The Mayor’s Technology Challenge Continues with Launch of SIBAlert

By George “Bud” Scholl, Mayor

(Thursday, August 23, 2018) – We live in a world where staying connected is extremely simple. Computers, tablets, smartphones, and smart watches all place information at your fingertips. We established the “Mayor’s Technology Challenge” in 2016 to improve our residents’ and visitors’ quality of life and communication through innovative technologies.

During the fall, we plan to launch our next technology initiative, SIBAlert. SIBAlert will enable citizens to receive emergency notices and warnings from the City. Based on location, we can ensure residents and visitors receive accurate and up-to-date information during critical incidents or emergencies. SIBAlert sends notifications via a collection of delivery methods including phone calls, SMS text messages, emails, and a mobile application.

Signing up is quick and easy. I urge all our citizens, both residents and visitors, to visit sibalert.net in the coming months and register for our emergency notifications. These notifications will help keep you informed and safe in the event of an emergency.

Since the announcement of the “Technology Challenge,” we have achieved remarkable technological strides. Our expanded free WiFi coverage allows residents and visitors to stay connected throughout the majority of public areas, recently including all buses in our SIBshuttle service and many locations across the beach through solar units on the lifeguard stands. Soofa benches, which are solar-powered charging stations, keep park-goers fully charged in eight out of our eleven City parks. An electric car charging station in the SIB Government Center parking lot is not only a technological feat, but also a green initiative. Touchscreen kiosks at two premier parks offer users an interactive and fun way to gather information. And the SIBshuttle mobile application makes our free shuttle bus service more accessible and easy-to-use.

Communicating with our residents and visitors is fundamental. We strive to disseminate accurate, relevant, and timely information. With the deluge of information from a variety of sources, you can trust the City of Sunny Isles Beach to tell you what you need to know, when you need to know it. Good communication and good technology are the keys to good government.