Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Rebecca Williams filed this request with the Baltimore City Department of Public Works of Baltimore, MD.
Multi Request Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation
Submitted Dec. 17, 2020
Est. Completion None
Status
No Responsive Documents

Communications

From: Rebecca Williams

Subject: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email


To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

This request for contract documents related to all smart city technology purchased or in operation by this agency for the period from 1/1/2015 - present.

These smart city technologies include any contract document that contains:
- The terms “smart city.”
- Internet of Things (IoT) technologies (such as connected sensors, lights, and meters that collect data).
- Mobility data collection (such as “intelligent transportation system" or rideshare or cell-phone location data agreements).
- Video technologies (such as “closed-circuit television,” traffic, security, or streetlight cameras).

Specifically, I am requesting contract documents to which this agency and any smart city technology vendor are parties. These materials include:
- Any lists of related contracts.
- Any contracts, including any pilot, proof-of-concept, and public-private partnership agreements.
- Any data purchase, licensing, or exchange agreements.
- Any privacy policies or terms of use/service.
- Any vendor distribution lists for related requests for proposals.

If another office would be a more appropriate destination for this request, I would be happy to forward this request according to your direction. If additional agencies or jurisdictions would also have responsive or associated materials, the provision of the names of those entities would also be appreciated.

These records will be used to inform research on “smart city system” best practices as part of Harvard Kennedy School’s Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs’ Technology and Public Purpose (TAPP) Project that culminates in May 2020. To accommodate this deadline and inclusion in analysis please expedite this request so that it is filled by February 2020. Because of our not-for-profit status and the fact that this request is about a matter in the public interest, I request a fee waiver. If you have any questions or would like to discuss narrowing the request, please contact me directly at rebeccawilliams@hks.harvard.edu or ‪(857) 400-0323.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Rebecca Williams

From: Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Good afternoon, Ms. Williams.

The Baltimore City Department of Public Works (“DPW”) has received your request for public information, which is governed by the Maryland Public Information Act (“PIA”), Maryland Code, General Provisions Article (“GP”), Sections 4-101 through 4-601. We will process your request promptly. However, our response may take longer than ten (10) days, the reasons for which may include the scope of your request, the type and volume of potentially responsive records, and the nature of the search, review, and preparation that is required. In any event, we will do all that we can to respond to your request within 30 days as required in GP § 4-203. DPW may ask that you provide an extension of time, if needed, as it is unclear whether the Covid-19 emergency procedures will slow the process of searching for and reviewing record(s) that are responsive to your request.

We will contact you promptly if we need any additional information regarding your request, and, if necessary, with the exact fee amount required to finish processing your request. Any fees requested will be based on the actual amount of time beyond two (2) hours it will take one (1) or more employees to search for, prepare, review, and reproduce the responsive records, at the prorated individual salaries of the personnel involved.

Regards,

Dominic

[cid:image001.png@01D70EB3.75C48FF0]
Brandon M. Scott
Mayor

[cid:image002.jpg@01D70EB3.75C48FF0]
Matthew W. Garbark
Acting Director

Dominic W. Lamartina, Esq.
Operations Specialist

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
200 Holliday Street, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office: (410) 361-9547

“To be a strong proponent and protector of our
environment and the health and vitality of our
communities" – DPW Vision Statement

Website<http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/> l Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/BaltimoreDPW> l Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks> l NextDoor<https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/md/baltimore/baltimore-city-department-of-public-works/> l Youtube<http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this communication may be confidential, attorney-client, work-product or executive privileged. Any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited by one other than the intended addressee or designated agent thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please delete it and erase all metadata associated with it and notify me immediately at 410-396-3312. Thank you.

From: Rebecca Williams

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Thank you, Dominic. Please let me know if you have any questions. For your awareness, I have also requested the same records from the IT and Transportation Departments. I have not heard from them back yet either but just pinged them.

Rebecca

From: Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Good afternoon, Ms. Williams.

I had some discussions with members of our Law Department, and have determined that the fee request that I sent to you will probably be our best course of action. Once we receive payment for this fee, we will try to pull the records for you as soon as possible.

Thank you.

[cid:image001.png@01D72AF9.88411970]
Brandon M. Scott
Mayor

[cid:image002.jpg@01D72AF9.88411970]
Matthew W. Garbark
Acting Director

Dominic W. Lamartina, Esq.
Operations Specialist

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
200 Holliday Street, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office: (410) 361-9547

“To be a strong proponent and protector of our
environment and the health and vitality of our
communities" – DPW Vision Statement

Website<http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/> l Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/BaltimoreDPW> l Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks> l NextDoor<https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/md/baltimore/baltimore-city-department-of-public-works/> l Youtube<http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this communication may be confidential, attorney-client, work-product or executive privileged. Any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited by one other than the intended addressee or designated agent thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please delete it and erase all metadata associated with it and notify me immediately at 410-396-3312. Thank you.

From:

Subject: Re: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Hi Dominic,

Given the large cost and the breadth of my request. I was hoping to narrow it down.

Would be possible to refine my "smart city" contract documentation request to just documents that mention these vendors/names and get a new estimate:

* Persistent Surveillance Systems
* Open Mobility Foundation or Lacuna
* Under Armor or Kevin Plank
* Citiwatch
* ABB
* Cisco
* Itron

Thank you in advance for your help.

—
Rebecca Williams
Fellow, Technology & Public Purpose Project
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Harvard Kennedy School
+1-413-387-8268

From: Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Good afternoon, Ms. Williams.

I will reach out to our Contracts Head and find out.

Thank you.

[cid:image001.png@01D73145.CF1A7100]
Brandon M. Scott
Mayor

[cid:image002.jpg@01D73145.CF1A7100]
Matthew W. Garbark
Acting Director

Dominic W. Lamartina, Esq.
Operations Specialist

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
200 Holliday Street, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office: (410) 361-9547

“To be a strong proponent and protector of our
environment and the health and vitality of our
communities" – DPW Vision Statement

Website<http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/> l Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/BaltimoreDPW> l Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks> l NextDoor<https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/md/baltimore/baltimore-city-department-of-public-works/> l Youtube<http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this communication may be confidential, attorney-client, work-product or executive privileged. Any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited by one other than the intended addressee or designated agent thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please delete it and erase all metadata associated with it and notify me immediately at 410-396-3312. Thank you.

From: Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Good afternoon, Ms. Williams.

After discussing this with our Contracts Head, she determined that your refined request would not yield results from our department. All of the procurement contracts that we have regarding these vendors would have been handled by the Bureau of Procurement in the Department of Finance. . Each Baltimore City agency is the custodian of its own records. See Baltimore City Code, Article 1 § 10-1. For a complete list of agency custodians, please see http://www.marylandattorneygeneral.gov/OpenGov%20Documents/Appendix_J.pdf. The Bureau of Procurement should have the records you are looking for.

Nothing in this response is intended to indicate that any records sought from City agencies exist or to waive any privileges held by the Mayor and City Council. You may contest this response by filing a complaint in Circuit Court pursuant to GP § 4-362.

Regards,

Dominic

[cid:image001.png@01D731F9.94139CD0]
Brandon M. Scott
Mayor

[cid:image002.jpg@01D731F9.94139CD0]
Matthew W. Garbark
Acting Director

Dominic W. Lamartina, Esq.
Operations Specialist

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
200 Holliday Street, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office: (410) 361-9547

“To be a strong proponent and protector of our
environment and the health and vitality of our
communities" – DPW Vision Statement

Website<http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/> l Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/BaltimoreDPW> l Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks> l NextDoor<https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/md/baltimore/baltimore-city-department-of-public-works/> l Youtube<http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this communication may be confidential, attorney-client, work-product or executive privileged. Any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited by one other than the intended addressee or designated agent thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please delete it and erase all metadata associated with it and notify me immediately at 410-396-3312. Thank you.

From:

Subject: Re: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Thank you for the back and forth on this Dominic. Some cities won't approve requests to procurement departments. Should I reach out to them with a new request?

—
Rebecca Williams
Fellow, Technology & Public Purpose Project
Belfer Center for Science and International Affairs
Harvard Kennedy School
+1-413-387-8268

From: Baltimore City Department of Public Works

Subject: RE: Maryland Public Information Act Request: Baltimore, MD "Smart City" Documentation (Baltimore City Department of Public Works)

Email

Certainly. Just send a message to the Bureau of Procurement.

Thank you.

[cid:image001.png@01D73243.1C5418B0]
Brandon M. Scott
Mayor

[cid:image002.jpg@01D73243.1C5418B0]
Matthew W. Garbark
Acting Director

Dominic W. Lamartina, Esq.
Operations Specialist

Baltimore City Department of Public Works
Abel Wolman Municipal Building
200 Holliday Street, Suite 203
Baltimore, Maryland 21202
Office: (410) 361-9547

“To be a strong proponent and protector of our
environment and the health and vitality of our
communities" – DPW Vision Statement

Website<http://publicworks.baltimorecity.gov/> l Twitter<http://www.twitter.com/BaltimoreDPW> l Facebook<https://www.facebook.com/BaltimoreCityDepartmentofPublicWorks> l NextDoor<https://nextdoor.com/agency-detail/md/baltimore/baltimore-city-department-of-public-works/> l Youtube<http://www.youtube.com/user/BaltimoreDPW>

CONFIDENTIALITY NOTICE: The information contained in or attached to this communication may be confidential, attorney-client, work-product or executive privileged. Any distribution or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited by one other than the intended addressee or designated agent thereof. If you have received this communication in error, please delete it and erase all metadata associated with it and notify me immediately at 410-396-3312. Thank you.

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