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Politics & Government

Delshad Touts Technology at D.C. Mayors Conference

Beverly Hills' mayor promotes high-tech, cost-saving initiatives in the nation's capital.

Equipped with a list of technological accomplishments and an eye on federal grant money, Mayor Jimmy Delshad recently represented Beverly Hills at a U.S. Conference of Mayors in Washington, D.C.

One of the main topics on Delshad's conference agenda was spreading the word about "Smart City" technology-driven initiatives, 175 of which the city has put in place since 2004.

These programs include a citywide fiber-optic upgrade that enables wireless water usage meters, the picture-friendly smart phone application "askBev," credit card parking meters and identification tools for law enforcement, he said.

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Solar energy is another key tool in the mayor's "Smart City" vision. Fueled by the sun, "smart sprinklers" know when there's sufficient moisture in the ground to forgo timed irrigation.

But it isn't just about "smart" technology, Delshad said. Diligence by government officials is key to keeping up with the rapid pace of advancement that could potentially reduce costs and boost fiscal sustainability.

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"I mentioned to the mayors that sustainability is not the only thing, it's not the final result," Delshad said. "It's got to be smart government."

In the Dec. 20 issue of U.S. Mayor, the conference's official publication, Delshad wrote an article headlined "Beverly Hills Smart City: The 'Glamour Capital' Emerges as Leader in New Technology." In it he detailed programs put into place during his tenure as mayor and urged colleagues to always be on the lookout for new ways to save public money.

"Beverly Hills remains one of the most alluring cities in the world. But without constant attention to technological advances, our cherished standard of living and the reputation that goes with it could fade," Delshad wrote. "I believe that our Smart City programs will keep Beverly Hills on the cutting edge of both glamour and technology."

Fiscal shortfalls led the list of concerns expressed by mayoral colleagues, Delshad said. The sagging economy has wreaked havoc on city and state budgets.

"Quite a few mayors are concerned about mostly budget problems in their cities," Delshad said. "Quite a few cities have problems balancing their budgets and being able to make ends meet."

Beverly Hills stands out because of last fiscal year's , according to Delshad.

"We did not even go into our reserve accounts," he said. "We were among very few unique cities that have done that."

Participants at the conference took part in Q&A and committee discussion sessions, as well as talks by U.S. Trade Representative Ron Kirk, Housing Secretary Shaun Donovan and other officials. There was a reception at the White House keynoted by President Obama, who took time to meet and briefly dialogue with the mayors.

Delshad stayed an extra day to speak with lobbyists regarding federal grant opportunities, specifically the COPS community policing initiative, Community Development Block Grants "and all the other helpers in our budget ... to make sure that the grants that come to Beverly Hills would keep on coming and that we would know what may change so we can adjust our budget."

When he returned home, the mayor drafted letters to U.S. Sens. Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, and Rep. Henry Waxman, urging no further reductions in development grant funding "because the city depends on that quite a bit for helping the community," Delshad said.

Early on in the conference, held Jan. 19-21, Delshad was moved by Beverly Hills' nationwide recognition.

"When I got up to talk, as soon as I said who I am and the mayor of Beverly Hills, everyone knew where Beverly Hills was," he said. "Right after my talk I got a lot of questions and many comments that were very positive toward Beverly Hills ... There was a lot of interest in what I thought and what I would do, and what we are doing in the 'glamour capital.' "

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