With more than a decade of experience in city administration, David Frasher serves as the City Manager of Hot Springs, Arkansas. Dedicated to maintaining a presence in the professional community, David Frasher belongs to the International City/County Management Association (ICMA).

1. ICMA EXAMINES SMART
TECHNOLOGY
PRIORITIES,
MOTIVATORS, AND
BARRIERS
David Frasher

2. Introduction
 With more than a decade of experience in city administration,
David Frasher serves as the City Manager of Hot Springs,
Arkansas. Dedicated to maintaining a presence in the
professional community, David Frasher belongs to the
International City/County Management Association (ICMA).
The ICMA, a member-driven organization dedicated to
advancing local government around the world, conducted a
recent study on smart city technologies, completed in
partnership with the Smart Cities Council, the largest smart
cities network in the world. Smart cities are those that are
working toward integrating technology into all city operations
to improve their communities. Around 500 counties and cities
participated in the survey, providing information about a wide
range of topics, from the current status of smart city initiatives
and procurement patterns to the motivators and barriers to
implementation.

3. International City/County
Management Association
 Forty-nine percent of all respondents agree that smart city
technologies were a top priority in the public safety sector. More
than half of respondents had already implemented smart payment
and finance technologies in their community, and between 36
percent and 40 percent of respondents had already deployed
initiatives in the areas of water and wastewater, customer service,
telecommunications, and energy. Meanwhile, 69 percent of cities
and countries reported that they would use a combination of
external support and internal systems to implement smart
technologies.
Beyond current deployment levels, the ICMA survey looked at the
benefits of smart technologies that would motivate governments to
implement or expand their initiatives. Economic development was
the highest rated motivator, with 44 percent of respondents
identifying it. Operational cost savings and resiliency for critical
operations followed at 43 percent each, along with improved
resident services at 38 percent and safety and security benefits at
37 percent. Budget limitations, limited internal capacity, and lack of
supporting infrastructure were identified as important barriers.