INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY

The Department of Innovation and Technology consists of the following divisions:

The Information Systems Division (IS) supports the technology needs across all City departments. IS supports the City’s business servers and networking, operates the IT Help Desk to assist employees, operates the City telephone system, supports first-responder mobile connectivity, and develops and implements IT policies, including cybersecurity and disaster recovery.

The Geographic Information Systems Division (GIS) is responsible for creating and maintaining spatial data and map products for all city departments and Ashland Parks & Recreation Commission (APRC) essential for analysis, communication, emergency preparedness, and record keeping. Additionally, GIS maintains the enterprise asset management system for city infrastructure and the building access program.

Ashland Fiber Network (AFN) operates within the Telecommunications Division and is a community-owned telecommunications utility founded in 1999 by the Ashland community. AFN manages the enterprise network for the City organization, provides Internet connectivity services to almost 4,500 households, and works with partners to provide telephony, cable television, and other technology services to more than 2,000 additional customers.

• Enhance the City’s cyber security posture to ensure the protections and resiliency of City information systems and City operations.

• Address deferred software updates and hardware lifecycle replacements.

• Increase use and development of online web applications for public engagement.

• Provide exceptional GIS/Asset Management support for all departments.

• Establish asset management program for IT related hardware.

• Provide a robust and secure IT infrastructure that supports city services and operations. Hardware, software, network connectivity, and cybersecurity protections must support the seamless operation of digital tools and a diverse suite of applications. The IT infrastructure must be secure, resilient, and meet conditions for 24/7 operations, including increased mobility through wireless connectivity on an array of devices.
• Begin Ashland Fiber Network pilot project and analyze change in customer base. Calculate the affordability savings to the community through standard pricing, low-income programs as well as indirect cost savings to the community through utility utilization. Initiate AFN mapping program.
• Develop dashboards, both internal and public, to track wildfire risk work and Ashland Climate and Energy Action Plan (CEAP) execution. Display live and graphs of the goals, for other city departments, that are being worked on.

Significant changes to the IS budget are as follows:

• Personnel costs have risen due to taking GIS out of the Public Works budget and into the IS budget. Additionally, we added the new position of IT director, 0.5 FTE equivalent.
• Computers has risen by $10,000 due to inflationary increases, as well as needing to purchase a new large format printer.
• Licensing has risen to reflect bringing the cost of GIS software to the IS budget, as well as inflationary increases.
• Capital outlay includes money not spent on data center HVAC equipment in FY 23.

Significant changes to the AFN budget are as follows:

• Franchise tax has been added at $122,000
• Capitalized projects has increased from $0 to $1,075,000 to fund the AFN upgrade pilot project.

• Professional Cyber Security Risk Assessment needed.
• Continue to improve AFN customer service with reduced trouble tickets and improve system reliability with fewer downtime incidents.
• Assist council with deciding the future of AFN.
• Continue to streamline City business processes (more digital, less analog): web-based services and information, digital signatures, improved electronic access to public meetings.
• Establish fund for data center & infrastructure equipment lifecycle replacements.