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TO: Mayor Richard C. Irvin
FROM: Alex G. Alexandrou, Chief Management Officer
DATE: October 19, 2018
SUBJECT:
Request a resolution to approve an Agreement with Smart City Media (SCM), LLC of New York, NY for the installation, operation and revenue sharing of interactive outdoor kiosks using the City Post smart media platform.
PURPOSE:
This Agreement ("Agreement") involves the installation of eight (8) Smart City Media City Post interactive media kiosks in various proposed downtown locations as well as the Route 59 Train Station. In addition, the kiosks are also supported and augmented by the use of both a smart phone application and mobile beacons placed in local participating businesses.
The current proposed locations selected are as follows:
> Water Street Mall (Entrances to South end of mall)
> Paramount Theater (Main Entrance to Lobby)
> Aurora Arts Center (Outside front entrance)
> Development Services (Main Entrance to new office [old PNC Bank building])
> River Edge Park (Outside Main Entrance near bike rack)
> (2) Route 25 ATC (near bike rack and ramp to platform)
> Route 59 Train Station (Sidewalk near steps to platform)
BACKGROUND:
In selecting Smart City Media, City staff reviewed various vendors’ offerings while attending smart city conferences in Washington, DC, Chicago, and Kansas City, MO over the past year. Smart City Media stood out from other vendors with respect to the range of features built into the kiosks themselves as well as the additional software, hardware and services that were included out-of-the-box in addition to the kiosks themselves. SCM’s offering of a turnkey solution with no upfront costs, and all future maintenance, support, administrative, sales and replacement costs covered by SCM was also a leading factor in selecting SCM.
SCM currently has twenty one (21) City Contracts in place throughout the country. Of these twenty one contracts SCM kiosks have been successfully deployed in a number of communities around the country including Kansas City MO, Kansas International Airport MO, Louisville KY, Little Rock AR, Memphis TN, Washington DC, Tampa Bay FL, Scranton NY, among others.
SCM’s kiosks are included with a number of notable features. For instance, SCM will work with the City to develop a City of Aurora specific themed skin for the kiosks to help identify them as a City sponsored initiative. The kiosks also include a tourism friendly multi-lingual function that translates the kiosk content into a number of different languages at the user’s request. In addition, the kiosks are provide the public with an ADA friendly User Interface. The kiosks include wayfinding for a “you are here” function and extended transit mapping with interactive point and touch directions. Every city chooses 12 content categories for launch (expandable as needed) chosen from the following off-the-shelf options: Attractions, Events, Kids, Gov, Parks, Health, Art and Culture, Dining, Nightlife, Shopping, Social Services, ADA Services, Interactive City Surveys, Parking Info, Schedules, E-services, with additional options as requested.
Under the terms of the Agreement, SCM would pay the cost of the kiosks and their installation, operation, maintenance and support. SCM is responsible for working with local advertisers and businesses to develop the advertisement revenues. The City reserves the right to review all requests for advertisement on the kiosks and to reject any advertisement not in conformity.
DISCUSSION:
During the period of time this item was held at City Council, the previously provided Memorandum of Agreement was converted into a contract agreement and the terms and conditions from the memorandum are reflected in the Agreement. In addition significant discussions were held and valuable input received from Aldermen as well as interested stakeholders such as Aurora Downtown business owners, Aurora Civic Center Authority, Aurora Chamber of Commerce and Aurora Area Convention and Visitors Bureau.
A Summary of Key Terms in the Agreement is attached for reference which reflects the negotiations finalized with SCM which were based in large part on feedback provided to the City.
IMPACT STATEMENT:
This project will positively impact a number of City Departments or Divisions including City Innovation & Core Services-IT, Electric, Engineering, Economic Development, and the Public Information Office (PIO) as well as external stakeholders such as Aurora Downtown, ACCA, Chamber and the AACVB as noted above.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
Request approval of an Agreement with Smart City Media, LLC of New York, NY for the installation, operation and revenue sharing of interactive outdoor kiosks using the City Post smart media platform.
cc: Finance Committee
CITY OF AURORA, ILLINOIS
RESOLUTION NO. _________
DATE OF PASSAGE ________________
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A Resolution to approve an Contract Agreement with Smart City Media, LLC of New York, NY for the installation, operation and revenue sharing of interactive outdoor kiosks using the City Post smart media platform..
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WHEREAS, the City of Aurora has a population of more than 25,000 persons and is, therefore, a home rule unit under subsection (a) of Section 6 of Article VII of the Illinois Constitution of 1970; and
WHEREAS, subject to said Section, a home rule unit may exercise any power and perform any function pertaining to its government and affairs for the protection of the public health, safety, morals, and welfare; and
WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council have committed to moving the City forward with respect to the use of innovative economic development and smart technology initiatives, and
WHEREAS, Smart City Media, LLC offers a benefit to the City in both moving forward with new smart city technologies and economic development opportunities in the form of interactive smart media kiosks and related software and services; and
WHEREAS, the City wishes to engage Smart City Media in a long term revenue sharing agreement through the install of Smart City Media's City Post platform; and
WHEREAS, Smart City Media has proposed that the City approve a contract agreement setting forth the terms and conditions for the installation and operation of interactive outdoor kiosks and providing for the sharing of revenue therefrom; and
WHEREAS, a copy of said contract agreement is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Aurora, Illinois, as follows: that the Mayor is hereby authorized to sign a Contract Agreement between the City and Smart City Media, LLC that is attached to this Resolution as Exhibit A and incorporated hereto as if fully set forth herein.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that prior to any additional negotiations for the installation of additional kiosks through this or any other vendor the staff shall consult with downtown interest organizations as to the number and placement of such additional kiosks.
AND BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the installation of any additional kiosks be subject to all applicable regulations applicable to the installation of kiosks in a relevant location.