Submitted by: Cindy Zork
Submitting Department: Communications
Agenda Section: Consent
Item Title:
title
Selection of Hello Lampost as a new Community Engagement Tool
end
Suggested Action:
recommendation
I move the Mayor and Council authorize the City Administrator to enter into a contract with Hello Lampost at a cost not to exceed $16,000 for a one-year contract for the purposes of implementing a new community engagement tool, upon the review and approval of the City Attorney for legal sufficiency. This contract is to be funded through American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) funding and will support outreach efforts for ARPA programming.
end
Summary Background:
One of the goals of the City’s Communication Plan is finding creative ways to engage community members who may not be signed up for the City’s traditional communications methods. City Communications staff, along with the American Rescue Plan Program Manager and members of the Community and Economic Development Team are interested in pursuing a contract with Hello Lamppost to gain feedback and input on City projects through non-traditional methods.
Hello Lamppost provides an AI-driven communications platform where community members have the ability to “speak” with physical objects and infrastructure like lampposts, trees, fences, buildings, statues, and more. Signage directs users to text the object, and the object replies to have an informal conversation. The objects are programmed to ask questions that could be used to gather input for programs like the American Rescue Plan Act funding priorities and the updated City Sustainability Plan, among others. The objects can also provide place-based information or answer simple customer service questions.
Use of this product would allow City staff to connect with community members where they are and reach a wider audience than through emails or social media. Objects can be programmed to speak in multiple languages and to have a “personality”, making interacting with local government fun. As Hyattsville would be one of the first municipalities in the region to use the product, the tool has the potential to garner local media attention, hopefully raising awareness and increasing engagement.
Included in the proposal are two optional add ons (at no cost) for a public facing website and a chatbot for the website. The public facing website can be hosted as a page on the City’s existing website and used to educate the public on Hello Lampost and show where objects are located. The chatbot can be used as an additional source to collect feedback for either plan (it would pop up on the plans webpage). An example of a webpage is Hello Caldwell. <https://www.caldwelltx.gov/departments/community-development-services/hello-caldwell/>
Based on federal guidance, this program is eligible for funding under the City’s American Rescue Plan Act funds. After the one-year period, staff will evaluate the effectiveness of the tool and determine if the City should renew its contract for an additional term(s).
Next Steps:
Following Council approval, staff will proceed with contract negotiations and legal approval. Following approval of the contract, the City’s Communications staff will work with Hello Lamppost to set up a few objects around the City to begin gathering feedback for the second round of American Rescue Act Funding priorities. A communications plan to advertise this feedback method will be created.
Fiscal Impact:
NTE $16,000
City Administrator Comments:
Recommend Approval
Community Engagement:
City Communications staff and the American Rescue Plan Program Manager will work with Hello Lamppost to develop an initial test of the system to gather input for the second round of ARPA funding priorities. A comprehensive communications plan for advertising this feedback method will be created, as well as signage that will be affixed to the objects.
Strategic Goals:
Goal 1 - Ensure Transparent and Accessible Governance
Legal Review Required?
Pending