sacramento City Code:

Placement of the proposed kiosks in the City are currently restricted by the city’s sign code, (City Code Chapter 15.148). Section 15.148.680 of the code potentially prohibits use of the kiosks as they may fall within the definition of “billboard.”

15.148.680 Billboards. “Notwithstanding any contrary provision of this chapter, from and after November 15, 2007, the construction, erection, installation, and use of new billboards are prohibited.”
“Digital billboard” means a billboard or other off-site sign that uses digital-display technology.
“Billboard” means a permanent sign structure that is in a fixed location and is used, in whole or part, for general advertising for hire.

Although the city code restricts new “billboards” the City Council has adopted amendments and exceptions to the code. For example, section 15.148.191 of the code, adopted in 2019, established the Entertainment and Sports Center Sign District (ESC).

The ESC allows for signage that otherwise would be prohibited under chapter 15.148 .

Section 15.148.600 of the sign code provides a list of signs exempt from the other provisions of chapter 15.148. Two recent additions to this portion of the sign code are subsections (F) and (G) of section 15.148.600. Subsection(F) allows for bicycle-share sponsorship signs and subsection (G) allows for sponsorship signs for EV-charging stations, however it states that each sponsorship sign may not display general advertising.

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File ID: 2021-01377 Discussion Item 04
December 7, 2021
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City of Sacramento

Staff would like the Law and Legislation Committee to provide guidance on the potential changes needed to the city’s sign code, agreements, and policies to open the door for allowing companies to install Smart City Kiosks in Sacramento. The feedback will guide staff to move forward in developing the policy.

Policy Considerations: The Smart City Kiosks support the following goals and policies of the City’s General Plan:

ER 6.1.13 Zero-Emission and Low-Emission Vehicle Use. The City shall encourage the use of zero-emission vehicles, low-emission vehicles, bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles, and car-sharing programs by requiring sufficient and convenient infrastructure and parking facilities in residential developments and employment centers to accommodate these vehicles. (RDR/PI)

ED 1.1.3 Economic Development Partnerships. The City shall partner with economic development organizations and businesses to improve and advance Sacramento’s economic development climate. (JP).

Economic Impacts: None

Environmental Considerations:

California Environmental Quality Act: The informational update in this report is not a project under the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA), because it does not involve any commitment to a specific project which may result in a potentially significant physical impact on the environment, as contemplated by Title 14, California Code of Regulations, Sections 5378(b)(2) and 15378(b)(5) and is, therefore, not subject to CEQA pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Section 15060(c)(3).

Sustainability: The Smart City Kiosk has an option for an EV charger which will help support the City of Sacramento’s sustainability goal.

Commission/Committee Action: None

Rationale for Recommendation: None currently as the item is review and comment only.

Financial Considerations: Not applicable for this action.

Local Business Enterprise (LBE): Not applicable

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BACKGROUND

City staff has performed some research regarding digital display Smart City Kiosks and found pertinent items to consider such as existing agreements and city programs which may cause the kiosks to duplicate efforts. The research is as follows:

1. Existing Agreement:

After a Request for Proposals (RFP) selection process, the city entered into a contract with EVgo on November 13, 2019 for curbside electric vehicle charging in the right-of-way (City Agreement 2019-1671). The agreement does not allow for general advertising. The City and EVgo are collaborating to offer curbside charging in Sacramento through a public-private partnership. Chargers are owned and operated by EVgo, and available as a paid service to the public.

2. Digital Equity:

As a component of the city's public-private partnership with Verizon, free high-speed Wi- Fi access points have been installed at 27 parks throughout the City of Sacramento. The primary goal of the Wi-Fi solution is to support the City's goals of digital equity and economic development. Free Public Access Wi-Fi Services is also available at 8 City Community Centers and 7 City public facilities for Sacramento residents.

A Digital Equity Response program was established using CARES Act funding to provide internet connectivity to up to 10,000 qualifying Sacramento City households, up to 1,000 individuals and families with computers or hot spots at no cost to the individual or family, and digital literacy training and outreach for community members and seniors individuals impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The City will continue sponsoring the program in partnership with the United Way and other area sponsors.

3. Air Quality Monitoring
City Council allocated $500,000 for an air quality monitoring pilot with the Sac Metro Air Quality Management District. Staff are currently collaborating to develop the scope of this effort. Priority areas for air quality monitors tend to be outside the central city, where vendors typically seek to install smart-technology kiosks and devices primarily within the Central City. By contrast, the City’s funding would focus on expanding area quality monitoring in areas such as North Sacramento, Del Paso, Oak Park, and South Sacramento, where smart technologies in the right-of-way are less of a fit.

4. General Advertising
Smart City Kiosks are funded by general advertising revenue. There may be a perception that advertising on a public agency’s asset implicitly endorses the brand’s product and values.

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5. Street Furniture Clutter
Kiosks require a relatively large foundation in the public right of way where other street furniture may already exist, and ADA compliance is a concern. This equipment is often a target for graffiti and vandalism which requires local third-party maintenance companies to clean and repair kiosks on a scheduled basis.

6. Visual Clutter
Development and design standards for the kiosks will need to be discussed as part of the future code changes including the maximum height of the kiosk structures, maximum number and dimensions of the electronic screens, and the minimum allowed transition time between images. A revocable permit to install each kiosk will need to be submitted and at that time locations and traffic/pedestrian control plans would be evaluated.

7. Technology Refresh Cycle
The City would typically have to commit to a multi-year term with the company providing Smart City Kisoks. The rate of technology change has accelerated and solutions four years old look archaic and antiquated. Some of the services offered through kiosks could be better served by mobile applications on personal smart devices.

8. Users Resent Being Watched
Kiosks were discussed at recent Berkeley City Council meetings where several members expressed concerns about privacy issues. Many kiosks are equipped with cameras and sensors that can monitor people walking by and take photos via photo booth-type apps. In response to public outcry, the council edited its agreement with IKE Smart City to turn off the cameras but decided to keep the kiosks’ people counting feature. IKE Smart City managing director, Chris Greene, testified to the City Council that no personal data would be collected from the public and any information collected on kiosk users will be anonymous.

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Digital Kiosks
Landscape
Report

Table of Contents
03 Background
03 Key Findings
06 Best Practices
14 Considerations
19 Case Studies
Cover image is "Sacramento
Golden Hour Sunset Skyline"
by Tony Webster is licensed
under CC BY-SA 2.0.

Background
To inform the Sacramento City Council and Staff in efforts to further evaluate aspects of digital wayfinding kiosks, Third Plateau review ed existing field reports and research to identify trends and best practices.

Digital kiosks, also known as interactive kiosks, refer to vertical platforms that offer information to pedestrians who can interact with software applications that provide information and services, such as local points of interest, transportation information, public safety announcements, social services resources, and more. 1 Digital kiosks are often billed as wayfinding tools, helping people orient themselves and
navigate a city. 2 Kiosks also incr easingly offer free Wi -Fi and can collect data such as pedestrian counts and air quality information.

Third Plateau reviewed both cities that have implemented digital kiosks and those that have considered implementing them but have not yet done so. Third Plateau developed five case studies exploring their consideration and implementation processes, when applicable. Case studies, which can be found at end of this document, focus on the following cities and the following issues.
• Atlanta, GA: Atlanta had two iterations of digital kiosk programs, launching the first in 2017 and anothe r
iteration in 2022. The
most recent program focuses on
equity and bridging the digital divide, with 25% of kiosks located in underserved areas.
• Berkeley, CA: Berkeley had a robust community engagement process ahead of ki osk placement in 20 2 1 and amended its agreements to not include a camera feature in response to privacy concerns.
• Kansas City, MO: Kansa s City was an early adopter of digital kiosks in 2016. As par t of a smart city initiative, kiosks were integrated with the streetcar line. • Raleigh, NC: Raleigh has not yet installed kiosks. The city explored digital kiosks, but paused its process amid councilmember questions and the pandemic before resuming the process in 2022.
• Sacram
ento, CA: Sacramento previously explored kiosks as part of a smart city initiative in 2017 but did not move forward with implementation.

Key Findings
The following key findings detail major takeaways from digital kiosk best practices as well as other cities’ consideration and implementation processes.
• Digital kiosks offer a multitude of features, but generally support city efforts around wayfinding, digital inclusion, community messaging, and public safety. Cities most commonly highlight kiosk features related to tourism and wayfinding, such as real -time transit information, maps, and local business information. In Berkeley, the most frequently Digital kiosk in Berkeley, CA,
January 2023
3 used features were restaurant directories as well as arts and entertainment information.

Beyond wayfinding and economic development tools, cities are increasingly positioning digital kiosks as tools to help bridge the digital divide. Many kiosks offer Wi-Fi to nearby pedestrians and offer city information and social services information to community members that may not have internet access. Cities also often use kiosks to broadcast community updates and events, sometimes in conjunction with local cultural institutions or civic campaigns, such as “get out the vote.”
• Over time, cities have altered the features their kiosks offer in response to community needs and privacy concerns. Some cities use features such as interactive selfie cameras to encourage engagement, while other concerned residents are weary that cameras could be used as part of surveillance efforts. Cities such as Berkeley and Detroit made amendments to their kiosk agreements that excluded camera capabilities.

Relatedly, some city stakeholders expressed concern that safety features such as an
em
ergency call button could be abused and become burdensome for city emer gency ser
vices. While many application s come “standard,” there appears to be flexibility to customize the agreement, features, and privacy guidelines. • Some cities are increasingly prioritizing equity in digital kiosk programs through strategic placement and features. Most newer kiosks are ADA-compliant and offer multi- lingual functionality. Some cities also have applications focused on accessibility, such as Kansas City, which provides information on mobility options and internet access resources. Further, cities often implement digital kiosks as part of smart city initiatives , wh
ich increasingly address digital inclusion. Historically, c ities typically placed kiosks ar
ound high pedestrian traffic areas, often in downtown or business districts. Some earlier kiosk programs, such as New York, received criticism for not placing kiosks in underserved ar
eas, and now the city has explicit equity goals for their upcoming digital kiosk expansion. • Ci
ties often run low- or no- cost digital kiosk programs through advertisement revenue sharing agreements. City leaders and community members frequently wonder if digital kiosk services come at a cost that may outweigh the proposed benefits. T o mi
tigate these concerns, cities have adopted a variety of funding strategies that do not pull from the General Fund. Ad-funded models are becoming increasingly common in new digital kiosk programs, with many kiosk providers offering revenue- sharing models wit h ci
ties and partners . There are often perception challenges with advertisement revenue.

Some community members vocally oppose advertisements in the public right of way.

Further, advertisement engagement driven revenue can raise privacy and data collection questions. Additionally, some cities leverage federal programs to install kiosks , such as CARES Act funding or other economic recovery funds as well as grants. • While many cities outsource most kiosk and content management to the provide r or
local tourism partner, city staff are often involved in time consuming code changes and contract agreements. Most cities enter into agreements where the kiosk vendor typically installs and maintains kiosks throughout the cit y, addressing softwar e updat
es and physical repairs. With respect to kiosk content, cities take varying levels of involvement with some outsourcing the day -to-day content and advertisement oversight to partners. Cities are generally responsible for city -specific messages, many of which al
so appear on a city’s website and other communication channels. While staff tim e depends
on the city’s content management commitment, the “pre -work” ahead of the agreement related to code changes can be quite onerous for staff as some cities need to 4 amend their code to allow kiosks in the right of way. Further, robust community engagement ahead of kiosk installation is appreciated, but time-intensive. • Kiosk critics have called for more community-focused and transparent approaches to kiosk planning, implementation, and content. Since digital kiosks are often marketed as community engagement tool s, some community groups and residents criticized kiosks displaying advertisements in a pu blic program. Critics also perceived a lack of transparency and community input during the planning process. Most cities tha t fe
ature advertisements have some content regulations, for example, banning explici t cont
ent, tobacco products, and political ads. A few jurisdictions also have guidelines around national advertisements that may compete with businesses located near t he ki
osks. Further, critics in some cities have questioned the transparency around ki osk agr
eements, advocating for open RFP processes an d more community input ahead of formalizing an agreement.
5 Best Practices
Brief History of Kiosks in Civic Life
Today, digital kiosks are found in cities across the globe and serve a variety of functions from wayfinding to Wi-Fi hotspots.

Cities have experimented with digital kiosks as a way to share information with the public since the late 1980s. The earliest instance Third Plateau found of kiosk experimentation was in 1988, when IBM and Public Technology Inc. partnered with several loca l governments on a research project that examined how residents could use a touchscreen computer to access city information and services. Cities continued to experiment with sharing information and offering limited city services, such as paying parking fines or renewing drivers’ licenses through interactive kiosks. 3 Much of this early experimentation took place at city buildings as a way to streamline services , such as government forms, payments, and department directories .4 Eventually cities began replacing phone booths and dated signage with digital kiosks as a type of street furniture. Street furniture refers to elements that provide a functional service to pedestrians, such as benches, bike racks, kiosks, signage, transit shelters, and more.5 Some of the first cities in the United States to implement digital kiosk programs were New York and Denver. Snapshots of New York and Denver’s early digital kiosk programs are featured in a box below.

Other cities followed, with several exploring digital kiosks as part of a broader smart city effort.

Kansas City, for example, was another early adopter , installing kiosks in 2016. The kiosks were part of the city’s larger smart city effort that also included public Wi-Fi, a streetcar line, and smart sensors.6 Sacramento considered kiosks in its 2017 smart city initiative, though the city ultimately did not implement the kiosks as part of the project. 7 Additional information on Kansas City and Sacramento’s exploration of digital kiosks is available in more detailed case studies.

Early Adopters
Ne
w York: In 2014, New York announced the upcoming launch of its digital kiosk network, known as LinkNYC. Marketed as a replacement to the city’s aging and increasingly obsolete phone booths, the city installed kiosks throughout its five boroughs. The kiosks offered Wi -Fi connectivity, free domestic phone calls, and mobile device charging. The interactive display also provided information about city services, maps, and advertising.

Denver: In 2015, the Downtown Denver Partnership installed interactive kiosks replacing old signs as part of an 18- month pilot program intended to support economic development and community engagement while providing city information and safety services to the public. The kiosks featured a directory of area restaurants, retail, and hotels as well as event information, directions, and transit information. The kiosks also displayed safety announcements and offered a photo booth feature.

Sour
ces:

Jonathan Shieber, “NYC Launches Free Gigabit Speed Wi-Fi Network,” TechCrunch, November 17, 2014 Molly Armbriste, “Meet IKE, a new interactive helper on the 16th Street Mall,” Denver Business Journal, June 9, 2015 6 Cities outside of the U.S. also started digital kiosk programs. In 2017, London launched a similar program to New York’s. The kiosk system was known as InLinkUK and later rebranded as “street hubs.” The hubs offered Wi -Fi, USB device charging, free local phone calls, and a tablet -style display with local information and advertisements. 8 In April 2022 , Barcelona announced interactive kiosks at transit stations that provide real -time transportation infor mation as well as local maps, providing information for locals and visitors who may not have the transit mobile app.9 In Seoul, digital kiosks are integrated more into daily life. Community centers even offer kiosk and digital education classes to older adults.10
Kiosk Features and Format
Digital kiosks offer a multitude of features, but generally support city efforts around wayfinding, digital inclusion, community messaging, and public safety.

Early d igital kiosk programs often centered around
wayfinding and connection. As mentioned above, the
LinkNYC program provided features focused primarily
on connection and communication . More specifically
these features included:
• Dedicated 911 button for emergency calling;
• Free domestic phone calls;
• Free encrypted Wi-Fi;
• Public service announcements;
• Touchscreen with city services information and
access; and
• USB ports for mobile charging.11
On
the other hand, the early Denver kiosks were more
focused on wayfinding. The interactive kiosks displayed directions and directory information on one side while
the other side displayed digital advertisements. Further, the kiosk s were strategically located to support
wayfinding and indicate stops for the free downtown
shuttle bus.12
More recent kiosk programs, such as Houston, which unveiled its first kiosk in early 2022, sought to build on smart city efforts and improve the community experience, providing wayfinding, connectivity, and more. Houston’s kiosk program’s features included:
• Free Wi-Fi;
• Emergency calling;
• Emergency messaging;
• Air quality monitoring;
• Pedestrian counters;
• Public safety cameras;
• Area business information;
• Local events information;
• Wayfinding and real-time information
for public transit;
• Job listings;
• Social services listings;
• Civic resources;
• Arts and culture integration;
• Photo booth; and
• Games and surveys13
Ot
her cities have focused on city content and alternative power sources. In 2021, both Eastvale and San-Jacinto, CA, installed solar-powered digital kiosks to connect with residents who might not have regular internet access. The kiosks display real -time news, public transit information, and local event information. The kiosks also feature city social media accounts and surveys that "3rd Av LinkNYC keyboard jeh" by
Jim.henderson
7 users can interact with via QR code .14 Some kiosks with e -ink screens leverage QR codes for users to scan on their mobile device instead of interacting with applications through touchscreens.

Some cities also link their event or alert apps for users to download through these QR codes.15 Most kiosk vendors offer customizability in how
each city approaches their kiosk program , both
with respect to features and physical structures.

The aforementioned Houston kiosks, for
example, feature a touch screen that is
approximately five feet tall in a city- branded
kiosk that is a little more than eight feet tall. 16
Solar-powered kiosks in Eastvale , San Jacinto,
Fair Oaks,17 and Elk Grove 18 are easier to read
in sunlight as they use e -ink rather than display
screens, which use less electricity than the more
common LED screens.19 Some cities, such as
Denver, were focused on aesthetics and worked
with partners to design kiosk structures that fit
well with the streetscape and building facades.20
Other cities feature custom kiosk wraps unique
to the city or even a specific neighborhood.

Though location scouting processes vary
considerably across cities, generally cities tend
to place initial digital kiosks in downtown areas
where there is heavy pedestrian and commercial
traffic. Some digital kiosk programs have
centered kiosk placement around public transit.

Both Kansas City and Milwaukee placed their
kiosks around their respective streetcars, using
the kiosks to help direct residents and visitors to
the streetcar as well as provide real -time
schedule updates.
21 Accessibility and Equity
In 2023, most digital kiosk providers ensure accessibility by complying with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA). Furthermore, most kiosks offer content in multiple languages, with some offering content in more than 100 languages.22
For example, early iterations of the LinkNYC Kiosks featured a keypad with Braille lettering, a video relay system for users with disabilities, and multilingual support. 23 However, inclusion and accessibility were not always at the forefront of smart city efforts. In 2015, only 9 of 78 Smart City Challenge applications explicitly addressed digital equity by increasing access to technology and Digital Kiosk in Kansas City with streetcar map,
January 2023
8 in
formation. Both Kansas City and Austin proposed using kiosks to display mobility options and provide information about nearby internet access, such as public libraries. 24 Additionally, cities, such as Atlanta, Houston, and Berkeley, use kiosks to share social services information including shelters and food support.

In addition to ensuring kiosk content is accessible to city residents and visitors, a number of cities are trying to address the digital divide as they implement their kiosk programs , locating kiosks with free Wi-Fi in neighborhoods where there is limited internet access. Historically, cities often piloted digital kiosk programs in downtown areas with a lot of pedestrian and commercial traffic, leaving out neighborhoods that typically receive fewer resources and attention. In recent years, some cities, such as Houston and Atlanta, have added explicit equity initiatives to their digital kiosk programs. Below are snapshots on New York, Houston, and Atlanta’s approaches to digital kiosks and equity.

Equity Initiatives
Ne
w York: The LinkNYC program received criticism for not delivering on its efforts to help “bridge the digital divide,” as the majority of kiosks were installed in Manhattan rather than neighborhoods with lower internet access rates. As of 2022, the city is expanding the program and planning to install new Link5G towers. The provider is required to install 90% of the new towers in “equity” areas in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and above 96th Street in Manhattan. City officials identified these locations based on median income data, broadband options, and foot traffic.

Houston: Houston views its kiosks as a direct mechanism to improving equity by offering 24/7 access to city resources, services, information to people who otherwise might not have access. Houston shared that “at least 10% of all installed kiosks will be located in underserved neighborhoods, as defined by the city.” Atlanta: In 2022, Atlanta also announced a new kiosk program that addresses the digital divide. The city announced that it wil l install approximately 50 interactive kiosks that will offer Wi -Fi, public transportation information, city services information, and job resources. Atlanta is planning to install at least 25% of the kiosks in underserved communities where there is limite d internet access. Additional information about Atlanta’s kiosk program is available in a more detailed case study.

Sour
ces:

Gabriel Sandoval and Joshua Mcwhirter, “Big Tech Pays to Supersize LinkNYC and Revive Broken Promise to Bridge Digital Divide,” The City, April 17, 2022.
“Mayor’s Office Press Release: City of Houston and IKE Smart City Launch Innovative Interactive Digital Kiosks,” City of Houston, Office of the Mayor, February 7, 2022.

Erica Sweeney, “How Atlanta is positioning itself as a tech leader while addressing systemic racism, the digital divide, and climate change,” Business Insider, May 31, 2022..
9 Dr
awbacks
Mitigating Kiosk Costs
City leaders and community members often
question whether the benefits of kiosks outweigh
the costs. To mitigate the public cost concerns,
cities have adopted a variety of funding strategies
that do not pull from the General Fund. Cities tend
to fund digital kiosks with advertisement revenue,
appropriate federal funding, or relevant
department or initiative funding.

Some cities leveraged federal programs to install
kiosks. For example, in 2022, Lynchburg,
Virginia, partially financed the installation of
seven digital kiosks through funding from t he
2020 CARES Act as part of a tourism promotion
and economic development effort. The kiosks
provide event information, trail maps, and QR
codes that link to area guides.
25 Additionally, many cities have partially or fully
funded their digital kiosk programs through
advertising revenue. Ad- funded models are
becoming increasingly common in new digital
kiosk programs , with many kiosk providers
offering revenue -sharing models that support
cities to build out digital kiosk programs at
minimal or no-cost. While city leaders may find it
appealing to tout a “no -cost” project, there are
often trade -offs and perception challenges with
an advertisement revenue approach. Typically, in revenue share agreements, cities and partners receive an agreed upon percentage of revenue. Additional information about these agreements is detailed in case studies.

In addition to community member opposition to advertisements in the public right of way , advertisement-driven revenue also raises questions around equitable distribution of kiosks as well as privacy and data collection.
26 These privacy implications are explored in more detail in the below section.

Regarding city funding, a Government Technology article encouraged cities to look across related departments and new city initiatives such as an innovation or technology office. More specifically, there was potential for smart city alignment with transportation system upgrades, public safety budgets, and city communications funds across offices.27 Privacy and Data Protection
While digital kiosks help increase accessibility of internet and information, some communities expressed concerns about surveillance through features such as cameras and emergency call buttons. Some cities use cameras for photo booths or selfies as a community engagement tool Location Limitations
Some kiosks are solar powered and others
require close proximity to an electric power
source. Both of these setups can limit options
for suitable kiosk locations.

City staff in Berkeley shared that finding
locations with appropriate access to
electricity was one of the most challenging
aspects of the planning process. Similarly,
city staff in Sacramento noted infrastructure
limitations as they explored implementing a
kiosk as part of a demo project, but ran into
issues with the installation requirements that
involved bolting the structure to the ground.

While solar powered kiosks may not require
proximity to electricity sources, it can still be
difficult to identify suitable locations that
receive adequate sunlight.

Sources:

Stakeholder interview, Kieron Slaughter, Chie f
Strategist, Economic Innovation at the Berkeley Office
of Economic Development, Third Plateau, January
2023
Stakeholder interview, Darin Arcolino and Natasha
Greer, City of Sacramento Information Technology
Department, Third Plateau, December 2022

10 where users can send photos to themselves and post to social media while other cities have cameras for public safety. Some community members and city leaders expressed concern about how Wi-Fi might collect data that could identify an individual. Amid concerns from the community, both Berkeley and Detroit adjusted their respective kiosk agreements to deploy digital kiosks with additional privacy considerations.

During public comment at a City Council meeting in Berkeley, community members raised privacy issues related to proposed kiosks features such as the photo booth cameras and people counting sensors. The Council ultimately approved the plan to install kiosks, though the Council edited the agreement to not use the cameras, but kept the sensor that counts the number of people walking by the kiosk.
28 Additional information about Berkeley’s kiosk program is available in a more detailed case study.

In 2019, the Downtown Detroit Partnership announced a digital kiosk installation plan. At the time of the announcement, there were tensions around the potential for Detroit’s kiosks to be used to surveil residents as there were ongoing debates about traffic-mounted cameras , police department facial recognition software , and real-time feeds. However, Detroit also planned to deploy the kiosks without cameras. Further, the Downtown Detroit Partnership leadership shared that their selection criteria focused on vendors that did not retain or sell personal data.29 Project Paused – A Snapshot on Seattle
From 2016 to 2018, Seattle examined plans to integrate digital bus stops and kiosks throughout the city. Seattle shared similar privacy concerns to Berkeley and Detroit, but unlike those cities, it cancelled kiosk installation.

Intersection, the company behind Link NYC, proposed kiosks and smart street furniture that would offer Wi- Fi, free domestic call functionality, USB charging ports, emergency services transit information, and local business and event information.

The city ultimately paused negotiations on the digital kiosks, with city staff saying “…any proposals using city right-of-way must adequately protect users’ privacy and data and uphold net neutrality principles while ensuring that any such program advances equity for communities throughout Seattle.” City staff expressed concerns about data collection, storage, and targeted advertisements.

Despite not moving forward with the digital kiosk project, Seattle continued to prioritize internet inclusion through several initiatives aimed at achieving “internet for all.” Strategies included partnering with public schools, libraries, BIPOC community organizations, and community centers to expand Wi -Fi access as well as digital inclusion programs such as grants and training. Seattle’s 2020 plan still included exploring internet kiosks as a topic to explore.

Sources:

Monica Nickelsburg, “Why Seattle’s plan to bring Intersection WiFi kiosks and bus stop makeovers stalled,” Geek Wire, September 5, 2018, https://www.geekwire.com/2018/seattles-plan-bring-intersection-wifi-kiosks-bus-stop- makeovers-stalled/
“I
nternet for All Seattle Report,” Seattle Information Technology, September 2020, https://durkan.seattle.gov/wp- content/uploads/sites/9/2020/09/Internet-for-All-Seattle-Report-FINAL.pdf 11 Ea
ch kiosk vendor has their own privacy policy, many of which have evolved with features and new use cases. As evidenced by Berkeley and Detroit’s changes, there appears to be room for custom options that better meet community needs and concerns. Beyond specific privacy policies, there may be additional questions to work through to ensure any data storage and management meets city requirements as well as mitigation for cybersecurity risks.30 Community Response
Community response to kiosks in the cities Third Plateau researched was generally mixed.

Supporters advocated digital kiosks can inform both visitors and local residents about community events and services, supporting local businesses and tourism, while critics of the kiosks frequently cited concerns about advertising, aesthetics, and privacy. Some community members were particularly skeptical that kiosks would primarily feature large corporate advertisements instead of local business. 31 Some cities have tried to make a dvertising more accessible for small businesses. In Little Rock, they offered some advertisement space for free to small local businesses. Little Rock and most cities with advertisements also have guidelines around content, prohibiting ads with obscene, political or religious content as well as ads for tobacco, firearms, and other products geared toward an adult audience.
32 Often, cities that implemented digital kiosk programs had strong mayoral, city council, and business community support. These supporters often referred to the digital kiosk program as a helpful economic development tool. Additionally, cities such as Atlanta are citing interactive digital kiosks as part of the city’s efforts to address the digital divide.33 Further, cities and kiosk provider partners have integrated digital kiosks with local arts and cultural happenings as well as community campaigns.
• Local Arts Integration : Beyond tourism partners, cities are working closely with local cultural and educational institutions to promote the arts. The new kiosks in Atlanta exhibit works from local and international artists collaborating with area museums, community groups, and ga lleries.34 Houston’s kiosk provider partnered with the Contemporary Arts Museum of Houston to feature their collections and current exhibits. 35 Denver’s kiosk program also has partnerships with local cultural institutions. In 2020, Denver’s digital kiosks and billboards displayed artist Nari Ward’s work as part of an exhibition addressing racial justice.36
• Com
munity Campaigns: Some cities implement the kiosks within a larger community campaign such as voting or public health. Both Baltimore and Kansas City used digital kiosks as part of voter awareness initiatives.37 Other cities relied on kiosks to communicate public health information, particularly during the early days of the COVID- 19 pandemic.

For example, St. Louis partnered with the Missouri Foundation for Health, Saint Louis MHB (Mental Health Board), the County Department of Public Health, and other health organizations to launch a “PrepareSTL” campaign displaying public health resources. The cam
paign produced content about the virus and well-being resources.38 Th
ough advocates highlight how digital kiosks may help cities message and promote digital inclusion, as well as foster tourism and local business, many communities have seen complaints and concerns in response to proposed digital kiosk programs. In addition to the aforementioned privacy and data collection concerns, critics often say kiosks are large eyesores that clutter pedestrian areas and can distract drivers. Community members in multiple cities, sometimes in 12 organized groups, also expressed concern about kiosks displaying advertising and the nature of the contracts with kiosk manufacturing companies.
• Aesthetic and Advertisement Concerns: In Coral Gables, FL, an opinion piece in a local newspaper criticized recently installed kiosks, stating that they were billboards rather than community resources. The writer requested that the city remove the blinking lights, reduce the size of the kiosks, and prohibit advertisements. Further, the writer was concerned that th
e kiosks would distract drivers and should be moved further from the street. 39 Some business owners in St. Petersburg, FL, raised similar concerns about adding more signage to the downtown area, especially large signs with bright flashing advertisements. A former cit
y councilmember said, “ We do not want or need to open our beautiful pedestrian corridors to corporate advertising…”40 Additionally, residents in cities with protected scenic or historical neighborhoods, such as Houston, raised concerns about how si gnage changes
may challenge preservation guidelines.41
• Pe
rception of Insufficient Public Input and “Backroom” Deals: In October 2022, public comments and local groups in Los Angeles criticized the perceived lack of public outreach and transparency around the city’s digital kiosk efforts. Public comment submitted to the city expressed concern that the program was not properly presented to the public for input. Further, the comment noted that the city did not issue an RFP instead relying on another city’s process. The comment said the city should not be able to issue a long-term contract without an open RFP process, suggesting it seemed like “backroom dealing.” Several groups in Los Angeles expressed concern in line with the critical public comment. New York has also seen organized opposition to its expanding digital kiosk program. The group “Rethink Link” details its issues with LinkNYC, describing the program as an opportunity for corporate and government surveillance rather than a public Wi -Fi project. The group advocates for free Wi -Fi access, but says it should have public oversight and be more community focused.
42 Em
erging Issues
As explored above, digital kiosks’ features and functions have evolved relatively quickly. Some city leaders worry about kiosks ke eping pace with changing technology and community needs.

While apps and software are often relatively easy to update, most cities hope the kiosk structures last through contract agreements and continue to provide relevant services to the public.

In the age of widespread smartphones, critics question the need for kiosks while advocates argue that they serve as an important digital inclusion tool for those without reliable internet access and offer an important way for a city to push messages directly to the public. 43 Several emerging kiosk
and smart city features may impact the conversation. These issues are described below. • Addressing the Digital Divide and 5G Infrastructure: As mentioned before, New York’s LinkNYC program is expanding with the addition of 5G towers. Link5G will deploy 5G cellular and Wi-Fi coverage through multiple telecommunication service providers.44 The new towers offer similar features to the original LinkNYC kiosks, but will be approximately 32 feet tall to house the 5G technology. As with the original kiosks, concerns ar ound equi
ty, accessibility, and aesthetics accompany this expansion with additional concer ns about
the much larger size. Further, skeptics of digital kiosks’ role in helping bridge the digital divide argue that libraries and more robust digital literacy programs would be more benef
icial to the community.45
13 • Electric Vehicle (EV) Charging and Interactive Kiosks: When discussing smart cities and
emerging technologies, EVs and EV charging infrastructure are increasingly a part of the conversation. As EV charging technology evolves, some stations now feature screens th
at display advertisements as well as weather and emergency alerts similar to digital kiosks.46 Third Plateau’s review of cities’ digital kiosks did not indicate any cities currently implementing EV charging as a feature of wayfinding interactive kiosks. However, EV pr
ograms and interactive kiosks are sometimes both part of broader smart city initiatives. • Broader Smart City Integration: As previously explored, cities often implement kiosks as part of broader smart city efforts. As technology has evolved , so have smart cit y fe
atures. Columbus, winner of the 2016 U.S. Department of Transportation’s Sm art City Ch
allenge, planned to continue some smart city efforts, increasingly focusing on closing th
e digital divide and connecting people to transportation as of 2021. Previous Columbus smart city projects included increased adoption of EVs, autonomous shuttles, and smart mobility hubs. The hubs included interactive kiosks that were integrated with ride share pick up points, as well as bike and scooter sharing parking.47 The smart hubs were located near
transit centers, park and ride centers, a local library, community college, and a social services hub. The kiosks, which saw more than 65,000 interactions in nine months, offered Wi-Fi
, local restaurant and shopping directories , as well as connection to a trip planni ng appl
ication that people can continue to use on their mobile device.48 Considerations
The following section explores issues to consider when exploring a digital kiosk program. These considerations are based on research from both Best Practices and Case Studies. • Code Changes: Many cities approved at least one code change prior to launching a digital kiosk program in the public right of way. Some cities approved multiple ordinances and resolutions for the code, vendor agreement, and content policies including advertisements.
• Partnerships and City Staff Time: The pre-approval process can be time-consuming for both City Council and City staff as can pre-installation community outreach efforts. Some cities partner with local tourism, economic development, or downtown development organizations that take on the majority of content management responsibilities along with th
e kiosk vendor who typically provides maintenance. However, some cities do spend more staff time managing the kiosk programs, especially those cities that limit kiosk locations to city properties and those that do not have advertisements. • Vendor Selection Process : In reviewing cities’ digital kiosk programs, Third Plateau observed many kiosk vendors as well as major technology companies that experimented wi
th smart city street furniture. S everal kiosk companies most frequently appeared in examined cities: IKE Smart City, Intersection, Smart City Media – CityPost, and Soofa.

Cities took different approaches to entering into agreements with kiosk vendors. Many cities did a public RFP process before selecting. Several cities entered into contracts after partner tourism and downtown organizations made a recommendation. Additionally, som e
ci
ties received criticism for a perceived lack of transparency in the selection process. • Kiosk Structure and Aesthetics: With the aforementioned variety of vendors, there are many different types of kiosks. Cities can choose between solar -powered and electric - 14 powered, interactive LED touch screens, QR code integrated e-ink screens, keypads, and more. Kiosks come in various sizes and shapes with a wide range of installation and power requirements. Many communities, especially those in historic and residential neighborhoods, expressed concerns around large structures, light pollution, and frequently scrolling advertisements. Several cities required vendors to submit kiosk designs to historic preservation boards. Additionally, s ome kiosk vendors offer custom containers or wraps to blend in more with city or neighborhood specific aesthetics. • Community Needs and Concerns in Selecting Features : As explored above , community members across cities expressed concerns about digital kiosk features as it pertained to privacy, accessibility, equity, and meeting community needs. Kiosk vendor s ar
e increasingly implementing features and functionality focused on accessibility. Further, som
e cities did not include features that raised surveillance concerns, such as cameras, and others altered their agreements to address some privacy and data collecti on concer
ns.
• Funding and Revenue Potential : While not all digital kiosk programs include advertisements, cities do appear to increasingly leverage advertisement agreements to fund kiosk programs and share revenue. These sharing agreements vary, but citi es
ty
pically receive approximately 20%-50% of advertisement revenue, which is sometimes th
en shared with local partners.
• Alternative Options and Integration with Other Programs: In Sacramento and othe r ci
ties, Councilmembers and staff shared questions about wayfinding and digital inclusion al
ternatives, such as mobile phone applications and digital equity programs. Some cities, such as Seattle, focused on increasing internet access at community institutions such as lib
raries, public schools, and community centers as opposed to kiosks. With most new kiosks, kiosks are integrated with wayfinding and city -specific apps where users can cont
inue to follow directions to a local business or see additional details about a city event. 15 1 “Interactive Digital Kiosks: City Council Economic Development Committee,” City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Mayor’s Office of Innovation, March 22,2021 2 “Wayfinding,” Global Designing Cities Initiative, Global Street Design Guide, Accessed January 2023, https://globaldesigningcities.org/publication/global-street-design-guide/designing-streets- people/designing-for-pedestrians/wayfinding/
3 Todd Newcombe, “Technology Advances Electronic Services,” Government Technology, August 2010, https://www.govtech.com/magazines/gt/technology-advances-electronic-services.html 4 “New Kiosk In City Hall Helps Visitors: Puts Information at Their Fingertips,” DynaTouch News, May 10, 2005, https://news.dynatouch.com/new-kiosk-city-hall-helps-visitors-puts-information-fingertips/ 5 “S treet Furniture Overview,” SF Better Streets, Accessed January 2023, https://www.sfbetterstreets.org/find-project-types/streetscape-elements/street-furniture-overview/ 6 Ben Miller, “Kansas City, Mo., Installs First Smart City Kiosks Downtown,” Government Technology, March 29, 2016, https://www.govtech.com/fs/kansas-city-mo-installs-first-smart-city-kiosks-downtown.html 7 Theo Douglas, “Kiosks on Hold, but 5G Moving Apace,” Industry Insider, Government Technology, November 25, 2018, https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/sacramento-verizon-will-dig-deep-on-5g- infrastructure-in-2019.html
8 “BT Part Fixes InLink Kiosk Problem – Rebrands to Street Hubs,” ISPreview, April 23, 2020, https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2020/04/bt-part-fixes-inlink-kiosk-problem-rebrands-to-street- hubs.html
9 “Ferrocarrils puts into service new interactive information kiosks at its stations,” Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya, April 20, 2022, https://csit.co/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/FGC_english.pdf 10 Chae Young Oh, “Senior citizens go digital as K orea moves toward contact -free culture,” ABC News, January 17, 2022, https://abcnews.go.com/International/senior-citizens-digital-korea-moves-contact-free- culture/story?id=82261724
11 “LinkNYC,” NYC Office of Technology & Innovation, Accessed January 202 3, https://www.nyc.gov/content/oti/pages/linknyc
12 “IK E Interactive Kiosks,” Arthouse Denver, Accessed January 202 3, https://arthousedenver.com/portfolio/ike-interactive-kiosks/ 13 “Interactive Digital Kiosks: City Council Economic Development Committee,” City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Mayor’s Office of Innovation, March 22,2021, https://www.houstontx.gov/council/committees/econdev/20210322/digital-kiosks.pdf 14 Beau Yarbrough, “What are those new electronic kiosks in Eastvale and San Jacinto?” T he Press- Enterprise, October 15, 2021, https://www.pressenterprise.com/2021/10/15/what-are-those-new- electronic-kiosks-in-eastvale-and-san-jacinto/
15 “Solar Powered Info Kiosks Coming to Watertown,” Watertown News, January 14, 2021, https://www.watertownmanews.com/2021/01/14/solar-powered-info-kiosks-coming-to-watertown/ 16 “Interactive Digital Kiosks: City Council Economic Development Committee,” City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Mayor’s Office of Innovation, March 22,2021 17 “Solar powered digital signage provider deploys smart city signs in California,” ICX Association, September 30, 2021, https://www.icxa.org/news/solar-powered-digital-signage-provider-deploys-smart- city-signs-in-california/
18 “City Manager’s General Administrative Report for January 12, 2022,” Jason Behrman, City Manager, January 12, 2022, https://cdn5-
hosted.civiclive.com/UserFiles/Servers/Server_109585/File/GA%20Report%20-%2001.12.2022.pdf 19 Beau Yarbrough, “What are those new electronic kiosks in Eastvale and San Jacinto?” The Press - Enterprise, October 15, 2021
20 “IKE Interactive Kiosks,” Arthouse Denver, Accessed January 2023 21 Jeramey Jannene “First Streetcar Smart Kiosks Installed,” Urban Milwaukee, April 3, 2021, https://urbanmilwaukee.com/2021/04/03/transportation-first-streetcar-smart-kiosks-installed/ 22 Interactive Digital Kiosks: City Council Economic Development Committee,” City of Houston, Mayor’s Office of Economic Development, Mayor’s Office of Innovation, March 22,2021 23 “LinkNYC,” NYC Office of Technology & Innovation, Accessed January 2023, 16 24 John B. Horrigan, PhD, “Smart Cities and Digital Equity,” National Digital Inclusion Alliance, June 2019, https://www.digitalinclusion.org/smart-cities-and-digital-equity/ 25 Alli Graham, “Lynchburg announces seven new digital information kiosks throughout the city,” WSLS, 10 News, July 27, 2022, https://www.wsls.com/news/local/2022/07/27/lynchburg-announces-seven-new- digital-information-kiosks-throughout-the-city/
26 Arman Tabatabai, “The economics and trade-offs of ad-funded smart city tech,” TechCrunch, December 1, 2018, https://techcrunch.com/2018/12/01/the-economics-and-tradeoffs-of-ad-funded-smart-city-tech/ 27 Todd Newcombe, “Kiosks: Today’s Elegant and Simple Smart City Program,” May 14, 2019, https://www.govtech.com/opinion/kiosks-todays-elegant-and-simple-smart-city-program.html 28 Stuart Luman, “Berkeley moves forward with plan to install ‘smart kiosks’ in shopping districts,” Berkeleyside, November 28, 2018, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2018/11/28/berkeley-moves-forward- with-plan-to-install-smart-kiosks-in-shopping-districts 29 Christine Ferretti, “Detroit might soon have interactive kiosks amid privacy concerns,” The Detroit News, October 7, 2019, https://www.detroitnews.com/story/news/local/detroit-city/2019/10/08/detroit-might-soon- have-interactive-kiosks-amid-privacy-concerns/1754613001/ 30 Evan Schuman, “Critical Privacy Considerati ons For Kiosks – Feature Article,” Kiosk Manufacturer Association, July 15, 2022, https://kioskindustry.org/critical-privacy-considerations-for-kiosks-feature- article/
31 Caitlin Johnston, “Local Businesses Take Issue with High -Tech Kiosk Plan,” Government Technology, Tampa Bay Times, October 26, 2018, https://www.govtech.com/products/local-businesses-take-issue-with- high-tech-kiosk-plan.html
32 Chelsea Boozer, “Little Rock unveils 1st e-kiosk today; 7-foot-tall device takes selfies, advertises, earns city cash,” Arkansas Democrat Gazette, June 25, 2018,
https://www.arkansasonline.com/news/2018/jun/25/lr-unveils-1st-e-kiosk-today-20180625/ 33 “Atlanta and IKE Smart City Launch Innovative Digital Kiosks,” Billboard Insider, May 25, 2022, https://billboardinsider.com/atlanta-and-ike-smart-city-launch-innovative-digital-kiosks/ 34 “Atlanta and IKE Smart City Launch Innovative Digital Kiosks,” Billboard Insider, May 25, 2022 35 “City of Houston and IKE Smart City Launch Innovative Interactive Digital Kiosks,” City of Houston, February 22, 2022, https://cityofhouston.news/city-of-houston-and-ike-smart-city-launch-innovative- interactive-digital-kiosks/
36 “Orange Barrel Media Public Art Project In Denver —38 Outdoor Digital Screens +,” OOH Today, July 17, 2020, https://oohtoday.com/orange-barrel-media-public-art-project-in-denver-38-outdoor-digital- screens/
37 “Touchscreen kiosks used for voter awareness initiative,” The Baltimore Sun, Photos, October 24, 2020, https://www.baltimoresun.com/photos/md-ike-baltimore-smart-city-touchscreen-kiosk-20201025- qwefs7i6bngwhm4v67e5yc7nie-photogallery.html
38 “St. Louis Launched Next Wave of IKE Digital Kiosks to Drive Discovery, Mobility, and Equity in the 26th Ward,” City of St. Louis, Office o f the Mayor, May 8, 2020, https://www.stlouis- mo.gov/government/departments/mayor/news/new-round-of-interactive-smart-city-digital-kiosks.cfm 39 “Opinion: These Kiosks Are Nothing But Billboards,” Gables Insider, May 19, 2022, https://gablesinsider.com/opinion-these-kiosks-are-nothing-but-billboards/ 40 Caitlin Johnston, “Local Businesses Take Issue with Hig h-Tech Kiosk Plan,” Government Technology, Tampa Bay Times, October 26, 2018
41 Sofia Gonzalez, “Proposed IKE kiosks spark safety, image concerns in The Heights,” ABC News, April 10, 2022, https://abc13.com/heights-boulevard-ike-kiosks-11-million-and-50-in-advertising-technology- hub/11734542/
42 “Rethink Link,” Rethink Link, Accessed January 2023, https://rethinklink.nyc/ 43 Stakeholder interview, Kieron Slaughter, Chief Strategist, Economic Innovation at the Berkeley Office of Economic Development, Third Plateau, January 2023
44 “Link5G,” LinkNYC, Accessed January 2023, https://link.nyc/link5g.html 45 Gabriel Sandoval and Joshua Mcwhirter, “Big Tech Pays to Supersize LinkNYC and Revive Broken Promise to Bridge Digital Divide,” The City, April 17, 2022 46 “E V Charging Station,” Meridian Kiosks, Access ed January 2023, https://www.meridiankiosks.com/solutions/ev-charging-station/ 17 47 Chris Teale, “At challenge’s conclusion, Smart Columbus to continue its work,” Smart Cities Dive, June 15, 2021, https://www.smartcitiesdive.com/news/at-challenges-conclusion-smart-columbus-to-continue- its-work/601791/
48 “S mart Mobility Hubs,” SMART Columbus, Accessed January 2023, https://smart.columbus.gov/projects/smart-mobility-hubs 18 CASE STUDIES

SACRAMENTO
Third Plateau conducted researchon cities that have implemented digital kiosks to learn more about their consideration and implementation process as well as community reception and impact. Additionally, Third Plateau examined cities who considered, but stopped or deferredkiosk implementation. Cities were:
• Atlanta, GA
• Berkeley, CA
• Kansas City, MO
• Raleigh, NC
• Sacramento, CA

BERKELEY

KANSAS CITY

ATLANTA

RALEIGH
FEBRUARY 202319

CITY OVERVIEW
Below is a chart that provides a snapshot of digital kiosk status and issues unique to each cityto explore in the case studies.An additional chart providing an overview of features is available at the end ofthe case studies.

City Population
(2021) Kiosk Status Issues to Explore
Sacramento, CA 525,041 Not yet
implemented
Explored as part of a smart
city initiative
Atlanta, GA 496,461 Implemented in
2017 and 2022
Launched two iterations of
kiosk programs. The most
recent program focuses on
equity.

Berkeley, CA 117,145 Implemented in
2021
Included robust community
engagement and amended
agreement for privacy
concerns
Kansas City, MO 508,394 Implemented in
2016
Was an early adopter of
kiosks as part of a smart city
initiative.

Raleigh, NC 469,124 Not yet
implemented
Explored kiosks, but paused
amid councilmember
questions before resuming
the process in 2022.
20 Population: 525,041
Kiosk Overview: Through its partnership with Verizon, the City of Sacramento proposed implementing digital kiosks as part of the 2017 Smart Cities Initiative, but ultimately removed kiosksfrom consideration.

The Public-Private Partnership Agreement proposed 15 digital kiosks to provide Wi-Fi and foster citizen engagement. According to City Information Technology Department staff, the kiosks did not come to fruition because Verizon cancelledits kiosks, moving away from smart city productsand to focus insteadon launching 5Gbroadband service in Sacramento.

Proposed Kiosk Features
• Community information
• Selfie camera
• Two-way 911 calling
• Emergency messaging
• Wayfinding and points of
interest
• Local event notifications
• VoIP calling
• Mobile charging
• Local and national advertising
• Wi-Fi
• Enhanced 4G/5G connectivity
• Environmental sensors
• Accessibility features
City staff sharedthe followingperceived benefits andconcerns related to kiosks:

Perceived Benefits:
• Some interest from community organizationswho heard aboutthe potential kiosks • Potential utility nearlibraries, city buildings,or gatheringspaces • Potential for corridor of kiosks to provide uninterrupted WI-FI Consideration - Concerns and Benefits
Sacramento, CA
21 City and Community Engagement: IT and
Public Works Department staff collaborated on
this initiative. Kiosks were removed from
consideration ahead of robust community
engagement. City staff initially discussed having a
demo kiosk installed in front of city hall and also
engaging with neighborhood groups where they
might be located.

Concerns:
• Kiosk size and structure –required supportive
infrastructure, display size,limited space with
existing streetfurniture, driver distraction,and
aesthetic alignment with neighborhoods
• Power supply requirements limiting location
options or new powersupply canbe costly
• People vandalizing or congregating around
the kiosks
• Staff time - under the past proposal, city staff
expected to manage non-Verizon content
• Technology change speed might require
frequent hardware refreshes.
• Implementing would require code changesfor
signs and content (i.e., general commercial
advertising)
• Public distrust and privacy concerns with
features such as an emergency call button
and cameras
Additional Insights: The partnership with
Verizon did result in Wi-Fi installations in city
parks, Intelligent Traffic Monitoring, intersection
safety monitoring, and video-based security
monitoring for the Police Department. Staff noted
that kiosk features such as wayfinding and Wi-Fi
were exciting five years ago, but they are
skeptical of the applicability today unless there
are other newinnovative features or use cases.
2017 Proposed Location Site Map
Map from June 6, 2017, City Council Report,
Strategic Joint Development Agreement, Exhibit G.

Blue dots indicate potential kiosk location.

Sources:

Theo Douglas, “Kiosks on Hold, but 5G Moving Apace,” Industry Insider, Government Technology, November 25, 2018, https://insider.govtech.com/california/news/sacramento-verizon-will-dig-deep-on-5g-infrastructure-in-2019.html “Agreement: Public-Private Partnership Agreement for the Development of Smart Cities Initiatives (Two-Thirds Vote Required),” City of Sacramento, City Council Report, Discussion Item 24, June 6, 2017 Stakeholder interview, Darin Arcolino and Natasha Greer, City of Sacramento Information Technology Department, December 2022 Sacramento Cont.
22 Population: 496,461
Kiosk Overview: Atlanta launched 10 Soofa kiosks in 2017. In May 2022, MayorAndre Dickens announced the launch of 120 digitalkiosks in Atlanta. In partnership with IKE Smart City, the kiosks are intended to help bridge the digital divide with free Wi-Fi hotspots. The kiosks also support wayfindingefforts with public transportation information and directions, as well as provide cityand social services resources.

Kiosk Implementation: In 2017, the city accepted aSmartATL Challenge Soofa grant that included 10 Soofa signs to inform residents of community events. The estimated value of the signs was $370,000. After an initial launch, they expanded to 27 kiosks and two “smart” benches solar-powered benches with USB charging stations and activity sensors. These kioskswere not touchscreen, but e-ink screens focusedon neighborhood news andevents as well as advertisements.

The original kiosk agreement was set to expire in January 2023 andAtlanta Information Management (AIM)detailed proposed updates to digital kiosks in 2021. As of May 2022, the city had installed 17 kiosks and plannedto install approximately50. At least 25% of the kiosks are located in underserved areas ofthe city with limited internetaccess. There is kiosk accessin every City Council District.

Kiosk Features
The kiosks installed in 2022 are compliant with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and have multi-lingual capabilities.
.• Local business information
• Real-time public transit information
• Direction and navigation
information related to bike shares,
scooters, ride shares, and walking
• Commercial content
• Community messaging
• Public safety information and real-
time emergency alerts
• Security cameras
• Emergency call capability
• Air quality reports
• Anti-viral coating and regular kiosk
cleaning
• Artists exhibits and cultural
institution promotion
Atlanta, GA
23 Kiosk Agreementand Revenue Generation:

The City Council amended and adopted ordinance 21-O-0628 to enter into an agreement for a citywide digital kiosk solution with IKE Smart City in September 2021. IKE Smart City would design, fabricate, install, operate, and maintain the kiosks. The ordinance detailed that the city would receive 50% of net revenue. The agreement is for an initial eight year term with renewal options. Under the previous contract, the city received 20% of revenue after an initial recovery period, earning $913.77 from 2019 to 2021.

Previously, the Chief Information Officer of the Department of Atlanta Information Management (AIM) identified the need for a digital kiosk program “to improve the pedestrian experience of residents and visitors in the public right-of-way.” On behalf of AIM, the City advertised a Request for Proposal for a Digital Kiosk Solution.

Broader Equity and Technology Efforts:

Atlanta’s digital kiosk program is one piece of
broader smart city technology and equity efforts .

In 2019, AIM launched the Chief Information
Officer (CIO) Advisory Board to further
innovation. Comprised of public and private
sector partners, the board explores challenges
and opportunities with the City’s technology
projects. One member of the Advisory Board, the
Metro Area Chamber, has an initiative focused on
racial equity and works to ensure Atlanta’s
technology- focused efforts are inclusive.

Sources:
“City of Atlanta Georgia Ordinance 21-O-0628,” City of Atlanta, Atlanta Information Management, September 20, 2021, http://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?Frame=SplitView&MeetingID=3483&MediaPosition=9045.364&I D=24517&CssClass=
”City of Atlanta Georgia Resolution 17-R-3883,” City of Atlanta, Atlanta Information Management, July 5, 2017, https://atlantacityga.iqm2.com/Citizens/Detail_LegiFile.aspx?ID=12375&highlightTerms=soofa “Digital Kiosk FEC Update: RFP 1200171,” City of Atlanta, Atlanta Information Management, 2021, https://citycouncil.atlantaga.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/7651/637672943538770000 Erica Sweeney, “How Atlanta is positioning itself as a tech leader while addressing systemic racism, the digital divide, and climate change,” Business Insider, May 31, 2022,
https://www.businessinsider.com/how-atlanta-address-systemic-racism- digital-divide-climate-change-2022-5
Atlanta Cont.
"Atlanta Skyline at night" by Marcia Todd (CC
BY 2.0)
24 Population: 117,145
Kiosk Overview: In 2018, Berkeley's City Council approved a plan to install kiosks. The City and Visit Berkeley unveiled the first round of kiosks in December 2021.

Consideration and Context:

According to a December 2022 city council report, in October 2018, the City Council adopted Ordinance No. 7, 626-N.S. The Ordinance modified two sections of the municipal code to exempt kiosks from signage and encroachment regulations in the public right of way. The ordinance also granted a Franchise Agreement to kiosk provider IKE Smart City, LLC (IKE). The 15-year Agreement permitted 31 digital kiosks throughout Berkeley, including heavily foot- trafficked areas, points of interest, and major intersections.

Kieron Slaughter (Chief Strategist, Economic Innovation, Berkeley Office of Economic Development) shared that the kiosk program is a three-way partnership between Visit Berkeley, the City of Berkeley, and IKE. Slaughter said the program provides solutions around messaging and smart city initiatives, supporting business improvement districts (BIDs), commercial districts, and tourists.

Slaughter shared that the program has allowed the city to move to a more environmentally and cost-effective way of messaging to residents and visitors, sharing announcements with “a flip of the switch,” as opposed to flyers. The kiosks also support wayfinding efforts, providing directions in multiple languages and listing local restaurants, bars, and stores based on geography, not search-engine sponsorship.

Kiosk Features
The kiosks are compliant with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and have multi-lingual capabilities.
• Directories of local businesses
• Local event and attraction information
• Directions with mobile integration
capabilities
• Real-time information for public
transit, bike sharing, and ride sharing
services
• Public announcements and polling
• Weather
• Wi-Fi
• Job postings
• Shelter and city service information
• Emergency call capability
Berkeley, CA
25 City and Community Engagement: Berkeley City
Staff worked with Visit Berkeley, commercial district
associations, IKE, and other stakeholders throughout
the kiosk planning process. More specifically,
Slaughter shared that the Office of Economic
Development worked closely with the City’s Attorney’s
Office and the Department of Public Works,
especially the Engineering Division, which approves
or denies kiosk applications.

Slaughter shared that with the advertisement revenue
sharing agreement, the kiosks did not cost the city
anything outside of staff time. Most of the city staff
time was spent pre-City Council approval, but the
community engagement process was time-intensive
for City staff.

The Office of Economic Development held at least
two community meetings in commercial districts
where kiosks where proposed. At these meetings,
residents, business and property owners, and
additional community stakeholders provided feedback
on the proposed locations.

Community Benefitsand Concerns: A 2018 Berkeleyside article detailed initial response to kiosk approval. A Councilmember expressed support for the kiosks, sharing that they would increase publicity for local cultural events and businesses. Other area property owners had concerns about polluting public space with advertisements. Additionally, some members of the public expressed privacy concerns related to cameras and sensors. Slaughter said the City’s Attorney worked to craft a specific privacy policy for Berkeley. The City Council edited the agreement to turn off camera capabilities.

Installation and Management: Slaughter shared that they worked collaboratively to identify locations, scanning for high-foot traffic areas, main intersections, and gateways to communities. They received feedback from merchant associations, council members, and other stakeholders as part of an iterative process in addition to the formal community engagement process for each district with a proposed kiosk location. One of the biggest challenges in the planning process was finding access to electricity. City staff found it more difficult to get access to pedestals than identifying adequate sidewalk space.

Berkeley Cont.

A kiosk in Berkeley, January 2023
26 Installation and Management Continued: The City serves as the lead on locations, community engagement, and approval for city-wide messages. Visit Berkeley manages the advertising and remaining content. There are some restrictions around advertisements, such as no ads for political purposes, firearms, liquor, etc. Revenue from advertisements is split amongst the City, Visit Berkeley, and IKE. The franchise agreement estimated that the City would receive approximately $ 580,229 annually . IKE handles the kiosk installation, maintenance, and technical upgrades. Slaughter shared that while there was talk of kiosk vandalism during the planning process, there have only been minor incidents to date.

Sources:
“Interactive Kiosk Experience (IKE) Smart City Kiosk Locations, Phase Two,” City of Berkeley, December 13, 2022, https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/2022-12-13%20Item%2008%20Interactive%20Kiosk%20Experience.pdf “IKE Smart City Kiosks, Proposed Phase Two Locations for Fulfillment of Executed Franchise Agreement (2019),” City of Berkeley, July 25, 2022,
https://berkeleyca.gov/sites/default/files/documents/IKE%20Kiosks%20Phase%20Two%20Locations%20072522.pdf Stakeholder interview, Kieron Slaughter, Chief Strategist, Economic Innovation at the Berkeley Office of Economic Development, Third Plateau, January 2023
Stuart Luman, “Berkeley moves forward with plan to install ‘smart kiosks’ in shopping districts,” Berkeleyside, November 28, 2018, https://www.berkeleyside.org/2018/11/28/berkeley-moves-forward-with-plan-to-install-smart-kiosks-in-shopping-districts • Free Wi-Fi: The City saw this as a valuablefeature tohelp bridgethe digital divide. Now, people can accessthe internet withouthaving to buy a coffee somewhere. • Social services information: Having shelterand othersocial servicesinformation available to see what isnearby and openis helpful.
• Wayfinding: Having direction capabilities, public transit updates, as well as bike share information can be beneficial for residents and tourists. Slaughter shared that while phone apps can alsohelp with this, not everyone has access to a phone andtransit systemsare notalways intuitive for visitors. It is helpful to provide the information on a city-brandedresource.

Slaughter said the most frequently used features are the restaurant directories and arts & entertainment information. He also shared that City departments have appreciated the streamlined way to announce job postings, recreation events, and programs, as well as important safety announcements.

Impact: Slaughter described how some of the features can benefit users:

Berkeley Cont.
27 Population: 508,394
Kiosk Overview: In 2016, the city installedits first kiosksas part ofa broader smart city effort. The city worked with Sprint and Cisco on the Smart City initiative and proposed installing 25 kiosks as well as 328 publicWi-Fi access points andsmart sensor projects.

Kiosk Implementation: The City launched the first two kiosks with the 2016 Big 12 College Basketball Championship event where people interacted with the kiosks more than 300,000 times in that initial weekend. The typical user interacted with the kiosk briefly, about oneto twominutes on average.

Built by CityPost, the kiosks’ primary function is to connect people with local businesses and events. The kiosks are also integrated with the streetcar line, providing real-time information for transit riders. After the initial deployment, additional capabilities were added to the kiosks such as a “selfie” function. The city also used kiosks as part of multiple “getout the vote” campaigns.

From 2017 to 2019, the city expanded kiosk deployment from the initial 25 to 47, installing kiosks at the airport and the University of Missouri, Kansas City campus. The city planned to install additional kiosks as part ofits DigitalInclusion Strategic Plan.

Kiosk Features
The kiosks are compliant with the Americans with Disability Act (ADA) and have multi- lingual capabilities.
• Local events and attraction
information
• Local business information
(restaurants, arts, nightlife, etc.)
• Real-time transit and traffic
information (integration with
streetcar line)
• Wayfinding
• Safety and security features
• Advertising and local
publishing/sponsorships
• Selfie camera
• Gaming
Kansas City, MO
28 City and Community Engagement:

In 2015, the City established a Smart City Advisory
Board including members from business, nonprofit,
and civic sectors. The Board explored privacy
concerns and relevant features for the community.

In 2019, to address broader needs, the city
assembled a more “community-based” Emerging
T echnology Board to replace Smart City Advisory
Board. The city also collected ideas from the
community via tech firm mySidewalk throughout the
smart city planning process.

Kiosk Agreementand Revenue Generation:

The City entered into an agreement with kiosk
provider Smart City Media. The agreement detailed
that 50% of profits from advertisement sales would
go to the city. These funds would repay initial kiosk
costs and support smart city maintenance.

The initial estimates indicated that the City would
earn approximately $ 200,000 per year in revenue,
but initial advertisement sales fell short. In the first 15 months of the agreement, the City earned
approximately $136,300.

Sources:

Ben Miller, “Kansas City, Mo., Installs First Smart City Kiosks Downtown,” Government Technology, March 29, 2016, https://www.govtech.com/fs/kansas-city-mo-installs-first-smart-city-kiosks-downtown.html Bobby Burch, “Smart City board discusses data privacy concerns, kiosks’ content,” Startland News, November 30, 2015, https://www.startlandnews.com/2015/11/smart-city-board-discusses-data-privacy-concerns-kiosks-content/ Noelle Knell, “Kansas City Innovation Chief to Step Down This Month,” Government Technology, December 13, 2019, https://www.govtech.com/people/kansas-city-innovation-chief-to-step-down-this-month.html “Request For Proposals ‘Comprehensive Smart City Partnership With Kansas City, Missouri’ RFP No. EV2556,” The City of Kansas City, Missouri, Revised May 5, 2017, https://www.kcmo.gov/home/showdocument?id=438 “Kansas City/Moving Forward,” Mayor Sly James, May 2, 2011 - July 31, 2019, https://www.kcmo.gov/home/showdocument?id=3364
A Kiosk near the T-Mobile Center in
downtown Kansas City, MO (January
2023)
Kansas City Cont.
29 Population: 469,124
Kiosk Overview: The city explored digital kiosks for several years before pausing in 2018 when Councilmembers asked to furtherexplore wayfinding options, suchas phone apps as well as kiosk issues such as light pollution, privacy, and advertisement implications. The pandemic extended the pause before conversations resumed with partner Downtown Raleigh Alliance (DRA) and vendor IKE Smart City in 2022. As of January 2023, DRA shared they have signed agreements, but have not yet installed digital kiosks in Raleigh.

Consideration Process Context:

In 2017, the DRA introduced exploring interactive wayfinding kiosksto the City Council.

The digital kiosks would provide interactive maps, public announcements, and Wi-Fi access. Like many digital kiosks, they would display advertisements that generate revenue.

Throughout 2017 and 2018, DRA and the potential vendor, IKE, shared presented information about the proposed kiosk meetings. City Councilmembers raised legal and operational concerns that staff was examining until the negotiations were paused during the COVID-19 pandemic. Additional information about the City Council’s 2018 legal and operational concerns are featured in the section “questionsand concerns.” • Light pollution:
• How bright are the kiosks?
• Are kiosks on and illuminated 24/7?
• Safety concerns:
• Potential for people to abuse the
emergency call button
• Flashing screens distracting drivers
• Data gathering concerns:
• What, if any, information is collected?
• Alternative ways to approach
wayfinding:
• Phone apps
• Public art
• Kiosks inside high-traffic buildings
instead of sidewalks
• Alignment with city signage
• Advertisement regulations
Questions and Concerns
At an October 2018 City Council meeting, members raised the following questions and concerns in a discussion about moving forward with the digital kiosk program.

Raleigh, NC
30 Sources:

City Council Minutes, October 2, 2018,
https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/goto?id=AU9KYJ534E9D&open# City Council Minutes, April 19, 2022,
https://go.boarddocs.com/nc/raleigh/Board.nsf/goto?id=AU9KYJ534E9D&open James B, “Development Beat: Raleigh Exploring Interactive Kiosks for Downtown,” ITB Insider, September 5, 2017, https://www.itbinsider.com/development-beat-raleigh-exploring-interactive-kiosks-for-downtown/ Leigh Tauss, “A Company Wants to Put Free Wayfinding Kiosks in Downtown Raleigh. Why Won’t the City Council Say Yes?,” Indy Week, October 10, 2018, https://indyweek.com/news/wake/a-company-wants-to-put- free-wayfinding-kiosks-in-downtown-ra/
Continued Conversation:

City Council meeting minutes noted the vendor responded to questions and concerns around content and data gathering. The City Manager said the staff could do additional research and bring a report back to the Council. Per later meeting minutes, the project was then paused due to thepandemic.

In April 2022, DRA and city staffbrought the proposed digital kiosk program to City Council for consideration. The proposal includes anetwork of approximately 15 to 20 kiosks that would support wayfinding, interactive applications, advertisements, and Wi-Fi, subject to privacy parameters determined by the City, DRA, and the vendor.

These kiosks would be located in the right-of-way in the downtown area. In the proposal, the City would workclosely with DRA, which would manage the content, including advertisements.

The Council approved a recommended actionto receive the reports and continue moving forward with consideration of the agreement. As of January 2023, DRA staff said they went through thekiosk approval processin 2022, but have not yet started the process for locating and installing kiosks.

Raleigh Cont.
31 KIOSK FEATURES
Below is a chartthat provides a snapshotof digitalkiosk statusand features in case study citiesthat have already implemented digital kiosks.

City Kiosk Status
Ads
Area Business Info
Camera
Directions &
Navigation
Emergency Call
Public Transit
Information
Social Services
Wi-Fi
Atlanta, GA
Implemented in
2017 and 2022*
*Features for 2022
kiosks
Berkeley, CA Implemented in
2021
Kansas City,
MO
Implemented in
2016
32

Law and Legislation CommitteeMarch 21, 2023

Law and Legislation Committee
March 21, 2023