Boulder Receives 'What Works Cities' Certification

BOULDER, CO — Boulder is one of 16 U.S. cities to receive a What Works Cities silver level certification for the use of data and evidence in policy development. The national initiative, which was launched by Bloomberg Philanthropies, assesses cities' ability to "deliver results in the most effective way possible," the organization said.

Nearly 200 cities completed a What Works Cities assessment, but only 24 cities have met the national standard in achieving certification, the organization said.

Some examples of Boulder’s use of data that helped the city achieve certification include:

• The city has a goal to reduce its organizational emissions 80 percent below 2008 levels by 2030, and as of 2019, the city achieved a 38 percent reduction through energy efficiency, renewables and other efforts.
• The city’s wastewater treatment team optimized a machine learning model for processing city water that will save costs and minimize environmental impacts. The team’s efforts have reduced energy consumption by an estimated 500,000 kWh, valued around $15,000, the city said.
• Boulder Fire Rescue developed a live dashboard that uses 911 call data to give firefighters real-time insights into emergency trends around the city.
• Amid the coronavirus outbreak, the city has incorporated new data practices to evaluate whether efforts were reducing racial inequities, reviewing demographic data alongside COVID-19 infection and hospitalization rates, employment, basic needs assistance programs, evictions and foreclosures, and other variables.
• The city’s Open Data Catalog has expanded to include 110 datasets, many updated daily. This also led to community partnerships such as the 2018-2019 Art of Data exhibit in the Boulder Main Library.

Don't miss the latest news updates in Boulder: Free Boulder Patch Newsletters and Email Alerts | Facebook | Twitter

Bill Skerpan, the city's innovation and analytics manager, said officials set the goal of achieving the What Works Cities certification by 2020.

“It’s an important milestone for the city, achieved through dedication from departments across the city," Skerpan said in a statement. "But we still have more work to do on this innovation path and are excited to create more effective, efficient, and equitable services for the Boulder community.”