United States
Herb Atchison
114,000 (2019)
Ryan Hegreness, Gregg Moss
Improve internal government operations
Anticipate and manage future challenges
Generate new sources of revenue
Dedicated funding
Focus on measurement
Dedicated innovation team
Culture of innovation in city
Leadership from Mayor
Westminster created and adopted its first Innovation Strategy in September 2019, paving the way for embedding a culture of innovation throughout the city. More than 75 city staff across all departments are participating in various innovation teams, dedicating 5 or more hours each month to innovation projects and initiatives. Westminster wants to use innovation to change the way government is perceived by both residents and employees, reimagining what is considered quality service delivery through experimentation and strategic risk-taking.
Along with 50% of cities surveyed, Westminster, CO has an explicit innovation strategy. Similar to more than half of cities surveyed, Westminster, CO approaches innovation capacity both from a holistic/macro level, as well as in specific policy areas.
Public works: Westminster has partnered with the Colorado Smart Cities Alliance and Arrow Electronics to conduct an ideation and implementation program with their Public Works and Utilities Division (PWU). Staff from all PWU Departments participate in a 30-day process with the goal of co-creating multiple prioritized solutions that will address their drinking water and wastewater treatment challenges. The city anticipates that this unique initiative will dramatically reduce resident/business water consumption and provide a new technology to reduce household wastewater.
Situated in the City Manager's office, Westminster’s dedicated innovation team consists of 2 staff. Additionally, more than 75 city staff also dedicate at least 5 hours each month to innovation initiatives.
Taking risks or testing new ideas
Data-driven analytics/public data management
Engaging residents in new ways
Developing new solutions based on digital technologies
Organizational change within the municipality
Human-centered design
Rethinking your city’s approach to financing partnerships
Like 81% of cities surveyed, Westminster, CO has dedicated funding to support innovation capacity.
Similar to 61% of participating cities in the 2020 survey, West Hollywood's funding for innovation capacity is also directed towards training staff and building capacity*.
*"Training staff and building capacity" is not an option in the 2018 survey, while "Launching or sustaining a project" is not an option in the 2020 survey.
Westminster has developed partnerships to promote innovation capacity with other public agencies, private firms, and not-for-profit organizations.