Santa Monica Receives National Accolades for Achievements in Technical Innovation and Digital Services

September 20, 2022 3:34 PM
by Joseph Cevetello

In September 2022, The City of Santa Monica was recognized by the Center for Digital Government (CDG) for the innovative use of technology and cutting-edge user experience design to enhance community engagement, improve online service delivery, and support ongoing city priorities. 

During the sixth annual award show, Santa Monica was recognized as one of the top five cities in the country receiving CDG’s most prestigious honor, the Overall Government Experience Award. The award recognizes the achievements and best practices of states, cities and counties that are radically improving the experience of government services. 

“This award is a reflection of our commitment to finding new, innovative solutions to improve the daily lives of the Santa Monica Community as we strive to provide a comprehensive high value customer experience for all” said Dr. Joseph Cevetello, Chief Information Officer for the City of Santa Monica. 

Over the past year the Information Services Department has created a new standard for service delivery with the introduction of the city’s 3-1-1 system including a custom mobile app, online portal, and dedicated call center; the city’s new website – santamonica.gov – centralized over a hundred unique websites and 250,000 webpages under a single location with enhanced search, mobile-responsive templates, and a commitment to serving all Santa Monica residents through rigorous accessibility standards; the new business portal helps residents “buy local” while also supporting the Santa Monica business community; the improved special events portal creates an easy to follow step-by-step process to encourage community activations and civic participation; and the city’s parking application provides real-time parking availability for visitors and locals alike. 

“By embracing new emerging technologies and taking a community-first approach to service delivery we’ve seen measurable improvements to our user experience and digital equity which will serve as foundational principals for future innovations and enchantment’s.” said Jeremy Peterson, Marketing and Communications Coordinator for the City of Santa Monica. 

To learn more about the Digital Experience Award and the City’s Information Services Department, click here.

Authored By

Joseph Cevetello